If you are taking part in a pool event there are no costs and we would love you to bring people along to join in the fun.
At Blenheim Palace we have managed to negotiate a half price entry to the Palace Gardens for supporting friends and family. Prices are as quoted below. This year we will also have lots of fun activities for all of the family to make it a great day out!
Adults £7 per person
Child £3.50 per child
Concessions £5 per person
Please note that these reduced prices are only available by online pre-booking via the Blenheim Palace website up until midnight on Friday 6th September 2014
At Blenheim Palace we have managed to negotiate a half price entry to the Palace Gardens for supporting friends and family. Prices are as quoted below. This year we will also have lots of fun activities for all of the family to make it a great day out!
Adults £7 per person
Child £3.50 per child
Concessions £5 per person
Please note that these reduced prices are only available by online pre-booking via the Blenheim Palace website up until midnight on Friday 6th September 2014
New for 2014 we are running some taster sessions where members of the public can come down and Have a Go! These sessions will be run by our SwimBritain Ambassadors and will offer you the opportunity to dip your toes into the SwimBritain experience to see if it is right for you and they are all free of charge to attend. To find out more and how to sign up click here.
Your entry fee includes:
▪ To prepare you for your swim you will receive a SwimBritain training passport that you can redeem up to three free 30 minute training sessions with accredited swimming coaches or free swims
▪ You will access to our online fitness tips, swimming technique videos and training session cards
▪ A training log to track your progress via our brand new SwimBritain App
▪ A SwimBritain swimming cap
▪ A SwimBritain band to time your swim (you’ll need to return this after the event)
▪ A SwimBritain t-shirt
▪ A SwimBritain medal
▪ A chance to swim with GB SwimBritain Ambassador on the day!
▪ To prepare you for your swim you will receive a SwimBritain training passport that you can redeem up to three free 30 minute training sessions with accredited swimming coaches or free swims
▪ You will access to our online fitness tips, swimming technique videos and training session cards
▪ A training log to track your progress via our brand new SwimBritain App
▪ A SwimBritain swimming cap
▪ A SwimBritain band to time your swim (you’ll need to return this after the event)
▪ A SwimBritain t-shirt
▪ A SwimBritain medal
▪ A chance to swim with GB SwimBritain Ambassador on the day!
Swimming is a sport for everyone, so we want everyone to join in with SwimBritain. If you have any special requirements, please contact us at [email protected] or 0845 680 8116.
Visit our venue locations page to see all of the SwimBritain event dates.
At British Gas we are passionate about looking after our nation’s health and have been the principal partner of British Swimming since 2009. Since then, we’ve invested in everything from free swims, to supporting The British Gas GBR Swimming Teams. SwimBritain is our biggest swimming programme to date, and aims to put the fun back into fitness. Our goal is to inspire 500,000 people across Britain to swim more regularly – and get fit! Read more about how we’re supporting British Swimming.
It costs £30 to enter a team for SwimBritain before 31st May. After this time the team price will be £40. British Gas customers receive a 20% discount per team.
SwimBritain is for swimmers of all abilities. As long as you meet the minimum age requirements and can swim 125m or 250m without stopping, you can get involved. For less confident swimmers we suggest SwimBritain 500, where each team member completes four laps of 125m instead of four laps of 250m.
There are ten SwimBritain event pools (including the London Aquatics Centre at the Olympic Park in London, and the Commonwealth Games Pool in Glasgow). There’s also a SwimBritain open water relay in the Great Lake at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire. See where all the events are taking place on our locations page.
SwimBritain is for swimmers of all abilities and you can chose one of the following challenges:
- SwimBritain 1000: Each team member swims 1000m (4 legs of 250m)
- SwimBritain 500: Each team member swims 500m (4 legs of 125m).
SwimBritain is a series of swimming relay events launched in 2013 nationwide, designed to get Britain healthy. It’s for teams of between two and four people, and you can choose to swim with your friends, or join in with your family. Family teams must have at least one adult and children must be aged at least eight years old to take part in the pool events and 12 years old to take part in the open water swim. Click here to see what happened in 2013!
Yes you are able to enter multiple teams, though you will have to enter and pay twice. Team Captains can log into their profile.
Absolutely. You can either swim for the official SwimBritain charity partner Shelter or for a cause that is close to you. When you sign up £1 of your entry fee goes directly to Shelter
No. However, you can change the session you have selected up to two weeks before the event.
Enter the code on the sign up page to join the team. Add your personal details and create your personal account.
You can change your details up to two weeks before your event. All you or your team member needs to do is log in to your account and choose the edit details.
Yes. If you can no longer take part, your team captain can edit your details up to two weeks before the event, so someone else can take your place. If you are the team captain, please contact us.
Your team captain will give you a team code which you will need to register.
To join the team simply enter this at the sign up page. Under 16’s are entered by their adult family member and don’t need a code.
To join the team simply enter this at the sign up page. Under 16’s are entered by their adult family member and don’t need a code.
You can sign up and pay to secure your place, then find your team later.
Team captains can register the team online. You are not required to know the names of your team members before you start the registration process. When you sign up, you can invite your friends and family to join your team. Send them an invite or simply share your team code in order to register. If any of your team are under 16, simply enter their details in the My Teams tab on your profile page.
If you haven’t got an email from us after you signed up, please check your spam/junk folder. Alternatively please contact us.
Swimming packs, containing everything you need for the event, will be available for collection by your team’s leader on the day of your selected event.
No. The relays mean that each member completes four individual laps of either 250m or 125m alternately. This allows for your team members to cheer you on throughout your swim!
Children can take part, but we strongly recommend that there is at least one person over 16 in the team. However, if the children are competent swimmers (club or similar standard) they can enter as a team of under 16s. If a team is entered on this basis, they must have a non-swimming team captain who is 16 and must accompany the team and be present throughout the event. Children must be 8 years old for the pool events and 12 years old for the open water swim, on the day of the event.
Registration closes two weeks prior to each event date
There are several companies you can hire a wetsuit from – one of these is www.hireawetsuit.co.uk – if using www.hireawetsuit.co.uk please order your wetsuit by 01/08/14 to guarantee availability for the event.
Our swimming stars have put together training materials to help you – from perfecting your swimming technique to what foods to eat. Find out more on our preparation page
As long as you’ve signed up for an event, you can enjoy up to three 30-minute coaching sessions. Accredited swimming coaches will be running these at a SwimBritain participating pool near you to help improve your swimming ability.
Find your nearest pool using our pool finder. Then get in touch with them to arrange your coaching sessions.
Your entry fee to this year’s SwimBritain event includes up to three 30 minute instructor led swimming sessions or free general swims, available at over 100 pools across the country.
Yes. Every swimmer receives a medal and a t-shirt on the day.
Results from your SwimBritain event should be displayed on the day for you to check how your team got on. They will also be posted on the SwimBritain site after the event.
Our SwimBritain team will be on hand throughout the event to give you a pre-event briefing and ensure that you fully understand the event format and mechanics. Each member of your team must wear a timing band during his or her swim. After each lap, you must touch into the timing pads. The chip attached to the timing band will be used to record your time. Timing bands will be provided in your race pack, which you collect on the day. All timing bands must be returned after you have completed your swim.
Having friends, families and colleagues cheering on your team is all part of the SwimBritain fun.
Yes. There will be facilities to change and shower, as well as safe storage for your belongings on the day.
You will need to be at the venue at least 45 minutes before your set start time. The event will be busy, so allow enough time to travel there, register and pick up your race pack, get changed and store your belongings. For the pool events, please come prepared with your swimming kit underneath your clothes – to ensure a speedy changing room visit!
At Blenheim there will be changing and baggage facilities for you to use as well as hot showers!
At Blenheim there will be changing and baggage facilities for you to use as well as hot showers!
SwimBritain promises to be a fun-filled day out for everyone, with lots going on – in and out of the water. For a quick snapshot, see below:
- Swim pack collection (SwimBritain t-shirts, swimming caps and timing chips)
- MC welcome, Ambassador demonstration of the SwimBritain course
- Fun team warm up to music
- Your SwimBritain session begins!
- Real-time results feedback via big screens and our SwimBritain ipad team – this allows you track your progress with each lap
- On completion of your swim you will be presented with your exclusive SwimBritain medal. Our professional photographers will then take a team shot so you can share your achievements online. These will be uploaded to the SwimBritain Facebook page.
- Results uploaded to the SwimBritain website post event
- Swim pack collection (SwimBritain t-shirts, swimming caps and timing chips)
- MC welcome, Ambassador demonstration of the SwimBritain course
- Fun team warm up to music
- Your SwimBritain session begins!
- Real-time results feedback via big screens and our SwimBritain ipad team – this allows you track your progress with each lap
- On completion of your swim you will be presented with your exclusive SwimBritain medal. Our professional photographers will then take a team shot so you can share your achievements online. These will be uploaded to the SwimBritain Facebook page.
- Results uploaded to the SwimBritain website post event
Yes, wetsuits are compulsory for the SwimBritain open water swim. A wetsuit provides extra buoyancy and warmth with the added bonus of making you slightly faster! We recommend that you try the wetsuit out before the event day, as it’s important to wear a well-fitting wetsuit for your swim!
If you would like to purchase or hire a wetsuit for the day please visit our wetsuit partner XTERRA wetsuits. To receive 50% discount when purchasing a non pre discounted wetsuit, please use the discount code BRITISH2014. To recieve 20% discount off wetsuit hire, please use the discount code BRITISHHIRE2014.
Sorry, but once the payment is made, we’re unable to offer the discount.
Sorry, we can’t offer any refunds. Please be completely sure that you want to sign up before you make the payment. If you have any questions about this, please contact us.
If you’re a team captain, enter your British Gas customer number when you sign up to activate the 20% discount.
No. Payment must be made for your whole team by the team captain.
Sign up only allows team captains to pay for the events. If you are a team member, you will need to arrange payment with your team captain.
Limelight Sports are organising the event on our behalf, which is why a shortened version of their name appears on your statement
You can pay for the event with any major credit and debit cards.
