London is set to get its first wild swimming spot in the River Thames.

The government has proposed 13 new swimming sites across the UK, including a possible bathing spot at Ham and Kingston on the River Thames in Greater London. A six-week public consultation is under way and designation would bring regular water-quality testing during the bathing season.

Outdoor swimming in London is growing and the government has proposed new bathing sites around the UK. One proposed location is in Greater London at Ham and Kingston on the River Thames, at a former Victorian swimming spot. Officials say the site could become the city's first designated bathing area in the Thames and that water quality has improved compared with past decades. A six-week public consultation is currently under way to assess the proposed locations. Key facts: - The government has proposed 13 new outdoor swimming sites across the UK, with one proposed in Greater London. - The London site is proposed at Ham and Kingston on the River Thames, at a historically popular Victorian swimming location. - Officials described the site's arrival as marking an improvement in Thames water quality, noting the river was declared biologically dead in the 1950s. - Water minister Emma Hardy commented that rivers and beaches are important community places for families and swimmers. - A six-week public consultation is under way; if areas become "Designated Bathing Waters" they would be regularly tested for water quality during the bathing season (May 15 to September 30). Summary: If the Ham and Kingston location is designated, it would be the capital's first bathing site in the River Thames and would be subject to regular water-quality testing during the bathing season. The public consultation will inform whether this and other proposed sites receive designation; decisions and any further timeline remain under assessment.