About the one-mile swim
A classic distance in the world of open-water swimming events, the one-mile swim covers one full lap (1.6K) of the Serpentine. Swimmers take anywhere from 20 minutes to one hour to complete this distance.
One-mile swim
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Swimmer safety at Swim Serpentine
Your safety is our number-one priority at Swim Serpentine, so our water safety team will be standing by to assist on the day. The Swim Serpentine course will be clearly marked by large buoys, so you’ll find it easy to make your way around your chosen swim distance.
It’s a good idea to complete your chosen distance in full in a pool before the event, and also to practise swimming in open water beforehand, so you have the best possible experience at Swim Serpentine.
The Festival
The free Festival at Swim Serpentine is the ideal place to interact with fellow open water swimming enthusiasts before or after your swim! You can also visit one of our many stands to pick up some essential swimming kit, from goggles to tow-floats.