Hampton Court to Raven's Ait Swim 2026: river restriction notice
Published 7 May 2026
© Crown copyright 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hampton-court-to-ravens-ait-swim-2026-river-restriction-notice/hampton-court-to-ravens-ait-swim-2026-river-restriction-notice
When
Saturday 27 June 2026, 8am to 4pm.
Where
Teddington reach, Kingston Bridge to Raven’s Ait.
Details
The navigation channel will be on the Surrey, left side of the river and the Surrey, left side of Raven’s Ait.
Swimmers will be using a buoyed channel 100 metres downstream of Hampton Court Bridge to Raven’s Ait. Swimmers will enter the water at Cigarette Island and cross the navigation channel accompanied by safety marshals. Please comply with directions from these marshals.
The event starts at 8am and will be finished by 4pm.
Masters of all boats to maintain a safe speed and lookout between Raven’s Ait and Hampton Court Bridge.
All boats should be navigated in accordance with any instructions given from Environment Agency control points or patrol launches.
Those in charge of boats should be aware that they are responsible for avoiding collision and should use all available means appropriate to the circumstances and conditions to decide if there is a risk of immediate danger and avoid it.
All directions as to the left and right side of the river are given looking upstream.
Byelaws
Nothing contained in these directions shall supersede those parts of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993 and the UK Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations 1996 as may be relevant. Particular attention should be paid to byelaws 24-42 of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993, Steering Sailing and Speed.
And Notice is hereby given, that it is provided by Byelaw 52 of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993 that:
The master of any vessel shall except in an emergency not pass any boat-race regatta public procession or gathering for the launch of a vessel or any other event or function which may cause a crowd to assemble on or by the river nor station his vessel thereon in such a manner as would risk obstructing impeding or interfering with such boat-race regatta procession launching event or function or endangering the safety of persons assembling on the river or preventing or interfering with the maintenance of order thereon.
The maximum penalty for breach of the Byelaws is £1,000.
Read our Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993.