‘I swam in an oasis within the coronary heart of London and it was a one-of-a-kind expertise’
Swimming in one of London’s open-air waterways is something many Brits would call absurd. Spooked by fears of dirty water and what lurks beneath the depths, many Brits prefer to keep their feet firmly planted on the ground while enjoying the best of what the capital has to offer.
However, London’s latest swimming pool could change how Brits see open water swimming in the big city forever. Sea Lanes Canary Wharf have opened a brand new floating pool in the heart of London, offering Brits a stepping stone between traditional pool swimming and open water.
Located in Eden Dock, Canary Wharf, the 50-metre, six-lane pool strives to offer Brits a one-of-a-kind swimming experience. So the Daily Star sent me to investigate the cutting-edge waterway to see if it could make a splash in how Brits see open-air swimming.
Before I even dipped my toes into the pool, I knew that the breath-taking cityscape of Canary Wharf would make for a swim like no other. Floating in the heart of London’s business hub, the fusion of Canary Wharf’s glass jungle and Eden Dock’s green natural beauty makes you feel like you’ve left the UK and landed in an urban oasis.
The murky grey streets of London were nowhere to be seen in the East London metropolis. Before I even went for the dip, my eyes were met with a myriad of beautiful colours from the emerald shrubbery, the bronze wooden walkways and turquoise water. While I’ve never been fond of cold water, I stomached initial apprehensions and plunged into the pool.
Obviously, the water was far from warm. But despite fears I would be freezing to death in the pool, the water was refreshing, rejuvenating and revitalising once my body had become accustomed to the initial cold shock.
Any fears I had about the water not being clean enough to swim in were quickly cast away upon feeling just how fresh and crisp the pool was. After plunging into the deep, I quickly took off for a couple laps, and despite my waning swimming skills, it was one of the best swims I had been on in years.
Sadly, my swim across Sea Lanes was only limited by my embarrassing lack of cardio, leaving me gasping for air after a mere 15 minutes, embarrassing to say the least.
The swimming site also comes accompanied by a medley of other facilities, including two saunas (powered by 100% renewable energy), a vibrant bar and a clubhouse perfect for hosting community events all year round. The Canary Wharf Group prides itself on the impeccable water quality of Eden Dock, the body of water in which the open-air pool is located.
Eden Dock is located independently from the River Thames and isn’t actually connected to the London river. The waterway has its water filtered constantly, helping the oasis consistently earn an “excellent” rating under the EU Bathing Water Standard. The former dockland, in which the swimming lanes are located, has a long history, as Eden Dock was formerly called a “Middle Dock.”
During its time under the moniker, the dock was used to export sugar, rum, and tobacco during the 19th century. However, the dockland was completely closed from the Thames after its stint of use during the colonial period. Now the dock has been transformed into a nature-focused public waterfront and floating park in a collaboration between the Canary Wharf Group (CWG ) and the minds behind the Eden Project.
Brits can enjoy Sea Lanes’ watery wonderland on Friday, June 19, to mark the venue’s grand opening. CWG are urging swimmers to jump into the deep and enjoy the marvellous attraction. During the venue’s opening ceremony, Mete Coban, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, joined Sea Lanes and the CWG for the momentous new edition to London.
He said: “Sea Lanes Canary Wharf provides a fantastic new open swimming opportunity for Londoners and visitors in the heart of our city.
“The Mayor and I are committed to transforming London’s waterways – cleaning them up, improving biodiversity, and opening up more blue spaces for Londoners to relax, walk and swim in safely.”
Sea Lanes’ recent addition to the east London business hub is part of the CWG’s ongoing efforts to transform Eden Dock and the surrounding areas to create better harmony with natural areas in the heart of the city. CWG have also signed the global Swimmable Cities Charter, showing their commitment to providing Brits with clean, open-air waterways, which is ironclad.
There is yet to come for the open-air waterways as non-lane open water swimming, paddleboarding, freediving, surf-fit sessions, and winter scuba diving are all planned to be introduced to the former London dock.
So for water-lovers of all skills, background, ages and abilities looking for an incredible experience in the water, Sea Lanes Canary Wharf offers a swimming experience like no other.
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