Hosted by Jill Riddell, The Shape of the World is a podcast about cities, nature and people. The Shape of the World shines a light on how we and other living things thrive and co-exist. We speak with scientists, artists, planners and philosophers about the shape of the world now and how it might be made better.  Read the manifesto.

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Over the past 30 years, the quality of water in rivers has improved tremendously in many major cities across Western Europe, Australia, the United States, and Canada. So much so that what once seemed impossible has now become reality: people really are swimming in the Thames in London, the Seine in Paris, the Rhine in Basel, the Yarra in Melbourne, the Charles in Boston—and in many other places where, before, the idea would have been shocking and untenable. That’s because the composition of those waterways has changed drastically, thanks to the relentless advocacy of environmental groups whose efforts led to much stronger regulation, the improvement of wastewater treatment, and the relocation of industries that had long dominated riverfronts. If you are tired of gloomy environmental news, urban swimming might be a positive place to look!

Chris Romer-Lee is a visonary behind what is called the “Swimmable Cities” movement. He is a swim consultant, author, and co-founder, and though he is trained as a conventional architect, Chris now directs his efforts toward building healthier, more resilient communities—ones in which people have easy access to healthy waters and places to swim. 

In 2015, his proposal for a Thames-fed swimming spot in the heart of London went viral. It’s not an exaggeration to say that it caused a huge sensation—the way it spread locally and globally bolstered what at that point was a nascent movement of people asking: “Why can’t we swim in our river?” The proposed Thames Baths Project showed images of people floating in lovely clean water beneath London’s iconic bridges, with swimmers looking up from the water toward famous landmarks. It showed lush plantings integrated with the surrounding architecture, places where wildlife might be invited to share the same spaces as the swimmers. 

It all seemed like a distant dream. But exactly one decade later, when hundreds of people came together in Rotterdam, the Netherlands to share similar ideas, ambitions, and dreams that were already becoming reality, Chris’s ideas were no longer considered fanciful. That was the inaugural summit of the worldwide Swimmable Cities initiative. Today, over 120 cities and 250 organizations have joined the alliance and pledged to make their homes swimmable.

“The world moves at one hell of a pace. Swimming and moving slowly seem to be really important at the moment.”

– Chris Romer-Lee, swim consultant, author, architect, and co-founder of “Swimmable Cities” and “Future Lidos.”

Learn More About Chris Romer-Lee

Chris is the author of the multi-award winning best seller, Sea Pools: 66 Saltwater Sanctuaries from Around the World, which was published in 2023 by Batsford Books. His forthcoming book, Diving Boards (Batsford Books, 2027), covers the history, legacy, and story behind these poolside stages.

Beyond Swimmable Cities, Chris has founded various other successful initiates. Studio Octopi is a London-based architecture practice that works across the commercial, public, and private sectors. Chris was one of the co-founders of the practice, and he now consults them on swimming-related projects. Chris is also one of the founders of Future Lidos, a peer network across the UK and Ireland that focuses on bringing the joy of outdoor swimming to more people in more communities. Part of this project involves the free-to-access Lido toolkit, which promotes a greater understanding of the value of outdoor swim sites. 

Also check out Chris’s website, which won Best Visual Design at the Archiboo Awards in 2025.  

What is “Swimmable Cities”?

Swimmable Cities is an alliance of over 250 diverse organizations across 121 cities and towns in 38 countries. It aims to make bodies of water in cities more swimmable, build stronger communities, and improve resilience against climate change. The Shape of the World was one of the early signatories of the Swimmable Cities charter, which outlines the initiative’s goals and mission. The inaugural Swimmable Cities Summit was hosted last year in Rotterdam, and the next one will be hosted by the City of Ottawa, Canada in August of 2027.

Whether you’re part of an organization, municipality, or are just an individual who cares about urban communities, water, and access to nature, then you should join the alliance. A previous guest of this podcast, Nick Wesley, is also part of this alliance through his organization, Urban Rivers, which focuses on restoring life to the Chicago River. 

How Can I Swim Outside in My City? 

In the episode, Chris mentioned that the Lords and Commons Cup—an iconic swim race that goes from Hammersmith to Putney in West London—might be returning for the first time in nearly a century. The race went on for decades but came to an end in the late 1940s after WWII, because the war ruptured many of the city’s sewage systems, creating poor water conditions. This year, the organization is set on bringing back the event (and for the first time ever, making it public). If you live in London, keep an eye out for this event in September. 

Organized swims are becoming increasingly popular in other cities, too. Here is a list of some coming up this year:

If you don’t live in one of these cities, investigate whether local swimming clubs or organizations in your city are hosting any public swims.

The above images are excerpts from Chris’s award-winning book, Sea Pools: 66 Saltwater Sanctuaries from Around the World (Batsford Books, 2023). Keep an eye out next year for his forthcoming book about diving boards.