LONDON pool-lovers are being urged to make a splash for good causes this spring by signing up for Swimathon 2025.
The sponsored event – the world’s biggest annual fundraising swim – is returning to pools across the capital from 28-30 March, including:
Acton Centre
Balham Leisure Centre
Barnet: Copthall; New Barnet Leisure Centre
Barking: Abbey Leisure Centre.
Barking & Dagenham: Becontree Health Leisure, Dagenham
Bexleyheath: Crook Log Leisure Centre
Brixton Recreation Centre; Brockwell Lido
Camden: Pancras Square Leisure
Charlton Lido
Chelsea Sports Centre
Chingford Leisure Centre
Clapham Leisure Centre
Cheam Leisure Centre
Croydon: Better New Addington
Dulwich College Sports Centre
Eltham: Eric Liddell Sports Centre
Enfield: Albany Leisure Centre; Southbury Leisure Centre; Southgate Leisure Centre.
Erith Leisure Centre
Feltham: Hanworth Air Park Leisure Centre
Finchley Lido
Greenwich: The Greenwich Centre; Waterfront Leisure Centre
Harrow: Harrow Leisure Centre; Hatch End Swimming Pool
Hackney: Britannia Leisure Centre; King’s Hall Leisure Centre; London Fields Lido
Hampton Pool
Hampstead: UCS Active
Heston Pool
Hillingdon: Botwell Green Sports; HSLC Swim School
Ilford: Fulwell Cross Leisure Centre
Kensington Leisure Centre
Leytonstone Leisure Centre
Ilford: Fullwell Cross Leisure Centre
Isle of Dogs: Tiller Centre
Isleworth Leisure Centre
Mitcham: Canons Leisure Centre
Morden Leisure Centre
New Malden: The Malden Centre
Northolt Leisure Centre
North Woolwich: Royal Wharf Clubhouse
Orpington: Walnuts Leisure Centre
Peckham Pulse Leisure Centre
Poplar Baths
Pimlico: Queen Mother Sports Centre
Greenwich: Charlton Lido
Shepherd’s Bush: Phoenix Fitness Centre
Sidcup Leisure Centre
Soho: Marshall Street Leisure Centre
South Norwood Leisure Centre
Stoke Newington: Clissold Leisure Centre
Stratford: London Aquatics Centre
Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre
Sutton: Westcroft Leisure Centre
Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre
Teddington Pool
Thamesmead: Thamesmere Leisure Centre
Thornton Heath Leisure centre
Tooting Leisure Centre
Waltham Forest Feel Good Centre
Wandsworth: Latchmere Leisure Centre
West End: Oasis Sports Centre
West Norwood Health & Leisure Centre
Wembley Leisure Centre; Moberly Sports Centre, Vale Farm Sports Centre
Westminster: Marshall Street Leisure Centre, Porchester Leisure Centre
Willesden Sports Centre
Wimbledon Leisure Centre
Swimmers of all ages and abilities are being encouraged to take the plunge and raise money for Cancer Research UK, the end of life charity Marie Curie and Swimathon Foundation.
There’s a variety of individual challenges to choose from – from 400m up to a supercharged Triple 5k – or teams of 2-5 people can take part in a 1.5k or 5k relay.
Anyone who can’t make one of the organised sessions can sign up to MySwimathon and, between 21 March–6 April, choose a distance, time and venue that suits them to play their part and complete their swim.
Swimathon President and Olympic gold medallist, Duncan Goodhew MBE, hopes to inspire people to enjoy the benefits of swimming, while making a real difference to people across the UK.
He said: “Every year at Swimathon I meet incredible people with incredible stories; those who are swimming for the first time, those that are swimming in memory of a loved one, those that are swimming unimaginable distances, those that are recovering from cancer, or those that are facing a terminal illness – and I know this year will be no different.
“Everyone has their own story and everyone can set their own Swimathon challenge. You just have to be you; whatever your ability, whatever your age, whatever your drive. To me, everyone is a Swimathon star!”
Since 1986, when Swimathon started as an initiative to increase the number of people swimming at local authority pools, more than 750,000 swimmers have taken part raising over £55 million for a variety of nominated charities.
Cancer Research UK spokesperson for London, Lynn Daly, said: “Swimathon is a great way to encourage people to dip their toe in the water and get swimming. It really doesn’t matter if you’re not the fittest or the fastest, because there’s no greater motivation for taking part than helping to support causes that are close to the hearts of so many.
“Nearly one in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime* but, through challenges like Swimathon, all of us can help beat it. That’s why we’re urging swimmers to grab their caps and costumes, raise money and help our scientists to keep making new discoveries and breakthroughs. Together, we are beating cancer.”
National Events Manager for Marie Curie, Hannah Grant, said: “Swimathon is a fun and family friendly way for people to take on a new challenge and raise money for a good cause. Every five minutes, someone in the UK dies without the care they need. No matter what your ability, just by heading down to your local pool this March you can raise money to help Marie Curie continue to bring expert palliative and end of life care to more people, whatever their illness.”
