Christmas Day<\/p>\n
Felixstowe, Suffolk Penarth and Porthcawl<\/p>\n The Penarth Christmas swim. Photograph: James Richardson<\/p>\n The Dawnstalkers meet daily to greet the sunrise with a swim beside Penarth pier, three miles south of Cardiff city centre \u2013 and Christmas morning is no exception. Anyone can join this inclusive sea-swimming collective. A wood-fired barrel sauna will be parked on the prom from 21\u201329 December, offering a toasty post-dip reward. The Christmas swim at Porthcawl (25 miles west along the coast) began in 1965, when local swimming legend Arlon Owens, dressed as a clown, was pushed off the pier by another dipper dressed as Father Christmas. More than a thousand swimmers \u2013 many still in fancy dress \u2013 take the plunge, raising thousands for local charities. Peter Pan Cup, the Serpentine, Hyde Park, London<\/p>\n Swimmers of the Serpentine Swimming Club take part in the Peter Pan Cup race. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski\/PA<\/p>\n One of the UK\u2019s oldest festive swims, the Serpentine Swimming Club\u2019s Christmas Day race has been held in Hyde Park every Christmas morning since 1864. The event was later named for JM Barrie, who donated the first trophy in 1904. This short but speedy 100-yard race is open only to members, but spectators are encouraged to gather along the lakeside to cheer on\u00a0the swimmers. Weymouth, Dorset<\/p>\n The origins of Weymouth\u2019s Christmas dip go back to 1948 and a bet in a pub. Photograph: Andy Cooke\/We Are Weymouth<\/p>\n Started in 1948, when pub landlord Dill Laker and taxi driver Reggie Bugler made a boozy bet to swim the harbour after Christmas Eve drinks, Weymouth has grown into one of the UK\u2019s biggest and best-loved festive plunges. Hundreds of swimmers splash 70 metres across the harbour, cheered on by thousands of spectators, raising funds for a local disability charity. The harbour itself is pretty, but make time to stroll the huge sandy beach too, backed by colourful beach huts. Hunstanton, Norfolk Bude, Cornwall<\/p>\n The Bude Surf Life Saving club organises the local Christmas swim. Photograph: Simon Maycock\/Alamy<\/p>\n This legendary swim has been organised by the Bude Surf Life Saving Club at Crooklets beach for over half a century. Thousands gather to watch as swimmers \u2013 many in Santa suits \u2013 dash into the Atlantic for a short but spirited dip. It\u2019s all for a good cause, raising funds for the life-saving club that keeps the local beaches safe year-round. Boxing Day<\/p>\n Folkestone, Kent Seaton Carew, County Durham Paignton, Devon<\/p>\n The Lions Club\u2019s Walk into the Sea. Photograph: Graham Hunt\/Alamy<\/p>\n A Boxing Day classic, with hundreds of\u00a0swimmers, many in fancy dress, gathering on Paignton Sands for the local Lions Club\u2019s Walk into the Sea. There\u2019s a fancy-dress competition at 11.45am before the mass dip at noon. A great way to shake off Christmas Day indulgence in this lively English Riviera town. St Ives, Cornwall<\/p>\n St Ives\u2019 harbour, lit by Christmas lights Photograph: TW\/Alamy<\/p>\n Blow away the Christmas Day cobwebs with this relaxed dip on golden Porthminster beach. Wetsuits are allowed, fancy dress is encouraged and even dogs can join in. Porthminster Caf\u00e9<\/a> keeps post-swim spirits high with hot chocolates and bacon butties. St\u00a0Ives is particularly pretty in winter and the narrow cobbled streets make for pleasant festive wandering. Ventnor, Isle of Wight Fraserburgh Harbour, Aberdeenshire New Year\u2019s Day<\/p>\n Salford Quays, Manchester<\/p>\n Swimmers at Salford Quays. Photograph: PA Images\/Alamy<\/p>\n No seaside? No problem. Manchester swimmers can head to Dock 9 at MediaCity, a 2002 Commonwealth Games venue that hosts a New Year\u2019s dip in 7C waters. This \u201cbig, bold and mighty cold\u201d event, run by Uswim, raises lots of cash for\u00a0local charities. With the Lowry theatre as a backdrop, three waves of\u00a0swimmers enter the water at 15-minute intervals. A best-dressed hat\u00a0competition adds to the fun. Keswick, Lake District Bangor, County Down Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire Lyme Regis, Dorset<\/p>\n Large crowds gather to watch the \u2018swimming\u2019 in Lyme Regis. Photograph: Graham Hunt\/Alamy<\/p>\n The Rotary Club\u2019s Lyme Lunge fills sandy Cobb beach with wigs, wings and inflatable flamingos. Fancy dress is encouraged, fundraising optional, desire to run like a loon into the sea obligatory (though just a quick paddle will suffice). Thousands of spectators flock to the beach and gardens above it\u00a0to watch the mayhem. Loony Dook, nr Edinburgh
A proper community affair, with hundreds of participants resplendent in festive finery racing into the North Sea at 10am sharp while much of the town gathers along the promenade to watch. The event raises funds for St Elizabeth Hospice, and every year brings new tales of heroics and even romance (there\u2019s been the odd mid-plunge proposal). The atmosphere is as heartwarming as the water is not. Afterwards warm up with a stroll around town, with its four-mile promenade and seafront gardens.
10am, \u00a316, stelizabethhospice.org.uk<\/a><\/p>\n
Penarth: 8am, free, dawnstalkers.com<\/a>. Porthcawl: 11.15am (enter water at 11.45am), suggested donation \u00a310, christmasswim.org<\/a>
<\/a><\/p>\n
9am, serpentineswimmingclub.com<\/a><\/p>\n
From 9.30am, \u00a315, love-weymouth.co.uk<\/p>\n
One of Norfolk\u2019s largest festive events, the swim has been running for more than 60 years. Taking place just off the\u00a0town\u2019s central promenade, it\u2019s organised by the Hunstanton and District Round Table and supports local charities. Lots of prizes and free\u00a0hot soup to warm up after.
11am (register from 10am), free, hunstantonroundtable.com<\/a><\/p>\n
10.45am, free (donations welcome), visitbude.info<\/a><\/p>\n
This event brings hundreds of swimmers to Sunny Sands, cheered on by a boisterous crowd. Organised by the Folkestone, Hythe & District Lions Club, it raises funds for the Lions and other local charities. There are prizes for fancy dress and the youngest and oldest dippers.
11.30am (register from 9.30am), \u00a310, free with sponsorship, folkestonelions.org.uk<\/a><\/p>\n
The North Sea isn\u2019t exactly a welcoming proposition for a swimmer at this time\u00a0of year, but that doesn\u2019t deter hundreds from joining Hartlepool Round Table\u2019s Boxing Day Dip. A\u00a0parade sets off from the Marine Hotel on the seafront at Seaton Crew, just outside Hartlepool, before the plunge. Bacon butties and beer are available back at base afterwards.
11.30am, \u00a35, hartlepoolroundtable.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n
12pm, \u00a310, englishriviera.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n
12pm, free, \u00a31 donation suggested, no website<\/p>\n
Once a smugglers\u2019 haunt, Ventnor Bay now welcomes hundreds of swimmers dressed in pyjamas, tutus and rubber rings for this swim on the Esplanade. The event raises funds for local cancer charities and for Ventnor Carnival. Post swim, mulled wine and doorstop sandwiches await brave bathers at the Spyglass Inn<\/a>.
12pm, free, donation suggested, on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n
Few causes are closer to sea swimmers\u2019 hearts than the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Association). The 17th annual 52-metre harbour swim will raise funds for Fraserburgh lifeboat station, with participants diving in from the side of a lifeboat and swimming across the icy water, cheered on by the whole town.
1pm, free, donation suggested, rnli.org<\/a><\/p>\n
11am, \u00a325, uswimopenwater.com<\/a><\/p>\n
Cumbria\u2019s hardiest wild swimmers take to Derwentwater in fancy dress to raise funds for the Calvert Trust, which helps people with disabilities experience the\u00a0outdoors. Afterwards there will be\u00a0lakeside hot chocolate and cake.
11am, free, \u00a35 donation suggested, calvertlakes.org.uk<\/a><\/p>\n
Swimmers plunge into Bangor\u2019s Ballyholme Bay in fancy dress to raise\u00a0funds for Cancer Focus Northern Ireland. There are prizes to be won, hot drinks and proper facilities \u2013 but no guarantee of feeling your toes afterwards. Ballyholme Yacht Club also organises a\u00a0Boxing Day swim<\/a> in aid of the RNLI\u00a0(\u00a35 entry) if you fancy a\u00a0double whammy.
12pm, \u00a315, cancerfocusni.org<\/a><\/p>\n
This is one of the UK\u2019s larger New Year\u2019s Day swims \u2013 there were 2,535 registrations on 1 January 2025. It turns 40 in 2026, with a ruby theme promising a sea of vermilion-clad dippers and plenty of sparkle in the\u00a0sea.
12.30pm, \u00a35 (\u00a33 under-16s), saundersfootnyds.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n
1pm, free, donations welcome<\/p>\n
What began as a \u201changover cure\u201d for\u00a0a\u00a0few friends in 1986 is now a beloved slice of post-Hogmanay madness. The Loony Dook (dook is\u00a0Scots for dip) sees hundreds of dressed-up swimmers parade through\u00a0South Queensferry before plunging into the Firth of Forth.
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