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Swim Serpentine is a swimming event that takes place in the world-famous Serpentine Lake in London's Hyde Park. There are four distance options to choose from, making this the perfect event for an enjoyable and memorable open water swim.
Brought to you by the organisers of the London Marathon.
Swim in the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park, London's largest Royal Park.
Festival day with inspirational speakers, kit and like-minded folk.
This event is part of Swim Serpentine.
2025 details to be confirmed.
The free Festival at Swim Serpentine is the ideal place to interact with fellow open water swimming enthusiasts before or after your swim! You can also visit one of our many stands to pick up some essential swimming kit, from goggles to tow-floats.
Your safety is the number-one priority at Swim Serpentine, so the water safety team will be standing by to assist on the day. The Swim Serpentine course will be clearly marked by large buoys, so you’ll find it easy to make your way around your chosen swim distance.
It’s a good idea to complete your chosen distance in full in a pool before the event, and also to practice swimming in open water beforehand, so you have the best possible experience at Swim Serpentine.
After swimmers have exited the water and passed through the check-out area, they will need to retrieve their bag and change – then they will be able to meet up with family and friends. Most of the Swim Serpentine event site is open to all, so meeting up with loved ones afterwards should be simple.
This event supports participants with a range of disabilities at Swim Serpentine.
There are a number of measures to help swimmers who require assistance to feel safe and confident at the event, including:
Please note that you do not need to enter a specific wave at the event to receive support.
The Serpentine Lake
Hyde Park
London
Greater London
W2 2UH
UK
A classic distance in the world of open-water swimming events, the one-mile swim covers one full lap (1.6K) of the Serpentine. Swimmers take anywhere from 20 minutes to one hour to complete this distance.
Everyone who takes part in Swim Serpentine must either wear a full-length wetsuit or use a tow-float for safety reasons.
Wetsuits are optional at Swim Serpentine, but if you choose not to wear one you must use a tow-float instead.
The course will be clearly marked by large buoys, and a water safety team is on hand to assist any swimmers on the day if needed. All swimmers should complete their chosen distance in full while training in a pool. Swimmers should also practise swimming in the open water before the event.
London Marathons Events inspires and delivers innovation in mass participation event sustainability.
Recycle every plastic bottle.
Reduce power usage and use Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel over red diesel in generators.
Separate waste to support recycling and reduce plastic with plastic-free goody bags made from sugarcane.
All finishers will receive a medal after their swim – no matter what their time and ability – as well as a souvenir swim hat to wear on the day!
2025 details to be confirmed.
Swim Serpentine is amazing because you are out in the open and you are racing against yourself. You're not even really racing! You're just out in mother nature, trying to take in some of the views. There's so much more enjoyment in that than a race. Mark Durrant, Swim Serpentine two-mile finisher