SOS Juliet Turnbull, Craig Robertson and Jess Smith
Ella Foote meets SOS for a socially distanced swim near Hampton Court Palace
The River Thames is now busier than ever with swimmers. Tow floats and bright hats can be spotted on pretty much any stretch of the river from Gloucestershire down to Richmond. It was once seen as dirty and bonkers to plunge into the UK’s most famous river, mostly known for the brown and dangerous stretch through Central London and less so for clearer water and lush green riverbanks upstream. With lockdown easing, pools still closed, and many open water venues sold out, the Thames is a great choice for a long swim if planned right and you are familiar with the risks. It seems many London lido lovers have found themselves swimming stretches of the Thames and groups in Surrey, Berkshire and Oxfordshire have seen a boom in new members.