As 7:00 AM approached, morning light finally broke over Peterborough, signalling the final push. The water came alive with celebration: an inflatable swan took to the surface, and an entire water polo team plunged into the centre of the pool to pass a water polo ball between teammates as they celebrated the finish.

Saturday afternoon blessed the lake with glorious, hot sunshine and glassy, flat water. The site layout brought everyone right to the water’s edge: the in-and-out changeover tent, medics, and warming firepit directly on the shoreline. Supporters lined the bank in camping chairs, cheering, chatting, and calling out to swimmers on every single lap.

The autumn weather delivered a mix of elements, but it constantly erred on the side of magic. Vibrant rainbows arched across the water during the day, creating picture-perfect backdrops for the swimmers out on the loop.

There are river swims, and then there is the Hurly Burly. Nestled on the edge of Snowdonia National Park, the Mawddach Estuary played host to 600 intrepid swimmers for one of the wilder, faster, and most thrilling events on the Level Water calendar.

Deep within the financial district of London, nestled among towering skyscrapers and historic docks, lies the Canary Wharf Lido. A 50-metre, open-water pool built right into the docks, it is a completely unique venue, and the perfect place to bring Level Water magic to the heart of the city.

Swimmers chose between 1k, 3k, or 5k distances, donned their pink swim caps and took to the fresh waters of the Eden Dock, lane style. Don’t be fooled by the lanes, the event felt less like a traditional swim challenge and more like an exclusive beach club party. A heatwave pushed temperatures to a glorious 35°C; swimmers couldn't wait to jump into the water, and spectators were just as happy to bask in the sun.

As a brand-new venue on the Level Water circuit, the 60-acre lake at Ellerton Park set the stage for a weekend of North Yorkshire grit, warmth, and incredible community spirit.

Arriving at a fresh location always brings a touch of quiet intrigue, but as soon as the registration tent opened, the peaceful countryside vibe shifted into pure event energy. A local musician set the tone with sets of acoustic guitar covers, music drifted across the banks, teams gathered to set up camp, and by the time the pre-swim briefing kicked off, the buzz around the lake was unmistakable.

Twenty-four hours. One stunning lake. Endless pink and yellow bunting, and an atmosphere that brought the Level Water community together for another unforgettable weekend.

Returning to the gorgeous Watersedge Lake is always a highlight of the season. With its sleek wooden saunas, sweeping stretch tent, and picnic tables looking out over the water, the venue brings a touch of class to our midsummer madness. We lined every inch of the site with our signature flags - even setting up a protective perimeter of bunting and a very necessary "Beehive" sign around an active wasps' nest to keep campers safe!

Two days. Wall-to-wall Devon sunshine. Around 1,600 swimmers across two swims on the most beautiful stretch of coast in the country. £350,000 raised and counting, almost £100,000 more than last year.

That will fund somewhere in the region of 23,000 adapted swimming lessons for disabled children. And at this event more than any other, you could see exactly who those lessons are for. But we’ll come to that.

Bantham is our flagship. It’s the most sought-after ticket in outdoor swimming, and when entries for 2026 opened, they were gone in half an hour. Stand on that beach on a July morning, and you'll understand why.

Last year, the river said no. Water quality on the Dart forced our hand, and there are few harder things than telling hundreds of swimmers, people who had trained all winter through dark mornings and cold water, that the swim couldn't go ahead.

So we didn't simply restage it. The team went to work and gave this iconic event the facelift it deserved, and the chance to be its best self. Ferries, a new finish, the whole event redrawn.

The biggest change came at the top of the river. The swim now starts at Sharpham, rather than Totnes, and this isn't a cosmetic change: water quality at the new start is between ten and thirty times better than at the old one. The same legendary river, the same bucket-list distance, the same deckchairs and hot chocolate, but cleaner water under every stroke.