The Outdoor Swimming Society 'December Dip'

The now legendary Outdoor Swimming Society December Dip is back for its 7th year and it’s going to be the biggest and the best dip ever! Come and join hundreds of festive daredevils as they boldly take to the chilly waters of Parliament Hill Lido on Saturday 7th December, for an icy plunge that is guaranteed to get the heart pumping and the skin tingling! With the water temperature for previous OSS December Dips ranging from 6 degrees to 0.1 degrees, it can get pretty chilly - who knows what the temperature will be this year?!

As the craze for cold-water swimming continues to grow year on year and with more people than ever taking part in this niche swimming activity, there’s never been a better time to get involved! All dippers at this winter wonderswim will receive a fabulously festive ‘December Dip’ swimming hat, with delicious hot drinks, warm snacks including mince pies and stollen, and a sneaky warming tipple all provided post dip. The brilliant North London Brass Band will be back to provide the soundtrack (and encouragement) to the swim for the third year running. And as an antidote to the usual photos and films, poet Richard Scott will be the OSS 'poet in residence' for the event - on hand to write couplets and haikus about the swimmers and their Dip.

For the true winter swimmers, the ‘Arctic Adventurers’* wave returns. These brave souls will swim the full two lengths of the Lido – that’s 120 metres of very cold water, rather than the traditional two widths (56m).

And of course, the ‘Best Dressed Dipper’ competition returns, with the prize going to the swimmer in the best festive fancy dress. Remember tinsel trunks of 2011 or the merman and Christmas tree from last year? Get creative to be in with a chance of winning!