The government is proposing thirteen new bathing spots across England, including the Thames’ first designated swimming area in West London.
The proposed stretch of the river at Ham and Kingston is part of the Clean and Healthy Waterways Plan, aiming for ten more swimming spots by 2034, marking a major comeback for a river declared biologically dead in the 1950s.
The new Thames bathing spot, following the example of 449 designated bathing waters across England, is expected to offer free and easy access.
There will be no club membership, no waiting list, and no booking required, unlike most gyms or swimming pools.
These ‘blue’ spaces will be as simple to reach as a local park. Claire Robertson from the environmental charity Thames21 said: “Healthy rivers benefit everyone.”
Water Minister Emma Hardy said: “Rivers and beaches are at the heart of so many communities – where people come together, families make memories, and swimmers of all ages enjoy the benefits of being outdoors safely.”
Open-water sites already in London, such as the ponds on Hampstead Heath, already illustrate the social value of such spaces according to enthusiasts.
Robert Sutherland Smith, former chairman of the United Swimmers Association, which works to preserve traditional swimming rights, has said outdoor swimming attracts “the widest cross-section of Londoners you could imagine … good for society and individuals alike”.
He added: “You didn’t have to join a club – it could so easily have been restricted by class, but it wasn’t.
“That was what made it extraordinary.”
A six-week public consultation is currently underway to assess the proposed sites, with river users invited to share their views.
If designated, the sites will be tested regularly for water quality during the bathing season, which runs from 15 May to 30 September.
Featured image: A stretch of The Thames in South West London. Credit: Izzy Titherington
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