Swim Serpentine

Swim Serpentine is a one-day open water swimming festival staged in the heart of London.Organised by London Marathon Events, the festival is held in and around the beautiful Serpentine in Hyde Park, the venue for the open water swimming competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Swim Serpentine is a one-day open water swimming event staged in the beautiful setting of the famous Serpentine in Hyde Park, the venue for the open water swimming competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games.Thousands of swimmers will have the chance to take part in events which include:Half-Mile Swim: Taking in half a lap of the Serpentine, there is plenty of time to swim this distance at your leisure with a friend, race your mum or dad or just to try out an open water swimming event with an achievable but for some still challenging swim.One-Mile Swim: A classic distance in the world of open water swimming events. Swim Serpentine takes place on the same course as the London 2012 Marathon Swimming Olympic event, with one full lap around the Serpentine making up the one-mile swim. This is the most popular of all the swim distances for Swim Serpentine with swimmers taking anything from 20 minutes through to one hour to complete the swim.Two-Mile Swim: For those who would like to test themselves with two full (1.6km) laps of the Serpentine. Aimed at more experienced swimmers who have already completed a mile open water swim previously. A challenging two-lap swim set in a beautiful location.Every swimmer will be able to choose a start wave when they sign up, with swimmers setting off at regular intervals during the day.

TimetableSwimmers will set off at the following times at the 2018 edition of Swim Serpentine.WAVE          NUMBER DISTANCE          START TIME1                                Half Mile                           08:302        Para Swimmers One Mile(Invitation Only)    09:003                  One Mile (Women Only)             09:104                            One MIle                              09:455                            One Mile                              10:156                            Two Mile                              10:457                            Two Mile                              11:458                           One Mile                               12:459                           One Mile                               13:1510                        Two Mile                                13:4511                         Two Mile                               14:4512                        Two Mile                               15:45

We recommend that you travel on the Tube. The closest Tube to the event area is Lancaster Gate on the Central line. Alight here and the event area is a 700m walk across Hyde Park. You can also alight at Marble Arch (Central line), Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly line) or Knightsbridge (Piccadilly line) and the event area is around 1km from each Tube station.Car ParkTriangle Car Park, adjacent to the Serpentine at the north end of Serpentine Bridge, will not be open over the event weekend. We recommend that swimmers and spectators avoid coming by car as parking spaces are limited.

Wearing a wetsuit or using a tow-floatEveryone who takes part in the Swim Serpentine events must either wear a wetsuit or use a tow-float for safety reasons.If the temperature of the water in the Serpentine is 15°C or above, wetsuits are optional at Swim Serpentine. If you choose not to wear a wetsuit, you must use a tow-float.If the water temperature is under 15°C, wetsuits are compulsory.To avoid disappointment, please be advised that hire wetsuits should be ordered online before the event as HUUB will have limited stock on the day and cannot guarantee to have your size. Hire wetsuits cannot be returned on the day of the event.Your swim hatWe have sent you a silicone swim hat for the event. You MUST wear this hat as it displays your start wave colour. If you have a favourite swim hat that you usually swim in, you can wear this underneath your Swim Serpentine swim hat – but please take care not to overheat if it is warm on the day of the race. 

Q. Where are the best places to spectate from?A. There will be grandstands in the event area for the public to use as well as spectator areas around the Serpentine.Q. Where are the best places for someone in a wheelchair to watch?A. There will be a public wheelchair viewing area adjacent to the grandstands.Q. Is there any entertainment in Hyde Park?A. We are aiming for a festival atmosphere over the event weekend and there will be fun activities for the whole family at Swim Serpentine. 

Q. Can I choose my start wave?A. Yes, you will be able to choose your start wave when you sign up for Swim Serpentine, so you’ll be able to swim with friends and family if you’d like to. If you do not choose a wave, you will be allocated one based on your predicted finishing time.Please note: The half-mile swim will take place at 08:30 – there is only one wave. Everyone who enters the half-mile swim will be part of the 08:30 wave.Q. Can I swim breaststroke?A. Yes, breaststroke is allowedQ. Is there a map of the course?A. A map of the course will be available to view in the build-up to the event.Q. Will I get an official finishing time?A. Yes – all swimmers get finish times, which are available on our results page after the event.Q. Are there prizes for the fastest swimmers?A. The mass participation events are not races, with the main focus on fun. However, specially designed age group medals will be mailed out post-event to the top three male and female finishers in the following age group categories:One and Two-Mile Swims: 16-24 years old, then 10-year age bands starting at 25 years old.The Half-Mile Swim is a fun event, although the top three male and female finishers in the 12/13 and 14/15 age categories, who are unable to enter the longer events, will also be awarded medals.