While many Londoners get their outdoor swim fix at lidos, those who want a wilder experience often need to venture further afield (exceptions such as Hampstead Heath in the north and Beckenham Place Park in the south aside). And when they do, it’s usually worth the journey – not only for the well-documented physical health benefits and back-to-nature pond, lake and river settings but the community spirit that typically goes hand-in-hand with wild swimming itself.
Take Flow at Frensham, for instance, a group which meets regularly at Frensham Ponds in Surrey. “We’re very much about dips not distance,” says Caroline Scarles, one of the organisers. “When you’re in cold water, you don’t have the capacity to think about much else so people can step away from the stresses of everyday life and be present in the moment. It’s almost a soulful space where the water holds you, and you share something special with those around you. It’s also just really good fun: I would argue that it’s as much about the cake and community as it is about getting in the water.”
Ready to take the plunge? These are the best wild swimming spots near London. Dive on in.
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