Want to find the very best places to swim outdoors in London and the South East?

In Swimming Wild in South East England, outdoor adventurer Natasha Sones guides you to more than 100 of the finest rivers, lakes, lidos and beaches across London, the Home Counties and beyond. Many locations also feature tempting saunas, so you can extend the wellness benefits of your swim.

Each spot is carefully chosen to showcase the region’s remarkable variety. Take a dip in an unexpected urban oasis at London’s Canary Wharf, swimming beneath soaring skyscrapers, or escape the city at West Reservoir or the Serpentine Lido. For a more rural experience, head to Oxfordshire for a swim in the Thames, or to Surrey’s Longside Lake, where lifeguarded blue-green waters are paired with a lakeside sauna.

Along the coast, the book highlights both iconic destinations and quieter hidden gems, from St Margaret’s Bay in Kent beneath the White Cliffs of Dover to Brighton, where classic sea swims sit alongside heated lido dips at Sea Lanes.

Drawing on her extensive experience, Natasha shares clear, practical advice on access points, safety, tides and currents, conditions underfoot, and potential hazards. With guidance on essential kit, Ordnance Survey and custom maps, transport and parking details, and cafe recommendations for a well-earned post-swim treat, this book has everything you need.

Whether you’re a seasoned wild swimmer or just starting out, Swimming Wild in South East England is packed with inspiration for your next adventure.

Natasha Sones is a passionate year-round wild swimmer, outdoor adventurer and freelance travel writer with a deep love of all things water. She has taken part in numerous outdoor swimming events, including the UK Cold Water Swimming Championships in January 2025, and has paddleboarded in some remarkable locations. Highlights include a solo journey around the Helsinki archipelago in 2023, supported by the Adventure Queens Grant, and competing in a SUP race in the Alps in 2024. Closer to home, Natasha volunteers with the Bluetits Chill Swimmers – an inclusive, free-to-join social swim community – and she is also an Ordnance Survey Champion. Researching swim spots across London and South East England for her first book has been a dream come true. Along the way, Natasha has made new friends, taken part in events, shared memorable experiences with friends and family, and embraced everything from solo swims and icy dips to swimming in the sea alongside 500 other women. She has pushed herself from being a casual dipper to confidently swimming a mile. Natasha holds a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing and has over 20 years’ experience as an editor, writer, journalist and blogger. She is also a qualified stand-up paddleboarding instructor. She lives near the sea and forest in East Anglia with her husband, three children and dogs. Swimming Wild in South East England is her first book.
www.natashasoneseditorial.com
@natashastarseeker

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Update: September 2022. Most orders received through the Vertebrate Publishing Adventure Books website are dispatched from Gardners in Eastbourne, UK; some orders (such as signed copies of pre-orders, or limited stock items) are sent from our office in Sheffield, UK. If your order is for multiple items, you may receive more than one package, though we try to avoid this (if applicable, you would only be charged once for shipping). Orders received before 11 a.m. are dispatched the same day; orders received after 11 a.m. are usually dispatched the following business day. You will be sent a notification email when your order has been dispatched. If we are temporarily out of stock of a title we will advise by email.

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