New swimming spots officially approved across England ahead of summer – full list

New swimming spots officially approved across England ahead of summer – full listThe government has introduced the first-ever swimming site on the River Thames. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments By Mia Raja 11:40, Sun, May 31, 2026 Updated: 11:40, Sun, May 31, 2026 Brits can swim in the River Thames at Ham and Kingston (Image: Getty)With summer just around the corner and the heatwave bringing in ideal swimming weather, the government has recently announced new bathing sites opening across the country. They have provided a list of 13 new sites, including the first-ever site on the River Thames in London. window.scriptsToLoad.push({url:'https://live.primis.tech/live/liveView.php?s=118222&vp_content=plembed3a6btjknzwqh&cbuster=%%CACHEBUSTER%%&playerApiId=v118222',triggeredBy:'tcfLoaded',delay:1500,containerId:'ovp-primis',title:"Primis player",beforeLoad:()=>{window.top.addEventListener('primisPlayerInit',e=>{try{if(e.detail&&e.detail.playerApiId==="v118222"){if(window.document.getElementsByClassName('jwplayer')[0]){e.detail.float('disable')}}}catch(e){}})},}) The list was announced earlier this month, on 15 May 2026, and the initiative hopes to help “restore pride in local areas, giving a boost to outdoor and swimming groups, and protecting cherished rivers and beaches”. The new swimming spots range from Northumberland to Devon, with sites spread across the country. The government has also promised that they will be “rigorously and regularly tested by the Environment Agency.” Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Get the day's biggest headlines in UK and World news and more Subscribe Invalid emailWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy PolicyRiver Fowey in Lostwithiel, Co...