About 49 minutes by train from London Waterloo, Frensham Pond is one of the countryside’s best-kept secrets. Amble on over from the car park and you’ll be greeted by wild and undulating flora, lush greenery and sailing boats that drift around as though Monday morning alarms don’t exist. The waters here are clear and fairly shallow, so paddling in the buoyed off swimming areas is a must for even the most timid swimmers, who can just go ankle-deep.

You'll find Margate's unique tidal pool about one hour and 24 minutes by train from St Pancras International. This is usually reserved for hardcore wild swimmers who brave the chilly waters that flow in from the North Sea, but when the sun finally makes an appearance, more bold members of the public have also been known to take the plunge. Jumping into this enclosed part of Walpole Bay is an fab activity if you want to embrace your inner Michael Phelps without drifting too far from the shore.

This area of outstanding natural beauty can be found about an hour from Waterloo, out in the Surrey Hills. From the village of Shalford, follow the River Tillingbourne north until you reach the Wey Navigation, where you’ll find one of the most peaceful, quaint spots of wild swimming in the south – not a bit of London craziness about it. Look out for the tiny sandy beaches inviting you down into the water, or head for the bridge in Shalford Park.

Pangbourne Meadows, a lake about an hour from London Paddington, is an effortlessly romantic swimming spot for strong swimmers. Think scenic bridges, velvety waters and vast grassy verges. To get in and out, head east of the weir where there are boat ramps, and then bathe with uninterrupted views of chalk beaches and the Chiltern Hills.

It's a 40 minute train to get from London to Oxford, where you'll find this vast stretch of common land roamed by cows and horses. Port Meadow stretches for nearly two miles along the upper stretches of the Thames (known here as the Isis). It’s a popular spot for locals to go for a dip on hot days, but the size of the place means there’s always a free spot to slip into the cold, clear water. Try either down by Fiddler’s Island or upriver at Godstow and Wolvercote.

Looking for a wild spot for some open-water swimming? You won’t find one much better maintained than Divers Cove, an open-air reservoir in the untamed landscape of a nature reserve about an hour from London Victoria. This one’s for serious, competent swimmers, and other activities like triathlon training and scuba diving are also on offer. The water’s guaranteed to be chilly, but, luckily, the changing rooms are heated – winner.

Forget overly chlorinated pools. With half a mile of easily accessible waters, this lesser-known spot makes for a much more natural day of sun-basking. About 45 minutes from London's Kings Cross, the river is nestled within some steep overgrown riverbanks and muddy floral borders by the Ensfield Bridge. Once you’re in, you can float around safe in the knowledge that you avoided the people traffic at your local lido.