River swimming spots in the United Kingdom
Designated river bathing waters in the United Kingdom, with their classification and current status.
River bathing waters are a recent and still small category — England designated its first stretch of river in 2020. They are assessed under the same directive as beaches, against the inland reference values, and are more exposed to run-off and sewage discharge after rain than coastal waters.
Water body type is identified from the spot's name, because neither agency publishes it. A river swimming spot whose name does not say so will be missing from this list.
17 spots, grouped by region. Each shows its current swim status — an award or a classification is not the same as today’s water.
Babergh
Cambridge
Cornwall
East Suffolk
Kingston upon Thames
New Forest
Pangbourne Parish
Ribble Valley
Shropshire
Somerset
South Oxfordshire
Telford and Wrekin
Wiltshire
Common questions
- How many river swimming spots are there in the United Kingdom?
- 17 — this page lists all of them, grouped by area, with each one's current swim status.
- What does this mean?
- River bathing waters are a recent and still small category — England designated its first stretch of river in 2020. They are assessed under the same directive as beaches, against the inland reference values, and are more exposed to run-off and sewage discharge after rain than coastal waters.
- Can I swim at all of these right now?
- No. 10 of these 17 spots are currently flagged, including 1 under an active do-not-swim notice. A rating or an award describes a past assessment; the status on each spot page is today's. Neither is a safety clearance — bathing-water monitoring covers bacterial quality only, and says nothing about tides, currents, swell or cold-water shock.
- Which areas of the United Kingdom have the most?
- Somerset (3), East Suffolk (2), Shropshire (2). They are spread across 13 areas in total.