Welcome to the Bluetit Event page!
Fancy joining us for a fun day out? Here you’ll find the details for the next Arctic Flappers Nippy Dippers event at:
❄️ Cheltenham Lido, Keynsham Rd, Cheltenham GL53 7PU - Saturday 7th February 2026❄️
An Arctic Flappers Nippy Dippers event will encourage you to challenge your limits in a supportive, fun environment, and leave you feeling like you can take on the world. It's all about connecting with fellow Bluetits and supporting one another to achieve something incredible in cold water.
Cheltenham Lido
In a first for The Bluetits, we’ll be holding one of our Nippy Dippers events at a Lido! And in February, one of the coldest months, brrrrr! We couldn’t resist the opportunity to have one of our events at Cheltenham Lido, a beautiful, historic, 50m outdoor pool.
This does means we’ve changed things up slightly from our previous events to accommodate the new venue and the lower expected water temperatures at that time of year (the pool is unheated over the winter), so we’ll be running the following events:
- A 400m swim (8 lengths of the 50m pool)
- A 300m swim (6 lengths of the 50m pool)
- A 200m swim (4 lengths of the 50m pool)
- A 100m swim (2 lengths of the 50m pool)
- A 100m SuperSprint (Skins Only) - for the competitive ones out there, but no neoprene!
- A 100m SuperSprint (Wear Whatever) - Neoprene allowed this time!
- The Titty Toppers - a Relay Race where instead of passing over a baton, you must pass over your funny hat! (Teams of 4)
- The Flock Off - Enter as a flock (with between 4-6 people on your team) and see how many times you can swim 50m in 15 minutes!
More details about the swims
Due to the expected water temperature in February, the 400m swim will be for those seasoned Bluetits who love a challenge and have plenty of winter swimming experience behind them. Due to the very cold water temperatures expected, we may add a cut off time for this event, for your safety. This will be confirmed in the Terms and Conditions.
The middle distances are for those who’d like to push themselves a little bit further than they normally would, but are confident in their ability to complete the distance in the expected temperature.
We’ve unfortunately had to drop our 50m swim, to make sure everyone’s getting in and out of the pool at the same end (other than in the relays). We may open up a couple of slots before the event starts where you can have a quick dip in the pool, please keep an eye out for this on our booking page.
We’ve added a couple of extra events in, such as the 100m SuperSprints and the relay swims, for those with a bit of competitiveness in them! The two SuperSprint categories will be timed, with prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd best times overall. There will also be a prize for the winning teams of both The Titty Toppers and The Flock Off races!
But in line with the overall reasons for our events, all the other swim distances will be non-competitive, and getting in the water, challenging yourself, and supporting one another is what counts. And you’ll have your patch and badge to commemorate taking part!
*For those considering taking part in The Titty Toppers event, please make sure your hat is buoyant (wouldn’t want it sinking if it comes off your head!), doesn’t have any glitter or anything that will contaminate the pool, so is as environmentally friendly as possible. Other than that, we look forward to seeing what you bring!
How the day at Cheltenham Lido will look
When you arrive at the site, all who are swimming will head towards our registration desk, at least 45 minutes before your estimated start time, depending on your chosen distance.
If you have free time between registering and your event, you can soak in the atmosphere. We also hope for lots of cheering for the swimmers as they’re taking part in their events!
Once your swim is over and you’re all dressed and warm, you can re-join the spectators and take some more time to browse the stalls, before the always highly-anticipated raffle draw takes place at the end of the day.
Provisional Schedule
Please find below a rough schedule for the day, though it may be liable to change. We’ll release a confirmed schedule and plan for the day to all ticket holders a few days before the event, but we do recommend making sure you’d be available for the duration the event is open, in case we have to make any last-minute changes to the order of the swims.
10:00 - Event opens, and registration opens. Please ensure you've registered no later than 45 minutes prior to your estimated start time (released closer to the day).
11:00 - 15:00 - The swim events take place. The swims will likely take place in the order mentioned above.
15:30(ish) - After the swims have finished the raffle draw will happen. The event finishes once the raffle has taken place.
Accessibility
Please note, the entry into the water at this venue is via pool steps rather than a slipway. Please ensure you’re able to enter and exit the water this way unaided before purchasing a ticket.
Before you book…
For more information about the event, please have a read through our FAQ's below, as well as our Terms and Conditions, found here.
As this is a new venue we haven’t held an event at before, if you have any questions, please contact us so we can enquire with the venue and add it to our FAQs. We can be reached at toot_toot@thebluetits.co
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the event being held?
The 7 February 2026 event’s being held at Cheltenham Lido, Keynsham Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7PU.
Do I have to be a fast swimmer?
The 400m, 300m, 200m and 100m swims are not timed, so you don't have to be a fast swimmer and is more about the experience. We won’t be timing you, or announcing who came first.
But due to the cold water temperatures in February, we ask you to make sure you're able to swim your chosen distance in good time.
For the 400m, we may have a cut off time for your safety, please see the Terms and Conditions for confirmation of this.
What swims can I enter?
You can enter any of the events, as long as you’re capable of swimming that distance in the expected water temperature for February.
Can I enter more than one swim?
Yes, but if you wish to take part in multiple events, we do ask that you make sure they're not back-to-back, to give yourself enough time to warm up in between.
Separate tickets will need to be bought for each event.
How much is entry?
Entry to the distance swims is between £25-£35 per entrant. Entry to the Team Races is £50 per team.
How cold will the water be?
We won’t know until the day, however, our events usually take place in the off season as we are aiming for that cold water experience.
For this event, we anticipate the water temperature will be below 10 degrees Celsius, as the Lido isn't heated during the winter.
Please only consider taking part in our longer distance swims if you’re comfortable swimming that distance in cold temperatures.
The organisers reserve the right to shorten the distance if the water is too cold according to their safety team.
Do I get a badge?
Yes, would it be a Bluetit event without one!?
As well as a warm glow, a sense of achievement, and some fantastic memories, you’ll take away a tote bag, an event patch, and distance badge!
How old do I have to be to enter?
Entrants must be 18 or over. Under 18s are welcome to come and spectate as long as they are accompanied by an adult at all times.
What time do I need to be there?
Registration opens at 10am, and you must register at least 45 minutes before your event's estimated start time.
Can I bring someone with me?
Yes! Spectators have free entry, and the more the merrier to cheer the swimmers on! But please do car share wherever possible.
For the 400m, we ask you to bring a warm up buddy along who can help you dress after exiting the water.
What do I need to bring on the day?
As this event is at a lido, you won't need your normal safety kit such as a tow float and swim shoes. However, we will require you to wear your tow float belt, for ease of getting you out of the pool if required. We'll have spares on the day if necessary. We'd also still recommend a bright hat or swim cap, as well as your usual things to keep you warm!
We'd also suggest bringing a flask with a hot drink to have available to help you warm up after your event.
Is parking available?
Parking is available on site but at a cost, so as usual, we do suggest car-sharing.
Please see the lido's website for further details of their venue.
As the venue's in a town, there may be alternative way to get to the venue other than driving. Do have a look into alternative options if needed.
What stalls will be there?
We hope to have a range of stall holders for you to browse and buy from throughout the day. We haven't confirmed who yet, but they'll see you there on the day!
Can I stay for the weekend?
If you're travelling to the event and wish to stay, there will be plenty of options in Cheltenham itself or the nearby area. We aren't able to recommend places, but do have a look yourself at what's available.
