4 races
Event overview
Dip your toes into open water swimming for charity at Swim Serpentine.
Swim Serpentine takes place in the Serpentine Lake in the beautiful Hyde Park, and each year, thousands of pounds are raised for charitable causes! Whether you're new to open water swimming or have been dipping your toes in for many years, this is the perfect event for you to get sponsored and show you care.
Swim for charity
This event series has inspired millions of people and raised more than £1 billion for charities since 1981.
You'll be supported all the way with swimming pool plans to support your training and fundraising inspiration along with your own personalised online fundraising page to help you smash your goal.
Highlights
Open water swimming challenge
Brought to you by the organisers of London's famous marathon, offering a platform for charity fundraising.
Iconic Central London location
Swim for your favourite cause in the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park, London's largest Royal Park.
Distances for all abilities
Festival day with inspirational speakers, charities, kit and fellow fundraisers.
Ready to make a difference? Dive right in.
Event photos
Event video
Charity places
Please select your distance to find a charity and join their team.
- Event expo
- Event village
- Free venue entry
- Spectators
- Traders at event
- Wheelchair users
The festival
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.
Swimmer safety
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.
On the day
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.
Swimmers with disabilities
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:
- a ramped entrance into and exit out of the Serpentine
- assistance with entering and exiting the water
- accessible toilets and changing facilities
Please note that you do not need to enter a specific wave at the event to receive support.
- Bag storage
- Cafe
- Changing facilities
- Toilets
- Urban
Event HQ
The Serpentine Lake
Hyde Park
London
Greater London
W2 2UH
UK
Changing facilities
There are male, female and non-binary changing facilities before the Start Area (dry change) and after the Finish (wet change). Once you’ve changed, you can drop off your kitbag.
- Public transport links
- Recycling
- Sustainability policy
London Marathons Events inspires and delivers innovation in mass participation event sustainability.
Sustainability
Bottles and cups
Recycle every plastic bottle.
Emissions
Reduce power usage and use Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel over red diesel in generators.
Waste
Separate waste to support recycling and reduce plastic with plastic-free goody bags made from sugarcane.
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