Outdoor swimming Bedfordshire – lidos, lakes and rivers

Do you dream of swimming outdoors with a blue sky above you and the backdrop of a green landscape? I love open water swimming and I’m lucky to have a lido just down the road from me here in Hertfordshire plus a beautiful river for swimming in close by. There are some brilliant spots for outdoor swimming in neighbouring Bedfordshire – the county has a selection of lidos and lakes along with a fabulous river.
The River Great Ouse flows through the county town of Bedford before winding its way east to a popular wild swimming spot in Great Barford.
Open water swimming is great fun but it does carry risks, please have a read through the advice on the Royal Life Saving Society website.
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Please be considerate to people living near to open water swimming locations. I have read lots of unhappy feedback from local residents who have had to clear up rubbish during hot spells from some of the river swimming spots in Bedfordshire. If it’s a really hot weekend, consider swimming early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid causing traffic jams at popular wild swimming places in Bedfordshire.
If you live close to the Bucks border, check out my article about where to swim outdoors in Buckinghamshire. I’ve also written an article about Hertfordshire outdoor swimming.
Check out my complete guide on things to do in Bedfordshire here.
Table of Contents
Outdoor pools and lidos in Bedfordshire
Woburn lido
The lido in Woburn is smaller than some of those in neighbouring Hertfordshire at 23 metres by nine metres but it is open all year round. If you fancy some cold water swimming in Bedfordshire, Woburn Lido is heated to a rather modest 10 degrees – it’s around 26 degrees in the summer.

Woburn Lido is run as a charity and opened to the public in 1911.
Find out more about Woburn Lido
Eversholt swimming pool
Oh to have an outdoor pool in your own village. The lucky residents of Eversholt are spoilt for choice – as well as the more well known Woburn Lido 10 minutes’ drive away, they also have their very own village outdoor swimming pool.
Find out more about Eversholt swimming pool
Lake swimming in Bedfordshire
There are several lakes in Bedfordshire for open water swimming. It seems that they aren’t always available for public swimming year on year – I’ll try to keep this page up to date with the latest availability.
Open water swimming at Box End Park
This leisure park west of Bedford features two lakes for various water sports including water skiing and wakeboarding as well as open water swimming. In the summer, there’s an aqua park in place – idea if you like bouncing off inflatables and discovering muscles you never knew you had. The open water swimming though is only for serious swimmers – if you tire after a couple of hundred metres, it’s probably best to stick to the aquapark, or head to one of the Bedfordshire lidos.
Box End has free parking, outdoor changing rooms and lockers plus lifeguards on and off the water. Wetsuits can be hired. And if you’re looking to hone your front crawl or butterfly stroke, there are coaches available to book.
Find out more about Box End Park open water swimming
Open water swimming at the Blue Lagoon in Arlesey
This swimming lake in Arlesey is another option for experienced open water swimmers. The Tri-Force Triathlon Club have exclusive access to the Blue Lagoon and swimmers must be British Triathlon members. The lake is predominantly a fishing lake and swimmers need to adhere to certain rules to ensure the fishing community is not disturbed.
Luton Hoo open water swimming
On the border of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire is the grand country estate of Luton Hoo – complete with luxury hotel and spa. In the grounds of Luton Hoo is a lake which has been used for swimming.
In the past, open water swimming at Luton Hoo has been organised by Active Training World. However, there is no outdoor swimming at Luton Hoo in 2023. I’ll update this page if I hear of any changes.

Open water swimming at Wyboston Lakes
This collection of lakes sits within the large Wyboston resort. As well as lakes, there are several hotels, a golf course, spa and various other corporate facilities.
Open water swimming at Wyboston has previously been arranged by Ride Leisure but they are not undertaking any sessions at the moment. I will update this page if I hear of any changes.
Although there are currently no swimming sessions at Wyboston Lakes, there is an aqua park and a variety of water sports available to book.
Rivers for wild swimming in Bedfordshire
I’m rather envious of my Bedfordshire neighbours. Here in Hertfordshire we only have one decent wild swimming spot – on the River Lee in Hertford. But in Bedfordshire, there is a series of lovely swimming holes along the River Great Ouse and the River Ivel.
The wild swimming in Bedfordshire’s rivers tends to be in tranquil and rural areas. If it’s a hot day and there are lots of cars parked where you want to swim, please be courteous to local people and local wildlife and choose to visit on another occasion. I have only mentioned a couple of swimming locations in this article as some of the lesser visited places cannot cope with large numbers of swimmers. No doubt if you decide to swim regularly, you’ll soon discover some hidden gems.
Bedford holds a biennial river festival which includes a river swim as well as plenty of boating activities. The next festival is due to take place in 2024.

The most popular spot to go wild swimming on the River Great Ouse is on the edge of the village of Great Barford. There is a regular group of friendly swimmers there called the Hicca Dippers – if you’re considering a swim, it’s worth joining their Facebook group to get up to date information about river flow, temperature and other handy tips. There can be quite a strong current after rain so swimming with a group who knows the area is a sensible precaution.
Another popular spot for a swim is the River Ivel at Langford Mill. There are some concrete obstacles in the water so again it’s worth swimming with someone who knows the water. This is another spot where the flow can be fast after rain.
Outdoor swimming gear and gadgets
I’ve written more about swimming gear in my main Hertfordshire outdoor swimming article. Please take a look there if you’d like a run down on what you might need for open water swimming. The two main things I’d suggest are a tow float and swim socks or booties.
The tow float has several uses – obviously it offers some floatation should you require it but it also alerts other water users to your presence. Many tow floats have a waterproof compartment where you can keep your car keys and other valuables.
Swimming socks or boots are handy if you are worried about what you might step on when you enter the water. Some people don’t like the sensation of the silty mud, but that’s the least of our worries in reality!
Check out Decathlon for swim boots and socks
Tips for safer outdoor swimming
What follows are some tips on how to swim safely in open water, but for more information please visit the Royal Life Saving Society website.
The Outdoor Swimming Society has some interesting articles about cold water swimming.
Swim with a buddy – even if you’re a confident swimmer, it’s not sensible to swim in open water by yourself. Cramp, cold water shock and after drop can affect anyone.
Don’t jump in – don’t underestimate the chances of getting cold water shock. Gasping as you enter the water can lead to drowning or at the very least inhaling some pretty nasty stuff lurking in the water. The depth of the water can be deceptive and you never know what you might land on.
Invest in a tow float – these devices have several purposes. They help you be seen, they can assist you in staying afloat and some have a waterproof compartment for keys, wallet and so forth.
Dress for the climate – if you’re new to open water swimming, wear a wetsuit. A hat, swimming gloves and swim shoes or swim socks are also a good idea.
Wear a swimming hat – as well as keeping you warm, a brightly coloured hat will keep you visible to others in the water.
Cover open wounds – use a waterproof plaster to cover open wounds.
Avoid blue-green algae – don’t enter the water if there is any of this itch-inducing plant floating around.
Warm up carefully afterwards – make sure you have warm clothes to wear post-swim. Don’t be tempted to rush home and jump in the shower – this isn’t good for your body. Enjoy a warm drink and a snack before heading off.
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Any open water swimmer knows how important it is to enjoy some cake after an outdoor swim. If you’re looking for great places to enjoy cake nearby, check out my article about afternoon tea in Bedfordshire.
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Do you enjoy outdoor swimming in Bedfordshire? If you have any suggestions about where to swim outdoors in Bedfordshire, please let me know in the comments below.