Well done to all 2025 Arla Great North Swim participants, don’t forget to check out your official event photos and results from the day.
The Great North Swim will be back from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 June 2026 and Super Earlybird entries are open. Sign up for next year before 10am on Monday 23 June to get our lowest entry price!
2026 Super Earlybird offer is available until 10am on Monday 23 June. A booking fee (£3.00 per entry) is applied at checkout.
2026 Super Earlybird Entry £16
If you’re keen to try an open water swim but don’t know where to start, the 250 distance is ideal, and is also a great introductory event for younger swimmers age 8 years + (Final price £24).
2026 Super Earlybird Entry £32
A great introduction to outdoor swimming. Equivalent to around 32 lengths of a 25m pool. Average completion time 20min. Entrants must be 12 years + (Final price £44).
2026 Super Earlybird Entry £36
Suitable for swimmers of all abilities. Equivalent to 64 lengths of a 25m pool. Average completion time 40 min. Entrants must be 16 years + (Final price £52).
2026 Super Earlybird Entry £45
Perfect event for open water swimmers looking for a longer challenge. Equivalent to around 125 lengths of a 25m pool. Average completion time 1hr 15min. Entrants must be 16 years + (Final price £65).
2026 Super Earlybird Entry £50
Suits experienced swimmers looking to go that little bit further. Equivalent to around 200 lengths of a 25m pool. Swimmers must be able to swim 5k continuously & unaided within 2.5 hours. Entrants must be 16 years + (Final price £75).
2026 Super Earlybird Entry £75
Suitable for regular swimmers who are capable of taking on longer distances. Anyone who enters should be able to swim 10k continuously & unaided within 4.5 hours. This swim will be 6 laps of the standard 1 mile course. Entrants must be 18 years + (Final price £105).
The Arla Great North Swim is a weekend-long celebration of open water swimming. Expect stunning scenery, the best of local food and drink, outdoor activities, culture, art, history and thousands of like-minded people coming together. Think of it more as an open water adventure than a race. There's plenty to keep swimmers and spectators entertained throughout the weekend. New to Windermere? Find out more about the stunning location and the surrounding area here.
The Swim250 option is perfect for anyone aged 8 years old and over. The Swim250 (250 metres) is the equivalent to 10 lengths of a standard 25m pool, and is a great choice if you’re looking to try the open water for the first time, or if you’d like swim with the family.
All 8 –12 year olds must be accompanied by an adult. Anyone aged 13 years old and over can take on the swim as an individual.
A great introduction to outdoor swimming, the ½ mile is the equivalent to around 32 lengths of a standard 25m pool. The average completion time to complete the ½ mile distance is approx 20 minutes.
Entrants must be 12 years old and over on the day of the event.
The 1 mile is suitable for swimmers of all abilities and is equivalent to 64 lengths of a standard 25m pool. The average completion time is approx 40 minutes. You can choose to enjoy a leisurely breaststroke while taking in the scenery or kick into crawl for a faster time.
Entrants must be 16 years old and over on the day of the event.
2 miles is the perfect event for open water swimmers looking for a longer challenge and who have maybe tried an open water swim before. A 2 mile swim is equivalent to around 125 lengths of a standard 25m pool and the average completion time is around 1 hour 15 minutes.
This distance is suited to experienced, confident swimmers looking to go that little bit further. A 5k swim is equivalent to around 200 lengths of a standard 25m pool. For this distance cut-off times apply: swimmers must be able to finish within 2.5 hours. Generally the 5k takes in 3 laps of the standard 1 mile route.
The 10k marathon swim is suitable for regular swimmers who are capable and confident of taking on longer distances. Putting in the hours of training for this distance is highly recommended. The entry age is 18 years old and over (on event day) and anyone who enters must be able to swim 10k unaided, within 4 hours. This swim is generally 6 laps of the standard 1 mile course.
If you’re keen to try an open water swim, but don’t know where to start, the Great North Swim250 event is ideal. It's perfect for new new or nervous swimmers, families, and children aged 8 and over, to test the water and get a feel for swimming in the great outdoors. What is it? 250 metres (the equivalent of 10 lengths of a standard 25 metre pool) of open water swimming/splashing/doggy-paddling in the bay area of Windermere. Please note: Please note our wetsuit policy. Every child aged 11 and under must be accompanied by one adult (per child). Anyone aged 18+ years old is classified as an adult.
Payment information: For children aged 8 - 11 years old the standard entry payment is £19 and accompanying adults must also purchase an entry at a cost of £19. For anyone aged 12 years + the entry is £19 per entry.
All entrants will receive a swim cap, a shiny new medal and a finisher's t-shirt, included in the entry price.
sign up here