Entries Open for Festival of Swimming 2025 - Saturday 7th June
What is the Festival of Swimming?
The Festival of Swimming is a celebratory gala run by London Fields Lido in collaboration with Hackney Aquatics. The event gives every swimmer a chance to showcase their best and compete against their personal goals to get a time in a low pressure environment. The event is open for adults of all ages and children from 8 years old up, who can swim 50m.
At the heart of the Festival is one idea - swimming is for everyone.
Each participant may enter into as many individual and relay races as they wish. Heats are organised by entry time only, meaning you will be racing alongside others who swim at a similar speed, rather than according to swimmer categories.
Times and ability for the participants varies hugely – from complete beginners to competitive swimmers! You will receive a special edition hat for participation and a record of your time. As this is a celebratory event, we will also be giving out spot prizes for random heats.
How to Enter
Entry to the Festival is £5 and includes any of the below individual events, as well as fun relays.
- 400m free
- 100m free and breast
- 50m free, breast, back and fly
Alongside the races, there will be a range of stalls and entertainment to enjoy throughout the day including:
- Inflatable Race Course*
- Glitter tattoos and Hair braids
- Goggles and swimwear brands
- Free First Aid Workshops
- Steel Band and more!
*competent swimmers over 8 only
Spectators are welcome – £3 on the day.
Further Information
Accessibility
We welcome all swimmers and make an effort to ensure our pool accommodates. Our lifeguards would be happy to discuss anything we can do to make the event more accessible for you. To see detailed accessibility information for the venue, please visit our AccessAble guide page here.
Volunteering
To help the day run smoothly, we would love your help. If you would like to volunteer to help out when you are not racing, please let us know by getting in touch at london-fields-lido@gll.org. We have a range of roles available, from greeters to timekeepers and marshals. You would not be required to stay for the duration of the event - we would appreciate any of your time.
Contact
All participants will receive communications related to the event via email. Final communications will be out on Friday 6th June 2025. In the meantime, if you have any further questions, please get in touch with us at london-fields-lido@gll.org.
FAQs
- How do I register for races? You will receive a race entry form closer to the event where you will need to select your races and entry times. All relay entries will be done on the day.
- Do I have to dive in? We will have diving blocks available, but you do not have to use them! You can dive from the side or start in the water.
- Can I bring family/friends? Spectators are welcome! Spectator entry is £3 on the door on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- Can I bring refreshments? Feel free to bring refreshments to picnic in the sunbathing area – normal premises terms apply (no BBQ, smoking, vaping or alcohol).
- Is there re-entry into the venue? Yes. You will receive a wristband which will allow you to leave and come back in throughout the event.
- When will I get my results? You can find out your time immediately upon finishing the race. The full set of times will be published by event once all the heats and races are complete. You will receive these by email, or may view them on London Fields Lido page of the Better website.
- Can I sign up on the day? To guarantee a place, ensure you sign up in advance. If space and time allow, we will endeavour to accommodate on the day.
- What happens if I change my mind? We would be grateful if you could let us know in advance london-fields-lido@gll.org. We will try to make changes to your races on the day if we can. If it gets busy or races are full this may not be possible.
- Will there be podiums/medals? This is a celebratory event with each participant getting a limited edition hat, no matter their time! There will also be spot prizes for random heats. We encourage participation at all levels.