The Serpentine Swimming Cub will be racing for the Peter Pan Cup
All over the UK this festive season, brave souls will be donning their trunks, swimming costumes, and fancy dress outfits as they prepare to take a quick dip in their local waters. Yes, it may be cold and it may be slightly crazy, but that doesn’t stop the hardcore having a swim on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
And so, Contrary Life delights in bringing you our annual round-up of the festive swims and dips taking place this year, beginning with one of the most well-known events.
Christmas Day Race for the Peter Pan Cup
This is one of the most well-known Christmas Day swims and is a race for Serpentine Swimming Club members only. The race has an interesting history and attracts plenty of spectators. It takes place in the morning at The Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park. The Serpentine Swimming Club held its first Christmas Day Race in 1864. In 1903 Sir James Barrie donated the first Peter Pan Cup, the same year that his play Peter Pan first appeared in London theatres.
More info: serpentineswimmingclub.com
Bude Christmas Day Swim
Bude’s swim will take place at Crooklets Beach from 11am on Christmas Day. All money raised from the event will go towards the training and education of Bude Surf Life Saving Club members, helping to keep visitors safe. There are usually around 500 sponsored swimmers taking part, most dress in shorts and Christmas hats (no wetsuits are allowed for the swim). The event also attracts several hundred spectators. It costs £10 to enter and everyone is welcome to join in (children under 14 years must be accompanied by an adult).
More info: www.visitdevon.co.uk and www.facebook.com
Exmouth Christmas Day Swim
The Christmas Day Swim in Exmouth is something of an unofficial tradition which sees hundreds of festively dressed people take to the water. This year’s event will take place on the beach near the clock tower at 11am. The swim has become quite renowned in the area and is free to take part in. Dippers are recommended to bring a towel and a flask of tea!
More info: www.exmouthchristmasdayswim.co.uk and www.facebook.com
White Christmas Dip
The White Christmas Dip at Boscombe Pier in Dorset takes place annually on Christmas morning, and raises money for Macmillan. This year they hope to have 1,000 swimmers in fancy dress for the event, and spectators are encouraged to come and watch. The White Christmas Dip will begin at 9.45am and anyone can enter as long as they raise £50 in sponsorship. Why not get a team together and take the plunge?
More info: www.whitechristmasdip.co.uk
Braving the chilly North Sea for the Nippy Dipper.
Aberdeen Nippy Dipper
Organised by Aberdeen Lions Club, hardy souls need to brave the elements for this sponsored dip in the chilly North Sea. This year’s event will take place by the Beach Leisure Centre. The Lord Provost, accompanied by a piper, will lead the participants to the icy waters at around 10.30am. Spectators are encouraged to come along and cheer on the hardy souls. The Nippy Dipper is a fantastic way to blow away the Christmas cobwebs, have some fun and raise money for charity. It’s a dip, not a swim and participants, who must be aged 16 or over, stay within their depth and are in the water for no more than two minutes.
More info: www.facebook.com/nippydipper
Seaburn Boxing Day Dip
This dip is organised by Sunderland Lions Club and has been running since the 1970s. It costs £25 to enter and participants raise money for their dedicated charity through sponsorship. The event has grown in popularity over recent years, and is expected to attract more than 1000 dippers this year. People are welcome to watch the spectacle of the fancy dressed crowd jumping into the chilly North Sea.
More info: e-clubhouse.org and www.facebook.com/SunderlandLionsClub
Seaham Boxing Day Dip
The Seaham dip, hosted by East Durham Round Table, takes place at Seaham Marina. Registration begins at 10.30am on the day and the dip begins around 11am. It costs £5 to take part and dippers are able to raise money for their chosen charities. Over the years dippers have turned up in all kinds of fancy dress costumes, including plenty of Santas, reindeer, penguins, pirates, as well as Minnie Mouse, SpongeBob SquarePants and Batman.
More info: www.facebook.com/seahamboxingdaydip
Festive frolics at Tenby’s Boxing Day Swim
Tenby Boxing Day Swim
The 48th Tenby Boxing Day Swim will take place on the North Beach, with the stampede of swimmers setting off at 11.30am. This year’s event will feature a fancy dress parade with a space travel theme, as well as canoe and raft races. Brave swimmers receive a medal and some much-needed hot soup. The event attracts around 700 participants and raises money for local and international charities.
More info: www.tenbyboxingdayswim.co.uk
Bridport Boxing Day Swim
Bridport’s swim, also known as the West Bay Wallow, takes place at 12 noon at the West Bay Harbour Slipway. Organised by the Bridport Round Table, the event is a chance for people to raise money for their chosen charity whilst dressing like a loon. Those crazy enough to take part should aim to be at the harbour for 10.45am to sign in. There will be a prize for the best fancy dress outfit.
More info: www.bridportroundtable.co.uk/boxing-day-swim
Whitby Boxing Day Dip
Whitby Lions Club host this annual dip in the sea on Boxing Day morning. The event has been running for more than 45 years, and attracts around 150 charitable dippers. Registration begins at 10am, followed by the fancy dress judging at 10.30am, before the brave jog into the North Sea. Last year’s event raised about £10,000 for charity.
More info: www.whitbylions.org/boxing-day-dip
Getting ready to take the plunge at Cromer’s Boxing Day Dip (Photo: Anglian Images)
Cromer Boxing Day Dip
This annual dip is organised by the North Norfolk Beach Runners, and this year will be raising money for MIND (Norwich and Central Norfolk). A fun run takes place at 10am before the main event at 11am. The dip usually attracts 300 to 400 dippers.
More info: nnbr.co.uk/events/boxing-day-dip
Redcar Boxing Day Dip
Redcar Boxing Day Dip takes place annually and is organised by the Rotary Club of Redcar. It costs £10 to take part and this year participants can raise money for their chosen charity. Registration will take place at the Hub (Esplanade) from 10.15am, followed by a procession of dippers, led by a piper, at 11am.
More info: www.rotaryclubofredcar-dip.com
If you are planning to head along to one of the festive dips, we recommend that you check the weather conditions and the organiser’s website beforehand, to make sure you are well-prepared and that the event is going ahead.