Bucks &amp; Oxon


<p>Wild swimming season is getting going, so come on in, the water&#8217;s lovely. If a little nippy. From watersports clubs to lakes with saunas on the banks (perfect for warming up post-dip), these wild swims promise instant exhilaration and all-day energy. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/05/Untitled-design-20.jpg" alt="Queenford Lakes, Berinsfield" class="wp-image-188845" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/05/Untitled-design-20.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/05/Untitled-design-20-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/05/Untitled-design-20-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/05/Untitled-design-20-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-queenford-lakes-near-wallingford"><a href="https://en-gb.facebook.com/Queenford-Lakes-Open-Water-Swimming-133546296726606/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Queenford Lakes</a>, near Wallingford </h2>



<p>This ultra-clean lake has got the whole outdoor swimming thing down pat, with loops of 500m and 1km, online booking, kayak lifeguards and ace café <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/the-wandering-kitchen-wallingford-oxfordshire-review/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Wandering Kitchen </a>on site. You need to register for the chipped wristband and sessions are limited to early morning Weds and Sun and Mon and Thurs evenings (there are a lot of other watersports taking place on the lake) so do have a proper read of the Facebook page rather than heading down and hoping. Look out for events like the night swim and hot chocolate swim (now you&#8217;re talking) plus competitions including triathlons. This is a good alternative for those swimmers who&#8217;ve previously used Marlow Open Water Swim and Caversham Lakes, which have both sadly closed over the last two years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bicester-performance-lake-bicester"><a href="https://www.bicestergym.co.uk/openwater-swimming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bicester Performance Lake</a>, Bicester</h2>



<p>This is a purpose-built 200m performance lake for amateur and experienced swimmers alike. It&#8217;s part of Bicester Hotel &amp; Spa and while guests have free access, visitors can use the lake on a pay-as-you-go basis from £7 a session. It&#8217;s open every day with a morning and afternoon session, and there&#8217;s an assault course and paddleboarding alongside if you want to double the fun.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/05/Untitled-design-21.jpg" alt="Flo at Blackpit Farm" class="wp-image-188861" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/05/Untitled-design-21.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/05/Untitled-design-21-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/05/Untitled-design-21-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/05/Untitled-design-21-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flo-bicester"><a href="https://www.flowellbeing.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flo</a>, Bicester</h2>



<p>This outdoor spa with lake swimming, sauna, hot tubs and more (above), is in a bucolic spot on Blackpit Farm near Bicester. You can book just for wild swimming in the clay-bottomed lake around a 100m circuit or add on sauna, plunge pool or the full three-hour session to include hot tub time as well. There&#8217;s changing rooms, showers and hot and cold drinks on site and The Café at Blackpit serves food from 9am-2pm. Wild swimming, but make it boujee. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/Untitled-design-75.png" alt="DENHAM WATER SKI CLUB" class="wp-image-188875" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/Untitled-design-75.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/Untitled-design-75-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/Untitled-design-75-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/Untitled-design-75-400x267.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Denham Waterski Club</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-denham-waterski-club-denham"><a aria-label="Denham Waterski Club (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.denhamwaterski.com/swim/swim.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denham Waterski Club</a>, Denham</h2>



<p>This 20-acre lake just outside of Gerrards Cross is home to plenty of watersports (clue&#8217;s in the name), but open water swimming is popular here around its 1km marked loop. You&#8217;ll have to book a slot with a Nowca wristband as with Queenford. Slots are now Sat, Sun, Weds and Fri mornings, with further sessions to come as the season gets going and the weather gets warmer. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-willen-lake-milton-keynes"><a href="https://www.aquaparcs.co.uk/open-water-swimming" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Willen Lake</a>, Milton Keynes</h2>



<p>This one offers so many activities (it&#8217;s practically a mini Center Parcs) that you might not have known open water swimming was even an option. The team here are currently operating sessions on Sat mornings 8am –11am only, which must be booked in advance. There&#8217;s 30 min and 60 min sessions, or sign up for monthly unlimited swims for £19.95 and splash around the 400m loop as much as you like. There’s a takeaway café at the Watersports Centre, or head upstairs for a warming wood-fired pizza. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-taplow-lakeside-taplow-bucks"><a href="https://taplowlakeside.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Taplow Lakeside</a>, Taplow, Bucks</h2>



<p>Open water swims kick off from <strong>23 Apr</strong> and take place on Weds mornings, Thurs evenings and Sat and Sun mornings at this family owned business on the Berks border. You will need a Nowca membership once again to swim (membership is £15 a year including the wristband and insurance) and then swims are ten for £70. If you&#8217;ve got non-swimmers who want to join they can always have a go at activities like wakeboarding, waterskiing, stand-up-paddleboarding, kayaking, target archery, battle archery and axe throwing. Time to let off some steam!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/10/Bray-Lake-view-trees-reflected-in-water-720x480.jpg" alt="Bray Lake" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bray-lake-maidenhead"><a href="https://www.braylake.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bray Lake</a>, Maidenhead</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.braylake.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bray Lake</a>, just over the border in <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Berks</a>,&nbsp;has it all going on – beautiful location and the largest independent water sports club in the country. It currently welcomes some 200 swimmers a week into its waters. From first timers to experienced triathletes, everyone is welcome, and swimming here is friendly and safe. The courses are 150m-1km long and open times vary but usually Tues, Thurs, Sat and Sun mornings and Tues and Thurs evenings. Before your first swim, you must&nbsp;<a href="https://customerweb.microshadeapplications.co.uk/BrayLake/common/scubaWebLogin.php?scubaAppName=stellar" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">register</a>&nbsp;and all sessions must be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.braylakeswimming.com/how-to-book-online.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">booked in advance</a>. If you’re a first timer, there’s an introduction to open water swimming course too and triathlon training for the pros. FYI that they&#8217;re switching over to a new booking system currently, so check the website and bear with. </p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



<p></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/spotlight/womens-running-clubs-buckinghamshire-oxfordshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Run free! 5 women’s running clubs to join in Bucks &amp; Oxon</a></li>



<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/wellbeing/health/coolest-wild-saunas-uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hot stuff: Why wild saunas are the coolest thing to do right now</a></li>



<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/wellbeing/shopping/cool-new-wellness-tech-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Smart next-gen wellness tech for 2026</a></li>
</ul>


Get fresh! The best local outdoor swimming spots

You may also like