Box End Park welcomes all Open Water Swimmers looking for a venue to carry out swim training & our naturally spring-fed lakes offer a safe, clean and current free spot. We have land & water-based lifeguards present during all of our sessions, with swims running from March-January!
Note that our swim sessions are not suitable for those seeking a beach for relaxing, or for the kids to have a splash around!
All swimmers must wear a brightly coloured swim cap & we strongly recommend wearing a tow float on your person at all times (required sub 10C). Under 16's must wear both at all times.
The site is fully equipped with free, secure carparking, watersports changing rooms with pool-style showers, outdoor changing huts & £1 coin-operated lockers.
"Just wanted to say thank you for all the swim training sessions you put on. I started Open Water Swimming last year and love it - feel incredibly lucky to have Box End Park on my doorstep and amazing staff that organise, lifeguard and have reception open every week! Gorgeous venue, beautiful lakes and a real sense of swimming community!" 
• You must be capable of swimming 750m without stopping.
• You must not have any medical condition (such as heart disease, asthma, epilepsy, diabetes) which may impact your ability to safely partake in open water swimming. If you are unsure, please seek the advice of a GP.
• You must check in at the Box End Park Reception before each swim, ensure you understand the session timings and which lake to use. No water access allowed until our lifeguard team are in position and the session start time.
• You must wear a brightly coloured swim cap at all times (no black, dark grey or dark navy swim caps to be worn). We strongly recommend wearing a tow float on your person at all times whilst swimming. Under 16's must wear a bright coloured tow float & swim cap at all times.
• For our winter swims, tow floats must be worn at all times when the water temperature is 10C or colder. At this point, our swim course changes to the short winter loop until Spring when the water returns back up to 10C.
• Goggles and wetsuits are optional but recommended. Rental wetsuits are available and cost £5 to hire. Please note these are full-length and suitable for all watersports activities/are non-swim specific.
• You must enter and exit the water at the designated points.
• In the event you get into difficulty during the swim session, you must roll on to your back and signal for rescue by raising an arm in the air.
• A safety observer will be present during all swim sessions however, Box End Park will not provide full lifeguard cover. For this reason, we strongly recommend you swim with a buddy or swim within a 15 metre distance of another swimmer during the session. In the event of seeing another swimmer getting into difficulty, you must raise the alarm to a staff member.
• In the event of a thunderstorm, failing light, fog or high winds, the safety observer may decide to end a session. If you are asked to exit the lake then please do so immediately.
• You must acknowledge that the lake is a natural environment. Lake banks may be slippery and there may be sharp stones underfoot. There are various ramps, buoys and ropes within the water which must be avoided. If you do not feel comfortable with these hazards then you should not swim in this open water environment.
• Our site is fully serviced with free & secure car-parking, lockers that require a £1 coin or trolley token and access to hot showers/changing rooms post-swim.
• Our 5K grass running trail is open for people training before or after a booked swim, but not outside of these times. The track may be closed a few days of the year for multi-sport events, so please check with reception before heading onto the trail.
• Note that we are unable to offer refunds on booked sessions however, if you notify us more than 7 working days before your booking, we can help look at re-scheduling your session or providing a credit.
• In the event of extreme weather, high winds or flooding, Box End Park may need to cancel a session. In the event of this, we will help you re-schedule your booking or provide a return credit.
Our morning & afternoon swims tend to be in our Southern Cable Lake, whilst our evening swims usually take place over the bridge, in our Northern Boat Lake! However, this may change week-to-week as we have lots of exciting activities & multi-sport events running alongside our open water swim sessions throughout the year! Please make sure you understand which lake to use by asking our Reception team when checking-in for your swim session.
* The courses above are used for our public swim sessions only. Swim events & races held at Box End Park may differ slightly from the above. Please check with the event organiser for event specific information.
In addition to open water swim training, Box End Park hosts a full calendar of multi-sports events. There is the chance to get involved in a range of races from dog triathlons to long distance swim events!
Follow the link below to see what's on . . .
If you are new to Open Water Swimming, or looking to improve your technique, then we can recommend some great independent coaches who can help you with all elements of your swimming:
We take great pride in our water quality and have it regularly tested to ensure it exceeds the standards recommended for bathing water. We also undergo a programme of lake dying and cutting to ensure weed is kept to a minimum.
For the adventure seekersDigital Gift vouchers
Looking for that perfect gift? Our Gift Vouchers make the perfect present for anyone wanting to enjoy watersports activities at Box End Park!
Use the button below to head over to our booking system and purchase a Gift Voucher. The voucher will be valid for 12 months from the date of the purchase.
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