It’s midsummer in the northern hemisphere now and we still (hopefully) have a good few weeks of warm water. But if you are thinking about swimming outdoors this winter, now is the time to start preparing, especially if you’re not going to wear a wetsuit. Follow our nine tips to get you ready for cold water swimming...

"There’s something about the River Thames that speaks to the soul of any anglophile swimmer. There’s a mystique to jumping into that storied waterway, likely better known today for its superlative regattas than for its deep pools of swimming history." Elaine K. Howley recounts a beautiful adventure at the annual 13-kilometre Thames Marathon Swim.

Callum Eade of New Zealand became the 100th person to cross the North Channel between Ireland and Scotland on 8 August 2022.

When her local swimming pool closed during the lockdowns in 2020, 16-year-old Jessika Robson didn’t despair – she turned to the open water.