River swimming in the UK

Rivers are the original wild swimming. The Dart, the Wye, the Derwent, the Exe — they've been places of pleasure and ritual since before anyone thought to name them. The experience is different from still water: there's movement, often current, sometimes surprising depth around a bend. You can swim against it and feel genuinely alive, or float with it and feel genuinely at peace. River temperatures tend to be warmer than lakes in summer and colder after rain, which keeps things interesting. Water quality varies — check before you go. The best river swims in this list have been chosen because someone's actually been there and come back happy.