The Festive Dip List 2024 - Outdoor Swimmer Magazine

What better way to clear your head after Christmas than to run full pelt into the sea? Plan your swim with our Festive Dip List 2024. All you need to do now is work out your fancy dress.

It’s winter dip season and once again, people all over the UK and beyond are set to embrace the thrill of cold water swimming! To help you plan your frosty frolics, we’ve compiled our Festive Dip List 2024 featuring organised events all over the country.

Christmas Day dips, 25 December 2024

Macmillan White Christmas Dip, BOSCOMBE
Description: Join us for the UK’s biggest charity Dip, from 9:45am Christmas Morning at Boscombe Pier
Time: 9.45am
Price: £10
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BUDE Christmas Day Swim, Crooklets Beach
Description: The Bude Christmas Day swim will be run by individuals as a community event this year
Time: 10.45am-midday
Price: £10
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Christmas Day Swim, EXMOUTH — CURRENTLY SOLD OUT —
Description: Spectators can even watch this event from the comfort of a boat.
Time: 10.45am
Price: Free
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Christmas Day Dip, FELIXSTOWE
Description: An annual tradition where hundreds of dippers in festive outfits plunge themselves into the icy cold North Sea at Felixstowe to raise vital funds for St Elizabeth Hospice.
Time: 8.30am for a 10am dip.
Price: £15 until 22 Dec; £20 on the day. Proceeds to St Elizabeth Hospice.
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Loughrea Icebreakers Christmas Day Swim, GALWAY, Ireland
Description: At 11.30 am, a large number of hardy souls will descend upon the crisp, clear waters of Loughrea Lake in an effort to raise money for CASA LOUGHREA. For those who would like to donate, there will be a bucket collection on the morning.
Time: 11.30am
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Christmas Day Swim, HUNSTANTON
Description: The Hunstanton Christmas Day Swim with everyone taking the plunge at 11am on Sunday 25th December at the town’s central promenade. This is one of Norfolk biggest events over the festive season with hundreds of people taking part.
Time: 11am (registration 10am-10.30am; 10.50am fancy dress costume judging; 11am swimmers’ parade and swim; 11.15am free hot soup from outside the Marine Bar for all swimmers and warm showers at Alive Oasis)
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Christmas Day Swim, LOWESTOFT
Description: Lowestoft’s 44th Christmas Day Swim, for charity.
Time: Registration at Flying Fifteens from 8.30am. Swim at 10am sharp! A quick warm up on the prom, followed by a jog into the sea for your dip.
Price: £8 if registering online prior and £10 on the day.
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The PORTHCAWL Christmas Morning Swim
Description: Since 1965 the Porthcawl Christmas Morning Swim has been raising thousands of pounds for local charities and organisations.
Time: arrive from 10.45am, enter the sea 11.45am
Price: Free, fundraising encouraged
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WEYMOUTH Christmas Day Harbour Swim
Description: The 70-metre-plus distance starts from the Cove on Trinity Road and finishes across the water opposite the Harbour Master’s office on Custom House Quay.
Time: 9.30am
Price: £12
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Boxing Day dips, 26 December 2024

AYRSHIRE’S Big Boxing Day Dip
Description: Sign up for Ayrshire’s Big Boxing Day Dip and brave the cold to raise money for Ayrshire’s leading cancer charity. Every year, people challenge themselves by taking a Boxing Day dip–why not take the leap?
Time: 11am
Price: £10
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West Bay Wallow, BRIDPORT
Description: A charity fancy dress swim at midday on Boxing Day. Originally off East Beach, but from 2009 held within the safety of the marina (outer harbour).
Time: 12pm; sign in one hour earlier at the main slipway.
Price: Free
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CROMER Boxing Day Dip
Description: Similar to previous years, it will start with a Fun Run at 9.30am with the dip taking place at 10.30am on the right-hand side of Cromer Pier.
Time: 10am Fun Run, 11am dip
Price: Free
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FOLKESTONE Lion’s Club Boxing Day Dip
Time: Registration point on The Stade, time TBC
Price: £10 per person.
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FRASERBURGH RNLI Boxing Day Harbour Swim
Description: Are you up for the challenge of a 52-metre swim across Fraserburgh Harbour in the chilly North Sea? Wetsuits aren’t mandatory but are advised.
Time: 12-2pm
Price: Free, fundraising encouraged
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HARTLEPOOL Round Table Boxing Day Dip
Description: What better way to clear your head after a Christmas of over indulgence than to run into the North Sea and raise money for causes close to you?
Time: Registrations 10am-11.25am; dip at 11.30am.
Price: £5
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LLANDUDNO Lions Club Boxing Day Dip
Description: The Lions Club of Llandudno have, for over 25 years, organised the annual Boxing Day Sea Dip. The dip regularly sees over 100 dippers taking the plunge into an icy Irish Sea. With a temperate of 9 degrees Celsius, as soon as the dippers are in – they’re out again!
Time: Registration from 10am; dip at 11.30am
Price: Free, fundraising encouraged
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PAIGNTON Walk Into the Sea
Description: Each year hundreds of fundraisers don optional fancy dress and at the starter’s command swiftly walk into the chilly waters of the English Channel where fun and frivolity begins.
Time: Registration opens 10am; fancy dress judging 11.45am; dip at 12pm
Price: Free with sponsorship
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REDCAR Rotary Club Boxing Day Dip
Description: Need something to blow away the cobwebs on Boxing Day? Well why not register for the Boxing Day Dip and join the hundreds of other dippers who raise funds for their chosen cause.
Time: Registration online or 10.15am-10.55am on the day at The Hub; dip at 11am
Price: £10
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SUNDERLAND Boxing Day Dip
Description: Take the plunge, raise money for your favourite charity and endure the cold North Sea to become a brave Seaburn dipper.
Time: 10am-midday
Price: £10
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TEIGNMOUTH Boxing Day Walk in the Sea
Description: The Teignmouth Festive Walk in the Sea has been held annually on Boxing Day for 15 years to raise funds for the RNLI.
Time: Registration 10am; fancy dress competition 10.45am; warm up 10.50am and dip at 11am.
Price: Registration is online or can be made on the day with a suggested donation of £5 per adult.
More info

TENBY Boxing Day Swim, North Beach
Description: Named as one of Britain’s top ten barmiest winter dips, TENBY’s famous Boxing Day Swim has been an institution in the small Pembrokeshire town for more than 50 years.
Time: 11am; swim at 11.30am
Price: £11.55 or donation.
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SWANAGE Boxing Day Swim
Description: The Boxing Day Swim on Swanage Beach is an annual tradition, which sees dozens of swimmers head to the water for a fun, festive dip. Fancy dress isn’t compulsory, but there are prizes up for grabs for the best Christmas costume.
Time: 11am
Price: Free, donations welcome
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VENTNOR Boxing Day Swim, Isle of Wight
Description: Join 100’s of people who brave the cold winter waters for a dip in the sea this Boxing Day!
Time: 12pm
Price: Free, donations welcome

WHITBY Lions Boxing Day Dip
Description: It has become somewhat of a tradition in our beautiful little seaside town to enjoy a rather refreshing dip in the North Sea on Boxing Day morning. It’s certainly a unique and memorable experience that will raise lots of money for local charities. Fancy dress is a must, for many dippers, with prizes available for the best! In previous years, we have had some fantastic costumes such as dinosaurs, Batman and Robin, Christmas trees and even a team of traffic cones and a fancy dress wedding proposal!
Time: Registration 10am; fancy dress judging 10.30am; immediately after judging, everyone runs into the sea.
Price: £10; all dippers MUST be registered
More info

New Year’s Day, 1 January 2025

ABERSOCH RNLI New Year’s Day Dip
Description: This is a fantastic annual feel-good event that brings hundreds of people together on the beach, perfect to clear your head and welcome in an exciting new year! The theme for this year is “Nautical Madness” and we are looking forward to seeing the usual array of imaginative costumes.
Time: Registered participants check-in on the Main Beach from 11.30pm, ready for a 12pm dash into the sea.
Price: Pre-register online with a minimum registration fee of £10 per adult and £5 per child.
More info

Dare to Dip, BANGOR, Northern Ireland
Description: Shake off the excess of Christmas and make a fresh start to the New Year by taking a chilly dip at Crawfordsburn Beach. An invigorating, fun-filled swim and help us raise much needed funds for Cancer Focus NI. Fancy dress is encouraged.
Time: Mass Dip at 12pm; make sure you’re on the beach and ready by 11.45am
Price: £15
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The New Year’s Day Dook, BROUGHTY FERRY
Description: The New Year’s Day Dook is a tradition handed down by the fisher folk of Broughty Ferry – some of whom bathed in the waters of the Tay every morning except on the Sabbath. This tradition dates back to 1891 as recorded in the first official minutes of the Club. The 1st of January was special, as it heralded in Neer’ Day i.e. the first day of the New Year, when the community congregated to celebrate together.
Time: 2.30pm at Broughty Ferry Harbour
Price: £16 adults, £9 aged 5-16
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New Year’s Day Dip, CLEVEDON Marine Lake
Description: Spectators are very welcome. The bucket collection will be for Marlens, the charity behind the management and further development of Clevedon Marine Lake.
Time: 11am
Price: Free
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HELENSBURGH New Year Dook
Description: New Year’s ‘Dookers’ will need to register individually to enter this event. While there is no entry fee, we welcome your donations which help us to train and equip our crew to save lives at sea.
Time: ‘Dookers’ should arrive at Rhu Marina at 11.30am to ‘check in’. Safety briefing 11.50am for a 12pm dip.
Price: Free, donations welcome
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New Year’s Day Dip, Derwentwater, KESWICK
Description: Start the New Year as you mean to go on and raise money for a wonderful, local charity! Join us on New Year’s Day for a Fancy Dress Dip in Derwentwater, followed by hot chocolate and cake courtesy of local outdoor retailer Alpkit of Keswick. This promises to be a fantastic community event and one that we hope will become a firm fixture on the Lake District Calvert Trust fundraising calendar.
Time: 11am at Beyond The Boat Landings, Keswick
Price: Free, donations welcome
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LYME REGIS Lunge, Dorset
Description: The Lyme Lunge is an annual fancy dress swim which takes place on New Year’s Day. Organised by Lyme Regis Rotary Club, the event takes place on the sandy beach from 1pm and aims to raise as much money as possible for charity. This year’s main beneficiaries are Weldmar Hospicecare and Riding for the Disabled alongside Rotary charities.
Time: 1pm at Sandy Beach, Lyme Regis
Price: Free, fundraising encouraged
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New Year’s Day Dip, MINEHEAD
Description: Gather your friends and family and join hundreds of others bright and early at Minehead Beach. Start the new year strong and help St Margaret’s Hospice to celebrate its 45^th anniversary!
Time: Registration opens at 8.30am; dip at 9.30am.
Price: £7 (advance booking) or £10 (pay on the day)
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New Year’s Day Swim, SALFORD QUAYS
Description: Start 2025 with a splash into Salford Quays. The uber-friendly crowd and iconic Lowry Theatre backdrop guarantees top pics and crazy fun
Time: Registration 10.15-11am, swim in two waves from 11am
Price: £25 adult, young people (7-15yrs) £10
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New Year’s Day Swim, SAUNDERSFOOT
Description: Thousands of people take to the water wearing fancy dress on New Year’s Day morning in Saundersfoot as they take part in the UK’s biggest New Year’s Day Swim.
Time: 12.30pm
Price: £5 adults, £3 for under 16s, includes a medal
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New Year’s Day Dip, South Bay, SCARBOROUGH
Description: It has been going for over 20 years, and more than a hundred people generally take part.
Time: Registration 10.30am near the Lions minibus, with changing facilities at Scarborough Rowing Club. Fancy dress costume judging 12.30pm; dip at 12.45pm
Price: £10
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SOUTHEND RNLI New Year’s Day Dip
Description: Back by popular demand the Southend RNLI New Year’s Day Dip makes a return for the ninth year running. So why not brave the cold, clear the head and take a dip on New Year’s Day for an incredible charity? Simply pluck up the courage to take the dip in the 5-6C waters of Southend, whilst raising money for the RNLI.
Time: Registration from 10.45am; dip from 11.30am.
Price: Enter in advance for £6 (includes free hot drink and mince pie); £25 on the day
More info

New Year’s Day Dip, DERWENTWATER
Description: Start the New Year as you mean to go on and raise money for a wonderful, local charity! Join us on New Year’s Day for a Fancy Dress Dip in Derwentwater, followed by hot chocolate and cake.
Time: 11am, booking essential
Price: Minimum donation of £5.
More info

Did we miss an event? Event organisers, if your event is not listed please email details to production@outdoorswimmer.com.