Swimming in White Cliffs Country

Whether you're an experienced sea swimmer or prefer to splash about in an indoor pool, there are plenty of swimming options in White Cliffs Country.

Experience Deal, Dover, Sandwich

Sea swimming

Take a dip in protected Dover Harbour or sheltered St Margaret's Bay, bathe in the waters at Deal or have a paddle at Sandwich Bay - there are plenty of options to get all of the refreshing and exhilarating benefits of sea swimming here.

Please note - none of the beaches in this area are lifeguarded. Check tide times, be aware of the strong currents offshore and read up about basic sea safety. Avoid sea swimming in poor weather. Click on the box at the bottom of this page to find out more about the beaches in our district, including facilities and whether they are dog-friendly.

Dover Harbour beach with swimmers and paddle boarding with Dover Castle and the White Cliffs in the distance.
Dover Harbour beach is a sheltered swimming spot.

Pool swimming

If you prefer the safety of pool swimming, there are currently two indoor options in White Cliffs Country:

Major plans for a new leisure centre in Deal with a six-lane pool, gym, fun inflatable sessions and a toddler splash pad have been given the go ahead. The old Tides swimming pool facility has been demolished, but the sports hall and indoor tennis centre on the site remain open during the development. The project is due to be completed in summer 2027. For the latest news please see New Deal Leisure Centre.

Open water swimming

Inland open water swimming is available at Whitemills Wake and Aqua Park near Sandwich on Friday and Sunday mornings 8-10am. Swimmers must wear a wetsuit and follow the park rules. 

Cross-Channel swimming

The English Channel is approximately 19 nautical miles (35 km) wide at its narrowest point (Shakespeare Beach, Dover to Cap Gris Nez, France) and is a unique and demanding swim, considered by many to be the ultimate long distance challenge. 

Captain Matthew Webb was the first person to successfully swim from England to France on 24-25 August 1875 in 21 hours and 3 minutes, the first observed unassisted swim across the Strait of Dover. The first woman to swim across was Gertrude (Trudy) Ederle who completed her swim from the French coast to Kingsdown on 6 August 1926. She beat the existing men's record by almost two hours and changed women's sporting history forever. Often referred to as Queen of the Waves, her legacy continues to inspire swimmers from around the world. 

Queen of the Waves as she prepares to swim the channel.
Visit Dover Museum until 7 November 2026 to see the special exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of Trudy Ederle's historic swim.

A cross-Channel swim is not for the fainthearted as conditions can be very variable with force 6 winds, wave heights in excess of 2m and strong tides, and timings very much depend on the weather and sea conditions. The English Channel is also one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world with 600 tankers passing through and 200 ferries and other vessels crossing daily. The success rate each season is usually less than 50% for solo swims.

For more information on the history of Channel swimming please take a look at the Channel Swimming Dover Website.

If you're interested in Channel swimming please visit either the Channel Swimming Association or the CSPF website for details as all Channel swims must be conducted through them.

Useful sites

  • Tide Times - tide predictions for the UK
  • Tideschart - detailed marine forecasting and tide information
  • RNLI safety - crucial information on keeping safe at the coast
  • Met Office tide times and beach forecasts
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