Swim Liverpool

Swim Liverpool at Princes Dock is the Liverpudlian base of We Swim Run, the team behind various races, courses and events in the North West for, you guessed it, swimmers and runners.

Head here on a Saturday for their regular open water swim session. Well-organised and welcoming, the hour-long session attracts everyone from serious swimmers to those who just want to float about near the jetty for a few bracing minutes. There are two changing shelters and lockers (bring a padlock) and you’ve various cafes nearby for a post-dip, warm-up drink.

The water temperature in winter is, in their words, ‘bastard cold’, so you might want to bring a wetsuit. Or go in spring and summer for a less hardcore dip. They do one-to-one swim coaching and an ‘introduction to open water’ course for those who want some support to get started.