Canary Wharf Sea Lanes: Murky Waters, Muddled Mind (#811)
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
18 July 2026
I really, really wanted to love the new Canary Wharf Sea Lanes. Maia came up from Brighton to spend the weekend in London with us ... and the timing was pretty perfect as it was almost three years ago to the day (July 9, 2023) that we had swum together in the "OG" Sea Lanes pool down in Brighton.
We booked our swim for 3pm and had absolutely perfect conditions, with fairly skies and the water chilled, but not too chilled. The location is less than a ten minute walk from the Canary Wharf tube station; the setting is fantastic and the whole area is such a cool concept. Outside of the pool itself, they have a very large, open air seating area with a coffee shop and, I think, a second food establishment. The staff was exceedingly friendly, showed us the ropes and the vibe was relaxed and happy. The three wide lanes were busy, but not too busy with maybe 8-10 people in the "fast" lane. Naturally, there was the normal public swimming shenanigans of people not understanding their own speed, but no worse than any other public pool.
I really love the concept and I am very happy for London's pool-scape that this place exists. Judging from the online love I'm seeing, it's bringing aquatic joy to so many people. It's such a unique venue ...
... but, for me, the pool + open water mashup just didn't work. It's like it cannot make up its mind of what it wants to be:
As a pool for training, the slippery walls, murky water, lack of any markings on the bottom or the walls mean it's a sub-par training pool.
At the same time, because it's a walled-in pool, it's also not really a good open-water training space as you don't get the distance or the real sighting work that a stellar open water venue like the West Reservoir offers.
Maia and I each swam 1,500 easy meters, so it's now pool #811 on my #1001Pools list. I am so very grateful for the creativity of the people behind this facility; I'm thankful the London pool scene has this in its lives. It just won't be an ongoing part of my aquatic life.
