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In recent years Londoners have embraced rather a few Scandi wellness trends. Cold water plunges, outdoor lidos and communal saunas have been enjoying a major boom across the city, from Stratford’s outdoor community saunas to last year’s Summer Splash pop up at the Royal Docks. Now there’s even more good news for the capital’s sauna-heads and open-air swimmers, as a huge open air pool and sauna complex is set to open in east London this summer.
Plans for a new lido in Eden Dock were first announced last year. Called Sea Lanes Canary Wharf, the project will see a 50-metre freshwater swimming pool floating on top of the Thames. Sounds cool, eh?
Measuring 1.3 metres deep, the Olympic-sized pool at Sea Lanes Canary Wharf will feature six swimming lanes. With ramped access to the site and lifeguards keeping an eye on you, the lido will cater to all ages and capabilities, from casual dippers to serious cold-water swimmers.
But that isn’t all. Alongside the lido will be two steamy, glass-fronted saunas with stunning views of the dock, completely powered by renewable energy. There’ll also be food and drink served at the community clubhouse, which will host wellness events and provide a wetsuit concierge service. That means a chafe-free wetsuit experience. Well, hopefully.
Worried about the Thames’ smelly rep? Fear not. The pool floats on the dock, so you won’t actually be swimming in London’s famous central waterway. Instead, the pool will be filled with naturally filtered freshwater, completely cut off from the river. The team say the water quality at Eden Dock will be regularly tested in line with EU Bathing Standards. In fact, since July 2024 the dock’s water has consistently been rated ‘excellent’.
If all goes to plan, the first swimmers will be able to dive in this June. Swim fanatics will be able to purchase a membership, while a pay-per-swim option will be available for more casual visits. Prices are yet to be revealed.
The team behind the project is National Open Water Coaching Association - the UK's leading network for safe open water swimming. The organisation also operates Sea Lanes Brighton, an open water heated pool right on the beachfront which opened in June 2023 and is in Time Out’s list of the top things to do in Brighton.
Joe McNulty, the Director at Sea Lanes, described the new venue as ‘an urban oasis for health and wellbeing’, adding: ‘We’re excited to create a space where Londoners can connect with nature, their community, and themselves.’
Find out more on the Sea Lanes Canary Wharf website here.
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