Key Points

• Introduction of Open Water Swimming: Organized sessions of open water swimming have now begun at the south side lakes of Bedfont Lakes Country Park located in Hounslow, as an effort to revive the sport which had been banned for several years.
• Partnership and Management: The program is the result of collaboration between the Hounslow Council, Lampton Greenspace, and the experienced operator Howl Multisports to ensure safe operation by trained supervision and periodic water tests.
• Accessing the Sessions: Open water swimming sessions can be booked using the NOWCA / ACTiO app provided by National Open Water Coaching and Aquatics and are charged at £7 per person and can be accessed from Challenge Road, Feltham.
• Operating Timetable: These sessions are organized on selected Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays throughout the year depending on demand.
• Safety Precautions: After conducting thorough tests for the quality of the water, the council has put into place safety measures such as personnel in water and on shore, as well as signs that keep away any uninvited swimmers.

uk/local/hounslow/">Hounslow (West London Times) — September 09, 2026 — Open water swimming has officially returned to West London as managed swim sessions launch at the southside lakes of Bedfont Lakes Country Park in Hounslow. As reported by Philip James Lynch of MyLondon, the activity had been prohibited for several years following safety concerns and previous tragic incidents, but the ban has now been lifted after Hounslow Council successfully secured a specialized operational partner.

The new framework is designed to tackle the rising demand for outdoor cooling options during hot weather while ensuring absolute public safety. The initiative is managed in partnership with Lampton Greenspace and specialist operator Howl Multisports, which oversees similar open water venues elsewhere in the country. Rigorous water-quality tests have been conducted by the local authority to certify the lakes as safe for public use.

How will the managed swim sessions operate and what facilities are available?

According to details provided by Philip James Lynch of MyLondon, the supervised sessions will take place on selected Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays throughout the year, depending on public demand. Swimmers can choose from varied route lengths mapped out around the lake, supported constantly by qualified safety staff stationed both on the water and along the shoreline.

Access to the designated swim site is located off Challenge Road in Feltham, on the western side of the railway line. Participants are required to book their slots ahead of time using the National Open Water Coaching and Aquatics network app, with tickets priced at £7 per person. On-site amenities provided for visitors include free parking facilities and designated changing rooms.

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What do local authorities and community leaders say about the launch?

Local officials have welcomed the relaunch, emphasizing the dual benefits of physical recreation and mental well-being. Councillor Salman Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Public Realm at Hounslow Council, stated:

“We’re delighted to bring managed open water swimming to Bedfont Lakes. This is a fantastic opportunity for people to enjoy one of our borough’s most beautiful outdoor spaces in a new way, while supporting both physical and mental wellbeing.”

Furthermore, Councillor Salman Shaheen added:

“Open water swimming has become increasingly popular across London, and we’re proud to offer a safe, professionally managed experience here in Hounslow.”

Alongside the formal launch of these sessions, the local authority has taken extra precautions to prevent unauthorized and dangerous swimming in unmonitored areas. New warning signage has been installed around the water bodies, and regular park ranger patrols have been implemented to reinforce water safety awareness.

Background of the particular development

Bedfont Lakes Country Park has a rich and varied history that underpins its current transformation into a recreational hub. Historically, the land served as market gardens and orchards, famously supplying fresh apples and pears to Covent Garden Market in Central London. From the 1950s onward, the site shifted drastically in purpose, operating as a landfill until its closure in 1973.

By the late 1980s, a major environmental reclamation project took place, converting the former landfill into a sprawling parkland characterized by lakes, woodland, and open grassland. The park officially opened to the public in 1995 and was designated as a nature conservation and local wildlife site. Over the decades, it has evolved into a prized community asset for Hounslow and Spelthorne residents. However, managing water-based activities has historically presented challenges. Unsupervised swimming was prohibited following safety concerns and tragic drowning incidents in past years, prompting calls from the community for regulated access. The current partnership with Howl Multisports and Hounslow Council represents a structured middle ground, balancing public recreational demand with strict safety parameters.

This development is expected to significantly impact local residents, open water swimmers, and triathletes across West London and surrounding boroughs like Spelthorne. For the particular audience of fitness enthusiasts, open-water swimmers, and local families, the return of Bedfont Lakes provides a regulated, accessible, and professionally supervised training environment without requiring long-distance travel out of Greater London.

Economically and socially, the structured sessions are anticipated to boost local physical and mental health engagement, fulfilling requests highlighted in recent council consultations for enhanced park amenities. Concurrently, by channeling demand into a managed framework backed by app-based bookings, the council mitigates the persistent public safety risks associated with unauthorized wild swimming during summer heatwaves. This initiative sets a precedent for safely reactivating disused industrial or landfill-reclaimed water spaces for community sports use.