Search
shop

Swim Serpentine returns for 2018

The date for the third edition of Swim Serpentine has been confirmed - providing another chance to earn the huge 'London Classics' medal
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

Swim Serpentine confirmed for Saturday 22nd September 2018

It was one of the best pieces of marketing I saw in 2017, and now plenty of triathletes that couldn’t make it last year will have the chance to collect their London Classics (www.thelondonclassics.co.uk) medal, with the date confirmed for the 2018 edition of Swim Serpentine (www.swimserpentine.co.uk).

If you’ve previously run the London Marathon and completed the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100, complete the two-mile distance at Swim Serpentine and you’ll be rewarded at the finish with possibly the biggest and heaviest medal out there. That was more than enough motivation for a huge volume of triathletes to descend upon Hyde Park last September – me included! If you are a ‘medal magpie’, read on…

[Read my report from the 2017 debut of London Classics]

London Classics


Swim Serpentine, the open water swimming festival with events for all abilities, returns to Hyde Park on Saturday 22 September 2018.

This inspirational event, created and organised by London Marathon Events, will take place in and around the beautiful Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park, the venue for the open water swimming competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The 2018 festival, the third to be staged, will include a range of distances for all levels of swimmers aged 12 and over, including ½ mile swims, one mile swims and the more challenging two mile swims.

Entries for the event will open on 22 March 2018 and swimmers will be able to choose the time of their swim during the entry process. Pre-registration is open now. Sign up HERE.

Hugh Brasher, Event Director, said: “We are delighted Swim Serpentine will be back in 2018 and we would like to thank The Royal Parks for making this possible.

“Make sure you put 22 September in your diary as this truly inspirational event is one for swimmers young and old and for open water veterans or first-timers. This will be the third Swim Serpentine and we believe the event has truly raised the bar for open water swimming events with thousands signing up for this unique opportunity to swim in the beautiful setting of the Serpentine.

“The ½ mile swim is a great introduction to open water swimming, I did it last year and now I plan to step up to swim one mile this year. It’s a fantastic challenge to set yourself for 2018 and a great way to raise money for your favourite charity.

“Entries will open on Thursday 22 March and you’ll be able to choose your start wave when you sign up.”

All swimmers must either wear a wetsuit or use a tow-float. Both wetsuit and tow-float hire will be available beforehand and at the Serpentine on the day.

Swim Serpentine also offers the opportunity to complete the London Classics. London Marathon Events has brought together the best marathon in the world, the world’s greatest cycling festival and Swim Serpentine to create one of the world’s great sporting challenges.

The unique challenge requires participants to run the London Marathon (any year since 1981), cycle 100 miles in the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 (any year since 2013) and swim two miles at Swim Serpentine.

London Classics

Everyone who completes this iconic trio of events receives a specially-designed London Classics medal engraved with the words: Et ego Londinium vici (“I too have conquered London”) and will be listed in London Classics Hall of Fame.

Entries start at £25 for the ½ mile swim (minimum age 12 on the day), the one-mile mass participation swim is £39.00 for UK and overseas swimmers and the two-mile swim is £49.00 (minimum age for the one mile and two-mile events is 16 on the day). Register your interest at www.swimserpentine.co.uk/register-interest

John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
Cadomotus aero triathlon cycling shoes
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Is this the ultimate middle distance triathlon bike course? We rode the French Riviera T100 bike course and it’s EPIC
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
latest News
IRONMAN World Championship 2024 Nice Age Group Swim Start
IRONMAN to review World Championship slot allocation model after fears raised for Age Group women
Jonny Brownlee / Jonathan Brownlee - Super League Triathlon London 2023
Did the Brownlee brothers nearly join pro cycling’s Team Sky after 2012 Olympic heroics?
Kristian Hogenhaug interviewed after The Championship 2025
Danish triathlon star highlights blistering bike split as key to The Championship success.
Alistair Brownlee - T100 San Francisco 2024 bike
Olympic triathlon legend Alistair Brownlee completes iconic Gralloch race in latest gravel test
Jeanne Lehair Beth Potter WTCS Yokohama 2025
From Olympic heartbreak to joy of first WTCS win as emotions flow for Jeanne Lehair
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...