As temperatures soar and a heatwave hits the capital, there are plenty of opportunities for Londoners to cool off and have some fun with a host of water-based activities this summer.
Here are some of the ways to get involved.
Royal Docks Summer Splash – Friday 24 July – Sunday 16 August 2026
London’s free open water lido returns to Royal Victoria Dock for three weeks this summer. This family-friendly experience features lifeguard-supervised swimming, sandpits, deckchairs and sun-safe relaxation areas. With lane swimming, stunning city views, and a packed programme of free activities, Summer Splash is the perfect way to cool off or make a day of it. Free entry, open daily.
Explore the full programme at royaldocks.london/whats-on/at-the-docks
London T100 Triathlon – 25-26 July
The London T100 Triathlon, billed as the world’s biggest city centre triathlon, will see thousands of athletes dive into Royal Victoria Dock for a 2km freshwater swim against the backdrop of the East London skyline. With distances from a 750m Sprint up to the full T100, it’s a challenge open to all.
Entries now open at t100triathlon.com/London
Wakeboarding & Paddleboarding – WakeUp Docklands
WakeUp Docklands offers paddleboarding and paddleboard yoga throughout the summer in the stunning setting of Royal Victoria Dock – from beginner sessions to guided tours. Adrenaline junkies can head to WakeUp’s wakeboarding cables, the only ones in central London, with instructors on hand to get newcomers riding.
Book now at wakeupdocklands.com
Open Water Swimming – Love Open Water
Open water swimmers can take the plunge year-round with Love Open Water, who offer courses for complete beginners through to triathlon-distance training in the historic Royal Victoria Dock. Reopening July.
Find out more at loveopenwater.co.uk
Dragon Boating & Raft Building – Royal Docks Adventure
Those after team activities can try dragon boating or raft-building with Royal Docks Adventure, which offers watersports for all ages and abilities. This Docklands charity aims to provide sporting opportunities to local people of all ages and abilities with canoeing, dragon boating and sailing just some of the activities on offer.
Contact Royal Docks Adventure at radt.org.uk
So as the mercury rises, skip the packed parks head and head to the Royal Docks for an unforgettable summer on the water right in the heart of the city.
Dock2Dock® 2026: London’s Iconic Open Water Swim Event. Saturday 12 Septeber
On Saturday 12 September, a thousand swimmers will take to the water at London’s Royal Docks for Dock2Dock® – one of the capital’s most celebrated open water swimming events.
Set against the backdrop of historic dockside cranes, with Canary Wharf and the O2 on the horizon, the event offers something genuinely unique: a chance to swim in the heart of one of the world’s great cities. Distances range from a 1.5k taster all the way up to an epic 15k, making it accessible to newcomers and seasoned swimmers alike.
Following last year’s 10th anniversary, this year’s tickets sold out in record time – places gone in just a matter of days. It’s a measure of just how much the open water swimming community has grown, and how firmly Dock2Dock has established itself on the calendar. The event attracts swimmers from all over the UK, as well as many travelling from further afield globally to take part.
The water at the Royal Docks, often mistaken as part of the Thames, is fed from the Thames Estuary via a controlled impound station and independently tested – consistently rating as excellent by bathing standards.
Missed out on a ticket? Come down to spectate and cheer on the swimmers, or be part of the action by joining the volunteering team – known as The Yellow Brigade.
To register interest for 2027, visit dock2dock.co.uk
