Cold-Water Swimming in England: Three Unheated Year-Round Venues
Three unheated venues in England show the range of cold-water swimming: a floating pool deck in the Thames, a Portsmouth lido and an open water course in Uxbridge. They were our Pools of the Month for June 2026.
By Places2Swim Editors 1 min read
Cold-water swimming in England is drawing a growing following, and three venues that came to our attention in June 2026 show the range. They are a floating pool deck in the River Thames in London, an outdoor lido in Portsmouth and an open water swimming course in Uxbridge. All three are unheated and set to be open year-round.
One hour sessions: Swim only: £10.00; concessions £8.00. Swim and sauna: £18.00; concessions £14.40. (Registration and reservations required. See the Faciliity Notes, below.) [June, 2026]
One hour sessions: Swim only £8.00; sauna only £8.00; swim & sauna £12.00. (Registration and reservations required. See the Faciliity Notes, below.) [June, 2026]
The Peninsula Aquatic Center in Sister Bay, Wisconsin, uses two Endless Pools to give a remote small town year-round swimming. It was our Pool of the Month for August 2026.
indoor · 2 pools · $30.00 per hourRead the feature
The unifying thread of these three venues is that none of them heats its water. We have found several other similar facilities in England, because year-round cold-water swimming appears to be gaining a large following there. We have also seen a lot of online discussion of its mental and physical benefits, and the idea seems to be catching on.
Sea Lanes Canary Wharf is an open-air, 50-meter pool deck floating in a side channel of the River Thames in London. The river water is not heated, and the pool is set to be open year-round.
Hilsea Lido, Portsmouth
Hilsea Lido in Portsmouth is a 67-meter, unheated, outdoor freshwater swimming pool. A lido is the British term for an outdoor swimming pool. This one is also set to be open year-round.
Denham Waterski Club, Uxbridge
The Denham Waterski Club in Uxbridge is less a swimming pool than an open water swimming venue. It has a measured course 841 meters long. The club is about 26 miles from Canary Wharf.
These three venues were Places2Swim's Pools of the Month for June 2026. Check each listing above for current rates and schedule before you go.
Joali Being in the Raa Atoll of the Maldives lets guests jump into the ocean from their own bedroom and offers a choice between 25-meter and 30-meter pools. It was our Pool of the Month for July 2026.
Sportoase De Watermolen in Sint Niklaas, Belgium, is a recently opened complex with indoor 50-meter and 25-meter pools kept at different temperatures, plus a wave pool and spray park. It was our Pool of the Month for March 2026.
50m indoor · 2 pools · Residents: €10.00Read the feature
Canary Wharf, Tower Hamlets, East London, London, England