Canary Wharf PoolSwim: Heatwaves and Swimming in the City

A glorious sight! *Photo by Sean Pollock*

Sparkling Blue in the City

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.

Pool Party Vibes

With the East London legends Bubble Club providing the vibes, the energy was pumping all day long. If you haven’t heard of Bubble Club before, they’re a non-profit learning disability arts programme who have been serving the city since 2005 and the perfect collaborative cross-over for a Level Water event. Combined with a fantastic BBQ provided by the team at Sea Lanes and plenty of cold drinks, the energy on the dockside was electric.

This event was a brand-new opportunity for us to raise our visibility in London, and it didn't disappoint. Drawn by the incredible vibe and the heat of the day, people flocked to Sea Lanes on the day to take advantage of the pool's natural chill; signing up on the spot just to be part of the action. It wasn't about speed or racing the clock, it was about the personal challenge. From seasoned open-water swimmers to nervous first-timers taking on their first 1km swim, the brilliant lifeguards kept everyone safe, cheering every single swimmer to the finish line.

A swimmer locked in to the challenge! *Photo by Sean Pollock*

Our Wonderful Swimmers

Long time Level Water supporter Kira came down on the day to swim her very own 1km challenge and stuck around to show what the true power of swimming is, cheering on two first-time open water swimmers taking on the 3km. Immediately recognising the spirit of the crowd, Kira galvanised a group of women around these young women and their swim challenge. Hollering, cheering, whistling from the sidelines and those women knew it was all for them.

Just strangers encouraging each other and celebrating what we can achieve. Together.

One of the most special moments of the day was seeing Level Water's incredible inclusion specialists, Karen and Rhyanna, joined the swim themselves. These are the people out there doing the work we raise money for, so having them in the water with us was a brilliant reminder of why we do this.

Pure Magic

As we packed up our flags and the city quieted down, we had raised an incredible £17,000; enough to fund over 1,130 one-to-one swimming lessons for disabled children. 1,130 chances that wouldn’t have happened without the city showing up to celebrate. This is what it looks like when a community comes together.

A massive thank you to everyone who swam, cheered, and danced with us in the docks.