London Mayor’s £1.8bn Plan to Make Rivers Safe for Swimming by 2034

London’s rivers could become safe for swimming within a decade under a £1.8bn plan announced by the mayor’s office this week. The Clean Rivers and Waterways scheme, running until 2034, sets targets to cut pollution, restore habitats and create accessible swimming spots across the capital. The mayor has pledged an additional £2.7m over three years, supplementing £13.6m already allocated.

The funding comes from a mix of water companies, London boroughs and charities. Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy Mete Coban said the initiative aims to address long-standing inequalities in access to swimming. "Rivers are London’s blue treasures, and Londoners should be able to access them," he said, as reported by the BBC.

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Swimming Inequality in London

Data from the 2024 Active Lives Children Survey reveals stark disparities in swimming ability. While 86% of children from the most affluent families can swim 25 metres unaided, only 42% from the least affluent families can do the same. Among white British children in years seven and eight, more than 80% can swim, compared with fewer than 50% of black children of the same age.

Coban highlighted the broader issue, stating that around 700,000 Londoners cannot swim. "That’s not a coincidence. Many people, particularly from lower-income backgrounds and some communities, haven’t had access to affordable swimming facilities," he said. The plan will work with organisations like the Black Swimming Association to improve water safety and swimming skills in underrepresented groups.

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Pollution and Safety Challenges

Pollution remains a major barrier to safe swimming in London’s rivers. Between 2020 and 2023, the River Thames was polluted by at least 72 billion litres of sewage discharges, according to BBC News reporting. The figure is likely higher, as not all discharges are recorded.

In May 2024, a stretch of the River Thames at Ham and Kingston became the first in London to be designated as official bathing water by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The designation requires regular water quality monitoring and public reporting. Whether other stretches of the Thames or other rivers could follow depends on improvements in water quality.

Chris Romer-Lee, co-founder of Swimmable Cities, said infrastructure and education are critical to making rivers safe for swimming. He pointed to cities like Copenhagen and Zurich, where rivers are integrated into daily life with showers, changing facilities and clear safety guidelines. "A swimmable London will not happen overnight," he said. "Examples from cities across Europe show that cleaner rivers, safer access and better water education are key."

What Happens Next

The plan’s first phase will focus on identifying potential swimming sites and improving water quality monitoring. The mayor’s office will work with boroughs, water companies and community groups to prioritise areas with high demand and poor access to existing facilities. Public consultations on proposed sites are expected to begin in 2025.

Residents can track progress through the mayor’s Clean Rivers and Waterways dashboard, which will publish water quality data, funding allocations and project updates. The next formal review of the plan is scheduled for autumn 2025, when the first set of performance targets will be assessed.

To enjoy wild swimming, everybody needs to be a confident swimmer, and that's a bridge we need to cross at some point, leaving nobody behind.

Laure Latham, President, Serpentine Swimming Club