Waresley Park Wild Swimming

Waresley Park is a historic, naturally spring-fed estate lake at Waresley, between Cambridge and St Neots. Designed in the 1700s, regularly water-tested, max depth about 1.8–2m, sloping beach entry. Open-water lifeguard on every session. Fire pit and a hot drink included. Lakeside sauna as a separate add-on. You go because the East of England actually has an estate lake you can book — spring-fed, shallow enough to be usable, with a lifeguard and a ticket. You do not go for a 750m training loop. There are no changing rooms yet: tipi and a dry robe, portaloo at the lake. Changing is still “coming soon”.

Getting in

Booked 60-minute swim is £15, or £10 if you are a member. 90-minute swim and sauna is £30, members £25. A 10-swim pass is £125. Age 14+. Under-18s with an adult. That age floor is hard. Tow float is always required; they have some to borrow, but do not count on it. 24-hour cancellation policy. If you are going to drop out, do it the day before.

No dogs. Full-moon swims exist if that is your thing. There is an Intro to Cold Water course for winter starters — one is listed for Saturday 5 September 2026. Do that if you have not been in cold water, rather than treating a booked hour as the lesson.

Walk from the main car park is about five minutes. Factor it in. You are not parking on the bank.

The swim

Spring-fed, private estate lake. Max depth about 1.8–2m. Sloping beach entry, so you can walk in rather than jumping off a pontoon into something you cannot see. Regularly water-tested. Lifeguard on every session. That is the whole offer: a shallow, historic lake with someone watching, not a quarry circuit.

Fire pit and a hot drink are included, which you will want. Lakeside sauna is extra — the 90-minute swim-and-sauna ticket, not a surprise add-on at the water. No changing rooms yet. Tipi, dry robe, portaloo. Dress for getting changed in a field.

It is small and shallow compared with quarries. If you came for a 750m triangle, you came to the wrong county. If you came to get in cold spring water with a beach entry and a lifeguard, this is the one.

Worth knowing

Sessions cancel for thunderstorms and gales. Check before you drive from Cambridge. Changing rooms are still coming soon, which means they are not here yet. Walk from the car park. No dogs.

Age 14+, under-18s with an adult, tow float always. 24-hour cancellation. The lake was designed in the 1700s and it still behaves like an estate lake: booked slots, a fire pit, not a leisure centre.

It is not a training venue. Treat it as a spring-fed hour with a lifeguard, a hot drink, and an optional sauna. That is the East of England pin.