Location: Shepperton Lake (London)
Date: 7th/8th June 2025
Team Size: 1 to 8
Entry Fee: £45
Fundraising Target: £200 per person
Age limit: 14+

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Gather a team of between 1 to 8 swimmers and swim for an hour each, for 24 hours!

This event is unique in being a personal/team endurance swimming challenge rather than about speed or distance. It’s also very everyone over the age of 14, regardless of your ability. It’s not a race, no one is being timed or tracked. You swim as much as you want, as fast as you want.

The challenge is in the endurance, the team work and camaraderie to support each other for the duration. It’s the 2am cold swims when you just want to sleep. It’s the hugs of relief at the end of each hour knowing you’ve just ticked another hour off. It’s being huddled around the fire pit with a hot chocolate and dancing to keep warm. It’s cheering the sunrise.

It’s knowing that you’re doing it to raise money for Level Water who provide 1-to-1 swimming lessons for children with disabilities. It’s knowing that, one day, they might be able to take part in this challenge with their friends or family because of the efforts you are putting in to fundraise.

It’s knowing you are using the power of your swimming to change lives. And that’s all pretty wonderful.

Described (by one person) as ‘the Glastonbury of swimming’. The 24hr Swim Relay is a magical experience you’ll want to come back to again and again.

The Atmosphere

It’s always a great atmosphere. The event staff maintained their energy throughout which helped when we were flagging!
Cheer the Night

I loved the camaraderie, with people cheering on everyone, even at 2am. The people (staff and swimmers) were all so lovely and it's such an incredible community to be part of - watching everyone going in for that last hour made me emotional! The night swims were my favourite moment as it was so magical and unlike anything I'd ever done before.
The Glastonbury of Swimming

It felt like a swimming festival, like a Glastonbury with open water rather than bands. The community spirit really made it something special and all level waters staff really made it an event I’m looking forward to doing each year
Unique & Personal

The atmosphere was brilliant. The event itself is unique in being a personal/team endurance challenge rather than about speed or distance and although a few teams clearly wanted it to be competitive, the LW team was fantastic in promoting the inclusive, not a race message. The night time swims really are so special but also getting to swim as a team together was brilliant.
Such a Joy

The event weekend was such a joy to be a part of - seeing all these people come together to do something uplifting and for such an amazing cause creates the best buzz. It's so relaxed and easy going, everyone knows where to be and when, and it all just runs so smoothly. Sitting on the benches having a coffee after a 4-5am swim had to be the highlight.
That organisation!

I enjoyed the way the swims were organised, 10 mins before the hour and you can start the changeover, it was nice and smooth. The uniqueness is the 24 hour part, I think its amazing. My personal favourite moment was my 5am - 6am swim with the GLORIOUS sunrise, a ball of yellow gold reflecting off the water. A few of us, including the safety guy on the kayak, just stopped to soak it all in. And before my last swim after i had “hit the wall” with exhaustion and tears, my team mates, our kids and families all had a 30 second dance party to get me ready for the last swim.

24hr Swim Relay FAQs

Below you will find answers to all of your burning questions about the 24hr Swim Relay at Shepperton. From start time and locations, training and wetsuit advice to parking and accommodation advice.

If you’re can’t find what you’re looking for, you can email swim@levelwater.org

Okay, so basically you gather a team of 1 - 8 swimmers who love an epic challenge and head to Shepperton Open Water Swim on 10th June. Then, at midday one of you jumps in and swims for an hour. It’s not a race. There’s no finish line. You just swim for an hour. Then the next swimmer, then the next until 24 hours is up and you’re shattered, but elated that you’ve just completed one of the hardest swimming challenges out there.
I mean you’re not competing against anyone but yourself. It’s an endurance event and we don’t count lengths or distance. The challenge is how far you can push yourself through the tiredness. Through the cold. How you can support each other through the harder hours.
The most important thing to bring along is warm clothes because you will get cold. And make sure to bring plenty of food and drink for the duration. You’ll also want to try and grab a nap in between your swims so sleeping bags and small tents are essential. You’ll have a few hours between your swims so there’s plenty of time to nip off for a nap.
You will need a tow float and light so we can keep an eye on you at night. We can help you source them if you don’t already have them.
It’s up to you what you wear to swim in. You can wear a wetsuit if you like or brave it in a costume. You can use flippers or hand paddles to help you along.
It’s £30 per person which will help us cover the cost of running the event, meaning more of the money you raise will go towards swimming lessons for children with disabilities. For that £30 you’ll each get a Level Water piece of kit, some refreshments on the day and total support from us throughout.
With the fundraising, the team captain will set up a team page on JustGiving with each team member then creating their own page connected to that team. It’s pretty easy and we’ll help you sort it out. Everyone will have a £200 fundraising target and you’ll get rewards for how much you raise.
There’ll be plenty of measures in place to make sure all swimmers are safe. From canoes out on the lake, lifeguards on the side, first aid close by and plenty of motivation and encouragement from us.
As mentioned above, please bring a tow float, light that you can swim with in the bag or on your goggles and a whistle. This is so we can easily spot you at night and you can draw attention to yourself if you get into any difficulties