Open-Water Swimming Events for Brockwell Swimmers
Fancy taking your swimming beyond Brockwell Lido next year? From iconic pier-to-pier races and exhilarating sea swims to scenic lake crossings and long-distance river challenges, there’s a fantastic range of open-water events to look forward to in 2027.
April: Lido endurance
Swim the Night, Guildford Lido – 24 to 25 April
Fancy swimming through the night, or taking on the ultimate 24-hour challenge? Swim the Night returns to Guildford Lido with both 12-hour and 24-hour events. Swimmers can enter individually or as a team of two, swimming either 1km or one mile every hour. The 24-hour challenge runs from 7am on Saturday to 7am on Sunday, making this a serious test of endurance, determination and teamwork.
June: Lakes, lidos, rivers and the coast
Great North Swim, Windermere – 11 to 13 June
One of the UK’s best-known open-water swimming festivals, with distances from 250m to 10km. A great choice for a mixed-ability club outing, with plenty of options for different levels of experience.
Chillswim Coniston, Lake District – 19 June
A beautiful 5.25-mile end-to-end lake swim for those looking for a more substantial challenge in spectacular surroundings.
Shepperton Sunset to Sunrise 24-Hour Swim – 19 to 20 June
A brilliant team challenge and a Brockwell Swimmers favourite! The Shepperton 24-Hour Swim brings teams together to swim throughout the day and night, with plenty of encouragement, camaraderie and the occasional struggle to stay awake. Brockwell Swimmers has already booked a team of eight for 2027, with places allocated to members on a first-come, first-served basis.
Epic Lakes Swim, Ullswater – 26 June
A scenic lake-swimming event with a range of distances, making it an appealing option for both newer open-water swimmers and those looking to cover more ground.
Henley Classic, River Thames – 27 June
An atmospheric night-time river swim, offering a very different experience from a daytime lake or sea event. Check the organiser’s website for 2027 entry details.
July: Sea swims and summer challenges
English Riviera Sea Swim Festival, Torquay – 4 July
A coastal swimming event offering a choice of distances. An excellent excuse for a trip to Devon and a chance to enjoy swimming in the sea.
Chillswim Ullswater, Lake District – 10 July
A 7.5-mile end-to-end lake swim for experienced swimmers looking to take on a serious distance challenge.
Henley Mile, River Thames – 24 July
A popular river-swimming challenge covering approximately one mile, ideal for those who fancy an organised event without committing to a full day of endurance swimming.
Dart10k, River Dart, Devon – 24 to 25 July
A classic long-distance river swim and a great target for members who enjoy endurance swimming. It’s also an excellent opportunity to make a weekend of it in Devon.
Brighton Pier to Pier, Brighton – date to be confirmed
An iconic sea-swimming race between Brighton’s piers, traditionally covering around 1km. This is one to watch for anyone who enjoys competitive coastal swimming. Check the organiser’s website for confirmation of a 2027 edition.
August: More lakes, beaches and coastal races
Brixham Breakwater Race, Devon – 7 August
A sea-swimming challenge with longer-distance options, offering a good opportunity to test your coastal swimming skills.
Epic Lakes Swim, Windermere – 8 August
Another scenic Lake District event with several distances to choose from. A good option for swimmers who want a summer outing with a swim to suit their ability.
3K St Ives Swimming Day, Cornwall – 21 August
A community-style swimming day featuring several swims around St Ives and its beautiful coastline. A lovely option for anyone who prefers a more relaxed sea-swimming adventure.
Thurlestone Arch Race, South Devon – 21 August
A coastal sea swim with several distance options, set against the spectacular scenery of the South Devon coast.
Brighton Pier Open Water Swim – date to be confirmed
Another Brighton sea-swimming event worth monitoring for a possible 2027 date.
September: Endurance swims and London favourites
Chillswim Windermere, Lake District – 4 September
The big one: an 11-mile end-to-end crossing of Windermere. This is a serious endurance challenge for experienced swimmers, and a memorable goal to work towards through the summer.
Swim Serpentine, Hyde Park, London – date to be confirmed
A fantastic local option, with a choice of distances and a festival atmosphere. Ideal for members who want to take part in an organised open-water event without travelling far from home.
Swim London, tidal Thames – date to be confirmed
A distinctive opportunity to swim in the tidal Thames, with longer-distance routes for experienced swimmers. Keep an eye on the website for the 2027 date and entry arrangements.
Dock2Dock, Royal Docks, London – date to be confirmed
A London-based open-water event with a range of distances, including longer endurance swims. Worth monitoring for members who want a local challenge.
Other events to keep an eye on
There are a few more possibilities for the 2027 calendar:
Thames Marathon, Henley to Marlow: A choice of long-distance river swims for experienced swimmers. Henley Swim website
Club to Pub, Henley-on-Thames: A river swim with a sociable finish. Check the organiser’s website for the next date.
Bournemouth Pier to Pier: Unfortunately, the previous organiser announced that the 2026 event was its final planned edition, so we’ll need to wait and see whether a replacement is announced.
Dates and entry details are subject to change, so check the organiser’s website before booking. Where 2027 details haven’t yet been confirmed, we’ve included the relevant link so you can keep an eye out.
Make 2027 a swimming year to remember
There’s plenty here to inspire us, whether you fancy a short sea swim, a pier-to-pier race, a beautiful lake crossing or a proper endurance challenge.
Our suggestion? Pick an event, get it in the diary and persuade a few fellow Brockwell Swimmers to join you. Some of the longer swims require advance preparation, and popular events can fill up quickly, so it’s worth checking entry arrangements sooner rather than later.
If you find another event you think fellow members would enjoy, let us know so we can add it to the club’s swimming calendar.
Happy swimming and see you in the water!