Londoners to get first official bathing area on the River Thames in Ham and Kingston

The government has proposed London's first designated bathing site on the River Thames between Kingston town centre and Ham. Designation would bring regular water testing and facilities and is being advanced alongside 12 other proposed sites that will go out for consultation.

The government has proposed the first officially designated bathing site on the River Thames, locating it in south‑west London between Kingston town centre and Ham. The proposal is presented as part of wider reforms to England's bathing water system and to reflect reported improvements in river quality. Officials say designation would introduce regular water testing and basic facilities at the site. The plan comes alongside a list of 12 other proposed bathing sites around England that will be put out for consultation. Key details: - The proposed Thames bathing area would be between Kingston town centre and Ham, and is described as the first such site in London. - Designation would bring regular water quality monitoring and amenities such as toilets at the location. - Water minister Emma Hardy is quoted as saying the move would mark a significant step toward a cleaner river and cited broader reforms to the water system. - The government says the number of official bathing sites in England would rise to 464 if these proposals proceed, and the 13 new sites will be out for consultation. - Reports in the article note earlier severe pollution in the Thames (it was described as biologically dead in the 1950s), the recent construction of a large sewer project to reduce sewage discharges, and observations that more seals have been returning to the Thames estuary. Summary: If approved and designated, the Ham and Kingston site would receive ongoing water monitoring and some built facilities, reflecting reported improvements in river management and infrastructure. The proposal is being advanced alongside 12 other sites around England and is set to go through a public consultation process.