Wild swimming in London and southeast England

Natasha Sones, outdoor adventurer, wild swimmer and author of Swimming Wild in South East England, shares six of her favourite places to dip

The beautiful part of the country that comprises London and South East England has many picturesque locations. Explore the various places to dip in London – one of the world’s greatest cities – glide between the skyscrapers at Canary Wharf or head to the lido in the middle of Hyde Park, home to one of the oldest swimming clubs in Britain. Elsewhere, you can visit award-winning beaches, coves and secluded bays; experience the charm and heritage of historic lidos; visit unique suburban and city venues; drift along stretches of tree-lined rivers and do laps of vast, shimmering lakes.

Hampstead Heath Ponds, London

Hampstead Heath is home to some of the best outdoor swimming spots in a unique setting in London, including three natural bathing ponds and one 60-metre lido. A dip in Hampstead Heath Ponds is a wonderful experience which thousands of Londoners and visitors alike enjoy each year. On sunny days, hundreds of dippers visit to escape the heat, and even in the depths of winter people can be found swimming amongst the ice.

There are three different swimming ponds – the Ladies’, Men’s and Mixed bathing ponds – all of which are lush and tranquil. The ponds were regulated for swimming in the late 19th century. Men swam in what is now the Hampstead Mixed Pond and women were allowed to bathe there just one day a week. The Kenwood Ladies’ Pond opened in the 1920s.

Highgate Men’s Pond, or the Men’s Pond as it is known, is a former reservoir on the eastern side of Hampstead Heath. The largest of the three swimming ponds, it is also the only one which boasts a diving board. The Men’s Pond is perfect for feeling totally in harmony with nature, surrounded by wilderness. Guys typically describe it as one of the best wild swims they have ever had – more of an experience than just a swim, especially swimming with other like-minded men. One of the aspects that many pond swimmers feel proud about is the diversity – of ages, background, sexuality and religion.

Kenwood Ladies’ Pond is the only female only wild swimming spot in the UK – it is surrounded by trees that enclose swimmers in green light and shield them from public view. This spring-fed pond became available for women after over 20 years of calls for a women-only pond on the heath. The lifeguards are also all female – the pond truly is a secluded place where women can just bathe in peace with other women. It is amazing swimming underneath the towering tree canopies, surrounded by nature. With no photography allowed, it feels like a real break from reality – a haven in the middle of the capital.

Hampstead Mixed Pond is for everyone – if you’re a family looking to go swimming, then this is the best pond for you. It is the only swimming pond on the western (Hampstead) side of the heath, on the opposite side to the other two. Like the other ponds, it is suitable for competent swimmers only as it has deep water. Diving off the jetty into the water feels amazing.

Olney Steps, Buckinghamshire

The River Great Ouse is one of the longest rivers in the UK and there are several places to dip along here. One of the more popular places is on the banks of the river known as Olney Steps. On the edge of the quiet market town Olney, this wonderful swimming area has easy access with really wide steps to get in.

The man-made crescent is a lovely place to swim and picnic. It’s very busy on hot days and holidays with lots of people jumping in off the sides and plenty of paddleboarders and kayakers too. There are beautiful willow trees and a rope swing to play on, too.

Brighton, East Sussex

The vibrant seaside city of Brighton, which lies between the South Downs and the English Channel, is an incredibly popular tourist destination. Sea swimming has been popular in Brighton for years, in part due to 18th-century physician Dr Richard Russell who proclaimed the health benefits of seawater were superior to those provided by inland spas.

The seafront has so much to do for all the family, including children’s play areas. There are saunas on the beach, including the Beach Box Spa and Luna Hut. Yellowave Beach Sports offers beach-based activities such as beach volleyball – it is situated next to the Sea Lanes pool. Best of all, you can choose between a sea swim and a swim in a heated outdoor pool. Sea Lanes lido is in a stunning and unique location right on the beach. There is also a Grade II*-listed 40-metre lido in Brighton – Saltdean Lido. Swim with one of the many groups in the city, including one of the oldest swimming clubs in the country, Brighton Swimming Club, which swims in the sea every day of the year. After a dip, enjoy the traditional British seaside experience of eating fresh fish and chips at the end of Brighton Pier.

Hangloose Adventure Bluewater, Kent

Swim all year round in the unique location of a beautiful old chalk quarry, surrounded by 50 acres of lakes and parkland. Hangloose Adventure Bluewater is located at the Bluewater Shopping Centre and provides a wonderful swimming experience in a lake with pristine clean water.

You’ll find open water swimming events available too, as well as moonlight swims, and if you’re after a total mind, body and soul experience they also host sound baths, fire walking and mindfulness classes on occasion. There is also a sauna on site. For adrenaline seekers you can also take part in other activities here, including an inflatable waterpark, high ropes course, Europe’s highest swing and skydiving in an outdoor wind tunnel. Plus, you can soar through the skies on England’s longest zipline over Bluewater’s beautiful lakes.

Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight

Freshwater Bay is an incredibly picturesque beach with a really interesting and varied landscape. Located in West Wight near the town of Freshwater, there are some great beaches to explore here.

Surrounded by tall white chalk cliffs, this pretty bay is covered in a mixture of grey flint and chalk pebbles. The River Yar rises near the beach at Freshwater Bay and flows only a few miles north to Yarmouth where it meets the Solent. Protection works at Freshwater Bay stop the sea flowing into the Yar.

A notable set of rock formations set this bay apart. What was once a local landmark known as Arch Rock unfortunately collapsed into the sea during a storm. There now remains two rocks in Freshwater Bay: Mermaid Rock and Stag Rock. These can both be reached at low tide but be careful not to get cut off in Butter Bay. Smugglers once used the spectacular caves around the bottom of the chalk cliffs that are exposed at low tide. Kayaking or paddleboarding is the ideal way to see them and the other small bays.

Frensham Great Pond, Surrey

A swimming oasis near the Surrey/East Hampshire border, Frensham Great Pond in Farnham is a wide freshwater pond, which is ideal for new swimmers as it is shallow. It boasts two white sandy bays, perfect for a picnic in between swims. There are beautiful walks around the lake to enjoy too, wonderful for family days out and dog walks. Rushes line the edge of this idyllic bathing place, which is ideal for spotting wildlife.

Most of the pond is reserved for the sailing club and anglers. Swimming is only allowed in the buoyed-off areas, but it is still a great place for a dip. Easy to enter as it slopes gradually, the lake is shallow for several metres around the edge. It is ideal for children but it can get very busy. As a warning, in summer months the water has previously been affected by high levels of blue-green algae, which can be hazardous for users. If found, the pond may be closed. Check the water quality before taking a dip.

Swimming Wild in South East England by Natasha Sones is published by Vertebrate Publishing. Click here to pre-order the book from February 2026, and you could win a Waterproof Tote Bag from Red Equipment, worth £99.95.