Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim
Sat 5 Jul 2025 Bournemouth, Dorset, UK Fundraising required

Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim

Join hundreds of other swimmers and take on an epic 1.4 mile open water swim from Boscombe Pier to Bournemouth Pier. With every stroke, you’ll be powering lifesaving research.

  • Sat 5 Jul 2025
  • Fundraising required
Boscombe Pier, Bournemouth > Bournemouth Pier, Bournemouth

Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim

14:00

Age 14 & over

Sign up £50

Fundraise £300

  • 1.4 miles sea swimming

Event overview

Join the British Heart Foundation for this epic 1.4 mile open water swim in the English Channel to fund lifesaving research.

Discover what you can do this year. Take the plunge and sign up to the Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim this June! Join hundreds of other swimmers and take on an epic 1.4 mile open water swim from Boscombe Pier to Bournemouth Pier. With every stroke, you’ll be powering lifesaving research and helping the British Heart Foundation to give people more time with the ones they love.

Highlights

  • An epic open water swimming challenge in the English Channel
  • Swim 1.4 miles between Boscombe and Bournemouth Piers
  • Fundraising tips and advice to help you smash your target
  • A bespoke training plan created by expert training coaches
  • Access to the official Team BHF Facebook group to chat to your fellow swimmers
  • A free BHF swim cap to wear with pride on the big day
  • A fully supported event including a water safety team, lifeguards and medical support
  • Professional photographers to capture you smashing your challenge
  • A huge cheer and a well deserved BHF medal when you cross the finish line! 

Event video

  • Average fitness
  • Event village
  • Families
  • Newcomers
  • Spectators
  • Swim hat provided
  • Teams
  • Wetsuit advised
  • Wetsuit required
  • Wheelchair users

Safety team

Setting off from Boscombe Pier, you’ll swim 1.4 miles parallel to the shore and make your way towards the finish line at Bournemouth Pier. There’ll be lifeguards and medical support along the route to make sure you have a safe but most importantly, enjoyable swim!

Who it's for

The swim is open to all - from those who are new to swimming, to the regular open water swimmer! All aged 14 and over are welcome to sign up and take part.

If you have a physical disability or use a wheelchair, you are more than welcome to take part if you are an experienced swimmer.

Wetsuits

You are advised to wear a wetsuit to complete the challenge, as it’ll help you to float and keep you warm. If you’re an experienced open water swimmer and would prefer to take part in the challenge without one, please complete a wetsuit exemption form and send it back to us.

Swimmers who are under 18 must wear a wetsuit to take part in the event.

Start time

2pm and 2.45pm swim waves are available.

  • Bag transfer
  • Cafe
  • Coast
  • Music
  • Paid parking
  • Showers
  • Toilets

Event HQ

Boscombe Pier
Undercliff Road
Bournemouth
Dorset
BH5 1BN
UK

You’ll start at Boscombe Pier, Undercliff Road, Boscombe, BH5 1BN. You’ll triumphantly cross the finish line at Bournemouth Pier Approach, Bournemouth, BH2 5AA. 

Parking

The event takes place near Bournemouth Town Centre where there are plenty of pay and display car parks available. Follow the signs as you approach the town, and remember to bring some change with you. The start site is situated near Boscombe Pier. Look out for the British Heart Foundation flags and signage to find us!

Public transport

Bournemouth rail and bus stations are a 30 minute walk away, or just a 15 minute taxi ride.

  • Cut off time
  • First aid
  • Marshals
  • Point to point
  • Staggered starts
  • Sweeper
  • Timed section
  • Toilets
  • Wave start
  • Way markers

Route

  • You’ll start at Boscombe Pier, Undercliff Road, Boscombe, BH5 1BN.
  • You’ll triumphantly cross the finish line at Bournemouth Pier Approach, Bournemouth, BH2 5AA.

Setting off from Boscombe Pier, you’ll swim 1.4 miles parallel to the shore and make your way towards the finish line at Bournemouth Pier. There’ll be lifeguards and medical support along the route to make sure you have a safe but most importantly, enjoyable swim!

Wetsuits are recommend to complete the challenge, as it will help you float and keep warm. If you’re an experienced open water swimmer and would prefer to take part in the challenge without one, you have the option of completing an exemption form. Swimmers who are under 18 must wear a wetsuit to take part in the event.

Cut off

The swim normally takes between 30 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes to complete. Swim at your own pace, however, there is a 2 hour time limit on all swims for safety reasons.

Sustainability

  • Recycling

  • Chip timing
  • Medal
  • Race photo
  • Training plan

Included

  • Regular contact from the BHF team to support you all the way to the finish line
  • A training plan created by expert training coaches
  • Access to the official Team BHF Facebook group to chat to your fellow swimmers
  • A free BHF swim cap to wear with pride on the big day
  • A fully supported event including a water safety team, lifeguards and medical support
  • A goody bag from official headline sponsors, Jazz Apples, including a finisher's t-shirt
  • Professional photographers to capture you smashing your challenge
  • A huge cheer and a well deserved BHF medal when you cross the finish line! 
  • Fundraising tips and advice to help you reach your target

Finishing time

If you provided your mobile number when you register you'll be sent a text message within an hour of completing the event letting you know your finish time. Your time will also be available online on the Monday following the event.

  • Fundraising incentives
  • Fundraising materials
  • Fundraising required
  • Fundraising support

POWER RESEARCH WITH EVERY stroke

By registering to take part, you're committing to raising £300.

The money you raise will be funnelled into groundbreaking science and support for the people who need it most.

  • If you smash your £300 target by midnight on Sunday 8 June 2025, you'll be sent an exclusive Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim towel to wear with pride on the big day.
towel
  • And if you raise over £500 by Sunday 8 June 2025, you'll also be sent a free BHF sew on badge (new badge incoming for 2025!).
badge

Fundraising support

The BHF events team will support you with your fundraising from when you first sign up to the day of the event.

When you sign up, you’ll receive a welcome pack that has everything you need to know about fundraising including:

  • Inspirational ideas
  • Downloadable resources
  • Top tips to maximise donations 

  • Age 14 & over
  • Entries open
  • Charity places
  • Enter online
  • Fundraising required

You need to be at least 14 years old to take part in the swim. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult who is also registered for the event.

Entry fees

Entry fee

£50.00

Minimum sponsorship

£300.00

"The event is wonderful. The atmosphere, the organisation… fabulous, safe and fun." Heidi, BHF Swimmer