Wild Swimming in Sussex: The Complete 2025 Guide
Sussex has some of the finest wild swimming in southern England — chalk rivers, hidden rock pools, and open sea. Here's where to swim and how to do it safely.
Sussex is one of the best counties in England for wild swimming. You have the English Channel on your southern doorstep, clear chalk rivers cutting through the South Downs, and open-water lakes hidden in the countryside. This guide covers the best organised swimming spots — and how to swim them safely.
Sea Swimming in Brighton
Brighton is the home of Sussex sea swimming. Three distinct clubs offer guided dips throughout the year.
Brighton & Hove Swimming Club is England's oldest swimming club, founded in 1860. Their sea swimming section meets year-round on Brighton Beach — one of the most established open water swimming communities in the UK.
iSwim Brighton offers guided sea swimming sessions and is particularly welcoming to beginners wanting to try the sea for the first time.
Ocean Set Brighton focuses on fitness open-water swimming with structured sessions in the sea off Brighton beach.
The water along Brighton beach is generally clean and well-monitored. The sea temperature ranges from around 8°C in January to 20°C in August.
Open Water Swimming at Bewl Water
Bewl Water near Lamberhurst is one of the largest areas of open water in the South East — a 770-acre reservoir in the Kent/East Sussex border country. Saturday morning swimming sessions run 9am–10:30am, with a day pass of £8. The water is calm, the scenery is spectacular, and it's one of the most accessible open water swimming spots in the region.
Lake Swimming and Sauna: Swanborough Lakes
For the full immersion experience — heat, cold, and nature combined — Swanborough Lakes near Lewes offers wild swimming on a tranquil lake alongside a wood-fired sauna on the bank. Sessions are supervised by qualified lifeguards, and the sauna makes the cold water element much more accessible for those who find open water swimming daunting.
Safety: Wild Swimming Essentials
Wild swimming is wonderful but requires some basic preparation:
- Never swim alone — always go with a friend or join a guided group, especially when starting out
- Know the tides — for sea swimming, check tide times and avoid strong currents. The MET Office and Tide Times UK apps are reliable
- Check water quality — the Surfers Against Sewage Safer Seas app shows real-time water quality data for the Sussex coast
- Acclimatise slowly — cold water shock is the biggest risk. Enter the water gradually and control your breathing
- Be visible — wear a brightly coloured tow float. It marks your position to boats and gives you something to hold if you need a rest
- Know your limits — cold water reduces your ability to swim much faster than you expect. Don't overestimate your range
What to Wear
For summer sea swimming (July–September), a standard swimsuit is fine. For year-round swimming, a 3mm wetsuit makes the cold much more manageable. Many local swimmers also swear by neoprene gloves and boots when the sea drops below 10°C.
A dryrobe or changing poncho is almost essential for winter beach swimming — getting changed on a cold, windy Sussex beach without one is deeply unpleasant.
Join a Wild Swimming Group
The best way to start wild swimming in Sussex is to join a local group. They know the safe entry points, the water quality, the tides, and they provide the camaraderie that makes cold water feel worthwhile. Find groups near you through Happy Place.
Find wellness experiences near you
Browse saunas, yoga studios, retreats, wild swimming and more across Sussex and the UK.
Search Happy Place
