Outdoor swimming in London

If you’re looking for a little physical activity to sharpen your appetite on Christmas morning, why not take a walk around Hyde Park and watch the members of the Serpentine Swimming Club in their annual Peter Pan Christmas Day Race.

This is a race on the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park that has been on going since 1864 and the winner was traditionally given a gold medal. In 1904 the author of Peter Pan, JM Barrie, donated a cup to be given to the winner. Barrie set parts of Peter Pan in neighbouring Kensington Gardens and there’s a Peter Pan statue on the western side of The Long Water, the Kensington Gardens end of the Serpentine.

The race is only open to member’s of the club who have competed in their Winter Series of races, so even if you’re brave enough to jump into freezing water you can’t turn up on the day and take part. Its pretty straight forward to join though, go along to The Lido on the southern side of the Serpentine, fill in a form and pay £20 and you’ll be a member for a year allowing you to swim in the lake every day between 6am and 9.30am. Taking part in the Peter Pan Cup you’ll probably have a good chance of getting your face and freezing body on the evening news, its seems like one of the staple Christmas items.