Urban swimming
April 2026,  EXTRA,  FEATURES,  View from the Water

Claiming access to swimming may be easier in cities


Urban waterways can be places we cherish, celebrate and care for, says Simon Griffiths

Throughout history, human societies have settled around water. We need it to drink and for basic survival.

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I started Outdoor Swimmer in 2011 (initially as H2Open Magazine) as an outlet for my passion for swimming outdoors. I've been a swimmer and outdoor swimmer for as long as I remember. Swimming has made a huge difference to my life and I want to share its joys and benefits with as many people as possible. I am also the author of Swim Wild & Free: A Practical Guide to Swimming Outdoors 365 a Year, I provide one-to-one support to swimmers through Swim Mentoring and I'm the creator of the Renaissance Swimmer project.