London Swimmers - get ready to dive into the world's biggest annual fundraising swim!

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.”

Five or 10 week training plans are available for all challenges on the Swimathon website.

Sign up now at swimathon.org