Outdoor swimming in the UK comes with its own challenges: whether you're hitting the famous ponds on Hampstead Heath or splashing in the sea, make sure you're equipped to deal with waters that can be surprisingly cold even in the height of summer.
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Summer in the city has us all searching for an oasis, be it a palm-strewn balcony bar, a shaded pub garden or somewhere to splash in cooling waters.
For me, pre-lockdown at least, a visit to the Kenwood Ladies' Bathing Pond was like a mini-retreat, a chance to step away from the clamour of the city and constant online noise, and get back to nature, sharing the space with other women and water fowl only. Now the three ponds on Hampstead Heath are open once again, albeit not for the sort of day-long lounging that visitors used to enjoy.
Whether you've secured a spot in one of the Ponds, are booked in to an unheated lido or are taking advantage of wild swimming elsewhere in the UK, take it from me: even on the warmest day, deep cold water can take your breath away and make your teeth chatter, meaning that it's best to be prepared before taking a plunge.
Happily, rash vests are more fashionable now than they've ever been, and there are all manner of clever accessories to help regulate the temperature in your extremities meaning you're likely to stay in the water longer and feel empowered to swim more often.
Can't get there in person? At the Pond, Swimming at the Hampstead Ladies' Pond is a love letter to one of London's most special and secluded spots.
Thanks to clever cuts and supportive structures, a sporty swimming costume can be super-flattering as well as practical. Longer-length costumes might feel like pro kit, but they're surprisingly useful if you're thinking of trying out other water activities or fancy getting active on the beach.
Left to right: Nike Women's Fastback one-piece swimsuit, £38.95 – buy here; Nabaiji Leony chlorine-resistant one-piece shorty swimsuit, £12.99 – buy here; Adidas SH3.RO Mid 3-stripes swimsuit, £29.95 – buy here; Fastskin LZR Racer Element openback kneeskin, £126 – buy here
Not just for surfers: wear a long-sleeved rash guard over a bikini or swimsuit for a bit of extra warmth, plus they'll add further protection from damaging sun rays too.
Left to right: Cover black rash guard, £114.29 – buy here; Subea women's long-sleeved neoprene thermal top, £17.99 – buy here; Olaian 500 women's long-sleeved UV protection surf top, £9.99 – buy here
A long-sleeved costume can be a slick investment – wear it alone, or over a bikini if you want a quick change before hitting the beach.
Left to right: Lululemon Wade the Waters long-sleeved one-piece, £118 – buy here; Speedo Summer Stripe wrap-back long-sleeved swimsuit, £50 – buy here; Lululemon Will the Wave long-sleeved one-piece, £118 – buy here; Speedo Summer Stripe wrap-back long-sleeved swimsuit, £50 – buy here
Warm weather is far from guaranteed during a British beach break, so if you're planning a staycation on these shores this summer it pays to plan ahead, especially as wetsuit-hire facilities may be impacted by coronavirus. Suits are generally less bulky than they used to be but for even more mobility look for triathlon gear. And be sure to generously apply an anti-chafing cream.
Left to right: Speedo women's fastskin proton wetsuit, £140 – buy here; dhb Hydron women's wetsuit 2.0, £110 – buy here; Nabaiji women's swimming 4/2MM neoprene wetsuit, £179.99 – buy here; dhb Aeron women's swimrun westuit 2.0, £170 – buy here
When plunged into cold water your body will prioritise blood flow to keep the internal organs warm, meaning your extremities can chill, fast. You might feel silly putting them on, but neoprene caps, shoes and gloves can counteract this effect, making you more comfortable in cold water.
A lightweight fast-drying towel and a waterproof pouch for your swim gear are convenient little extras that will help you fit swimming in whenever you can.
1. Nabaiji open-water swimming neoprene swim cap, £14.99 – buy here. 2. Nabaiji ultra-compact microfibre towel, £9.99 – buy here. 3. Speedo Zanpa AM swimshoes, £21 – buy here. 4. Subea snorkelling shoes, £12.99 – buy here. 5. Speedo Biofuse Rift mask goggles, £26 – buy here. 6. Speedo aqua glove, £14 – buy here. 7. Olaian 3mm neoprene surf gloves, £19.99 – buy here. 8. Surfsystem IPX8 watertight floating phone pouch, £14.99 – buy here. 9. Nabaiji three-litre waterproof swimming pouch, £3.99 – buy here.
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