Cost of swimming
EXTRA,  FEATURES,  October 2025

The real cost of swimming

As the popularity of outdoor swimming increases, so does the number of places where you have to pay to swim. In this rapidly-evolving landscape, how can outdoor swimming be affordable or accessible, when it’s now such big business? Ellie Tennant investigates…

It’s a Sunday morning at Queenford Lakes, South Oxfordshire and the 20-acre overflow car park – as usual – is rammed.

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Outdoor Swimmer is the magazine for outdoor swimmers by outdoor swimmers. We write about fabulous wild swimming locations, amazing swim challenges, swim training advice and swimming gear reviews.