New cold-water competition at Brockwell Lido

Brockwell FreezeFest, the first-ever cold-water swimming championship at Brockwell Lido in London takes place on Saturday 24 January 2026

A bold new winter swimming event is coming to South London. Brockwell FreezeFest, the first-ever cold-water swimming championship at Brockwell Lido, takes place on Saturday 24 January 2026, from 10am to 1pm, promising fast races, freezing water and a brilliant mid-winter atmosphere.

Organised by Brockwell Swimmers Club, Brockwell FreezeFest is designed specifically for seasoned cold-water swimmers who are comfortable racing in low temperatures. Set in the iconic open-air pool at Brockwell Lido, the event will feature a punchy programme of races including 50m, 100m, 200m, and a crowd-pleasing 4 x 1 relay, making it as exciting to watch as it is to swim.

This inaugural event celebrates the growing cold-water swimming community and the camaraderie that comes with winter training. Safety and professionalism are at the heart of the event, with experienced organisers, safety teams and volunteers ensuring a well-run and welcoming championship.

We caught up with Tim Sutton who is helping to organise the event:

Tim, what are you looking forward to at the first ever FreezeFest?

I have been swimming at Brockwell Lido for over 10 years now and love the physical experience of literally feeling the seasons, come rain or shine, for all 12 months of the year. On a practical level, the future of the Lido is dependent on swimmers using the pool and we hope FreezeFest will encourage more people to use the pool in the winter. This is a valuable community asset and we hope that Brockwell Swimmers’ events such as this can help protect this wonderful resource for generations to come.

Will you be taking part in a race?

With around 140 swimmers taking part it is going to be a busy morning, so unfortunately I will not have the time to get in the water. This also goes for our other volunteers who will be marshalling, time keeping, bag carrying, photographing, safety briefing, directing spectators, etc. We are also looking for more volunteers so if anybody else wants to join in please let us know via our website.

How to enter

Swimmers can enter via brockwellswimmers.com, and spectators are warmly invited to come along, cheer from poolside and enjoy the atmosphere – entry is free. As Tim mentioned, the club is also looking for volunteers to help make the day a success, with roles available throughout the morning.

Whether you’re racing, cheering or helping out, Brockwell FreezeFest promises to be a memorable new addition to London’s winter swimming calendar.

Find out more at brockwellswimmers.com