Welcome to the Dock2Dock

Saturday, 16 August 2025

This is your chance to swim in the magical urban setting of London’s Royal Docks with its imposing historical cranes lining the docks and Canary Wharf and the O2 looming in the background.

Having started with just a few hundred swimmers, the Dock2Dock has grown in size but maintains its fun and friendly atmosphere and offers a challenging swim for all ages and abilities with a range of distances to choose from.

Whether you are new to open water swimming events taking on your first 1.5k or are a seasoned distance swimmer looking to tackle the 15k distance, the Dock2Dock offers the opportunity to swim in the heart of one of the world’s great cities.

The event village will once again be located close to Royal Docks Watersports, opposite London City Airport.

An epic event to celebrate an iconic decade.

Event Details

DISTANCES & PRICES

There are five core distances ranging from 1.5km up to the EPIC 15km!

To celebrate a decade of Dock2Dock, our 2025 event will also include a special feature swim: 20km!

* An additional booking fee applies to each ticket.

* Only one discount can be used per ticket.

Charity tickets

The Dock2Dock sold out in record time this year! But, our official Charity Partner, Level Water, is giving you the one last opportunity to participate in our special 10^th anniversary event this August! We have a limited number of charity tickets now available for the 3k, 5k and 10k distances. Participants with a charity ticket will have a fundraising target of £200.

Level Water aims to kickstart a love of swimming in children with disabilities. From physical development to social and emotional confidence, swimming is a vehicle to change their lives for the better.

Full price: £135

SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT

(approx. 12.5 miles)

Minimum age: 16 years old

Four loops of the 5km long course

Mass Start only

Full wetsuit compulsory for 16 year olds.
Wetsuit optional for 17+ year olds.

Swim cut-off time: 6h45

By application only (pre-requisites)

Full price: £155

SOLD OUT

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

Entry to Dock2Dock.
Free pre-event swim – the day prior to Dock2Dock.
Safety for the duration of the event – safety boats, kayaks, and paddle boarders in the water.
Race kit – official swim cap, hydration, swimmer’s gift.
Secure bag drop
Feed stations at multiple locations – available for distances 3k and above
Post swim refuel – snacks and hydration
Finisher’s medal

2024 Team Winner: Hadleigh Plungers (pictured above).

Team Trophy

When you sign up for Dock2Dock (either as a group or individually), you have the option to enter a Team/Club name. The BIGGEST team will receive the Dock2Dock team trophy and bragging rights for an entire year!

If you have already signed up to the Dock2Dock but didn’t/forgot to add your team/club name, you can simply update it before event day for it to count.

Update team/club name

Group Discount: 10% off

Gather your family and friends and sign up for the Dock2Dock together! You’ll get 10% off when you book 10 or more tickets. Tickets can be split into any combination of distances to suit each swimmer in the group (excluding 15k & 20k).

* Group discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Discount will automatically apply when you book 10 entries.

SOLD OUT

NOWCA MEMBERSHIP

The Dock2Dock is a NOWCA member event. All swimmers must have a current NOWCA membership on the day of the event. NOWCA membership is £20.00 per year and gives you access to over 40 NOWCA affiliated venues throughout the UK along with discounts on courses, access to events, insurance cover (NOWCA Protect) as well as a host of other member benefits via the NOWCA Perks program.

Find out more

EVENT SCHEDULE

The event schedule outlines the registration, swim start, and swim cut-off times for each distance. It will be published in the EVENT UPDATES.

Event updates

WATER QUALITY

Often mistaken as being a part of the Thames River, the water at the London Royal Docks (where the iconic Dock2Dock takes place) is fed from the Thames Estuary. Water is impounded via an impound station on a controlled basis to facilitate boat movements and maintain water levels in the dock. Regular water testing is undertaken throughout the year and has consistently rated EXCELLENT by bathing standards.

Water testing at London’s Royal Docks is carried out by Socotec on behalf of RoDMA, the Royal Docks Management Authority. They test for E.Coli and Intestinal Enterococci on a monthly basis at various locations around the docks. Results are posted to the website: londonsroyaldocks.com

WATER TEMPERATURE

at London Royal Docks

Water temp:

2024 event day: 18.1°C
2023 event day: 23.6°C
2022 event day: 21.2°C
2021 event day: 18.8°C

START PROCEDURE & SWIM COURSE

Swim Start – Mass / Rolling Start

In each distance, there will be a limited number of spots available for swimmers wishing to start in a deep water Mass Start. If you choose this option, you will enter the water and have a few minutes to acclimatise before the group is set off with a ‘gun start’.

All other swimmers in the distance will set off in a rolling fashion – Rolling Start. This means, you will enter the swim area, cross the timing mat and then enter the water to start your swim. There will be a ‘start window’ for each event in which you will need to enter the water. This option is particularly good for swimmers who may be new to open water swimming events, and would like to start in a more relaxed way.

Course

There will be 3 course loops at the Dock2Dock.

5k, 10k, 15k and 20k participants will swim the long course.

1.5k & 3k participants will swim the short courses.

Check the course map on event day for course buoy colours so you know where to turn.

Watch our swim course run through video at water level. Get the swimmer’s perspective including important details such as feed stations and buoy turns for each distance.

Cut-off Times

All swimmers must be out of the water by 15:30

It is our intention to give every swimmer the opportunity to finish, as long as it is safe to do so. If there are still swimmers in the water as the cut-off time approaches, the safety team, in conjunction with the Race Director will have the final decision on whether the swimmer/s can continue.

We have generous cut-off times for each distance.

Final cut-off times will be announced in our EVENT UPDATES.

Feed Stations

There will be multiple feed stations on the course available for participants in distances 3k and over. Feed stations will be stocked with water, electrolyte drinks and bananas.

Refer to Course Map for feed station locations.

Additionally, swimmers in the 10k, 15k and 20k will be able to provide one small feed bag and one water bottle which can be accessed at the end of each lap (Ramada Feed) Further details will be provided in the Swimmer Briefing which will be published closer to the event.

EVENT EQUIPMENT

NOWCA Safety Wristband

Every participant in the Dock2Dock must wear their NOWCA wristband during the swim. If you are a new NOWCA member, you can select where to collect your wristband upon registering with NOWCA and paying the annual fee. If you wish to collect your wristband when you arrive at the event, please choose DOCK2DOCK as your collection venue when you register. Your wristband will then be available to pick up at the registration tent (or any NOWCA affiliated venue if you wish to swim before the event)..

If you have previously set up a NOWCA profile but have not yet paid the annual membership fee (and collected a band), you can change your collection venue by following the instructions on the NOWCA Support Centre.

Tow Floats

All participants must swim with a tow float in all distances.

Swimmers must use their own tow floats and these must be brightly coloured!

Wetsuits

Wetsuits are optional at the Dock2Dock except for any swimmer aged between 12-16 on the day of the event. Participants aged between 12-16 must wear a full length wetsuit.

Participants can choose their category (wetsuit or non-wetsuit) upon entry. Water temperatures will be monitored in the lead up to the event and swimmers may change their category by using the online registration system, prior to the event.

Should the water temperature drop below 15 degrees on the morning of the event, wetsuits will be compulsory for ALL swimmers unless a Skins Pass Application has been completed, where the swimmer will be asked to submit evidence of cold water swimming experience. This form will be issued in the week before the event, only if necessary.

Wetsuits will not be allowed should the water temperature rise above 24°C on the morning of the event. This includes shortie wetsuits and neoprene swim shorts / vests.

Tow Float / Wetsuit Hire

Our event partner, Tri Wetsuit Hire, are offering wetsuit and tow float hire for all Dock2Dock participants. You can choose an event day hire, short term hire or even hire out the wetsuit for the entire season! There is limited stock so we recommend you book early so you don’t miss out.

Hire now

Race Kit

Caps: Each swimmer will receive a coloured swim cap in their race bag. This cap must be worn during the event.

Timing band: These will be collected at registration and must be worn during the event.

EVENT VILLAGE FACILITIES

Toilets
Change cubicles
Secure bag drop facility
Cafes, restaurants and hotels close by

Area map

ACCESSIBILITY & ASSISTANCE

Dock2Dock is an inclusive event and our team work hard to ensure participants and visitors are well supported.

Find out more about some of the key areas at the event including the Event Village, Swim Start and Swim Finish.

Accessibility info

Read the full terms and conditions.

Sea Cadets Charity

This year, £1 from every Dock2Dock entry will be donated to the Sea Cadets.

When you sign up, you’ll also get the chance to match our £1 donation.

Sea Cadets is a charity that help and inspire over 14,000 young people throughout the UK. The Sea Cadet Royal Docks Boat Station support the water safety team at our event. Find out more about how donations help this charity, or make a donation now at their Given Gain fundraising page.

About Sea Cadets

Donate now

Event Training & Coaching

FREE TRAINING PLANS

With the right training plan and guidance, we can help you get to the swim start primed and ready to achieve your goals. Specially formulated by NOWCA National Coach and former British Triathlete Champion, Rick Kiddle, our comprehensive training plans will help you conquer any of our 5 core distances: 1.5k, 3k, 5k, 10k, and EPIC 15k. Subscribe to our newsletter to get access and download your free training plans.

Subscribe now

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TRAIN AT THE DOCKS

Event host, Love Open Water London Royal Docks is open year round is an ideal place to start, or continue your Dock2Dock journey.

Find out more

NOWCA ONLINE TRAINING COURSE

If you are new to open water swimming, NOWCA has an excellent online course which will help you develop your stroke, fitness and confidence. It also includes a 12 week training program. It’s a great way to enhance your Dock2Dock journey.

Find out more