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Location: Shepperton Lake (London)
Date: 7th/8th June 2025
Team Size: 1 to 8
Entry Fee: £45
Fundraising Target: £200 per person
Age limit: 14+

Gather a team of between 1 to 8 swimmers and swim for an hour each, for 24 hours!

This event is unique in being a personal/team endurance swimming challenge rather than about speed or distance. It’s also very everyone over the age of 14, regardless of your ability. It’s not a race, no one is being timed or tracked. You swim as much as you want, as fast as you want.

The challenge is in the endurance, the team work and camaraderie to support each other for the duration. It’s the 2am cold swims when you just want to sleep. It’s the hugs of relief at the end of each hour knowing you’ve just ticked another hour off. It’s being huddled around the fire pit with a hot chocolate and dancing to keep warm. It’s cheering the sunrise.

It’s knowing that you’re doing it to raise money for Level Water who provide 1-to-1 swimming lessons for children with disabilities. It’s knowing that, one day, they might be able to take part in this challenge with their friends or family because of the efforts you are putting in to fundraise.

It’s knowing you are using the power of your swimming to change lives. And that’s all pretty wonderful.

Described (by one person) as ‘the Glastonbury of swimming’. The 24hr Swim Relay is a magical experience you’ll want to come back to again and again.

  • The Atmosphere

    It’s always a great atmosphere. The event staff maintained their energy throughout which helped when we were flagging!

  • Cheer the Night

    I loved the camaraderie, with people cheering on everyone, even at 2am. The people (staff and swimmers) were all so lovely and it's such an incredible community to be part of - watching everyone going in for that last hour made me emotional! The night swims were my favourite moment as it was so magical and unlike anything I'd ever done before.

  • The Glastonbury of Swimming

    It felt like a swimming festival, like a Glastonbury with open water rather than bands. The community spirit really made it something special and all level waters staff really made it an event I’m looking forward to doing each year

  • Unique & Personal

    The atmosphere was brilliant. The event itself is unique in being a personal/team endurance challenge rather than about speed or distance and although a few teams clearly wanted it to be competitive, the LW team was fantastic in promoting the inclusive, not a race message. The night time swims really are so special but also getting to swim as a team together was brilliant.

  • Such a Joy

    The event weekend was such a joy to be a part of - seeing all these people come together to do something uplifting and for such an amazing cause creates the best buzz. It's so relaxed and easy going, everyone knows where to be and when, and it all just runs so smoothly. Sitting on the benches having a coffee after a 4-5am swim had to be the highlight.

  • That organisation!

    I enjoyed the way the swims were organised, 10 mins before the hour and you can start the changeover, it was nice and smooth. The uniqueness is the 24 hour part, I think its amazing. My personal favourite moment was my 5am - 6am swim with the GLORIOUS sunrise, a ball of yellow gold reflecting off the water. A few of us, including the safety guy on the kayak, just stopped to soak it all in. And before my last swim after i had “hit the wall” with exhaustion and tears, my team mates, our kids and families all had a 30 second dance party to get me ready for the last swim.

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“That was the best…thank you so much to you and all of your team. It was such a crazy, beautiful, bonding experience. One we’ll never forget. Thanks.”

When you sign up you’ll receive 3 months of magazines from Outdoor Swimmer for £5.95 plus a free digital download. They’ll also provide you with a full training plan which means you’ll be ready to tackle the 24hr team challenge in no time.

Outdoor Swimmer magazine was created to help you expand your swimming horizons and reach your swimming goals. Whether you want to challenge yourself with events, swim more mindfully or learn how to be more confident in the water, Outdoor Swimmer magazine will support you on every stroke of your journey with expert advice from their team of coaches and experienced open water swimmers.