If you fancy swapping pigs in blankets for goosebumps, 2025 is a brilliant year to take a festive plunge along the Norfolk and north Suffolk coast. From Christmas morning right through to New Year’s Day, there are several organised sea dips where hundreds of brave souls charge into the North Sea for charity, community – and a cracking story to tell afterwards.

Christmas Day dips

On the west coast, the Hunstanton Christmas Day Swim is the big one. Running for more than 60 years, it’s now one of the largest festive events in Norfolk, with hundreds of swimmers and spectators packing the central promenade by the Oasis Leisure Centre. For 2025, swimmers register from around 10–10.30am, with fancy dress judging at 10.50am and the main plunge at 11am, followed by hot soup and warm showers.

Across the border in north Suffolk, Lowestoft Christmas Day Swim is another huge tradition. The 2025 event – the 46th swim – is centred outside the Flying Fifteens café, just north of Claremont Pier. Registration opens from 8.45am, with everyone heading into the sea at 10am. Entry is £10 in advance or £15 on the day, with all money going to local charities, and fancy dress very much encouraged.

A little further down the coast, Southwold Christmas Day Swim at Gun Hill Beach is a classic north Suffolk dip. Organised by Blyth Valley Rotary, swimmers register from around 9–9.30am and hit the water at 10.30am. The 2025 swim costs £15 in advance or £20 on the day, and raises funds for charities including Southwold RNLI, Parkinson’s UK and The Pear Tree Fund. The event has raised almost £50,000 over the years and medals are handed out to participants – fancy dress optional but very popular.

Boxing Day plunges

Boxing Day belongs to North Norfolk. The headline act is the Cromer Boxing Day Dip, organised by North Norfolk Beach Runners. In 2025 there’s an out-and-back fun run along the beach at 11.30am, before dippers gather on the sand beside Cromer Pier for a safety briefing and a 12.30pm plunge. It’s free to take part, with donations collected for a chosen local charity, and recent years have seen hundreds of swimmers in everything from Santa suits to full-on fancy dress.

Along the coast, Mundesley Boxing Day Dip is hosted by Mundesley Independent Lifeboat and the local surf lifesaving club. The 2025 event runs from 10–11am, with sea entry from 10.30am, raising money for Mundesley Surf Lifesaving Club, the Coronation Hall community hub, NCI and the 1st Mundesley Air Scouts. Expect a friendly village feel and plenty of hot drinks afterwards.

At Sea Palling Boxing Day Dip, dippers are asked to arrive by 11.30am ahead of a midday dash into the sea. The 2025 event, organised by the Let’s Do It Anyway charity, is free to join with a suggested £5 donation, and all fundraising goes towards the charity’s “New Year Wish” projects supporting people facing serious illness or disability.

New Year’s Day

To round off (or kick off) the year, Sheringham New Year’s Day Dip sees crowds gather on the East Promenade at the end of Beach Road. The 2025 dip starts at 10.30am, hosted by Sheringham & Cromer Round Table to raise money for the RNLI and other local causes. It’s free to enter, with donations encouraged, and has become a huge community spectacle with thousands on the prom and hundreds heading into the water.

Whichever event you choose, always check the latest details with organisers before you go, follow the safety briefings, and pack plenty of warm layers, a hat and a hot drink for afterwards. Whether you’re diving in or cheering from dry land, Norfolk and north Suffolk’s festive dips are one of the most joyful – and chilly – ways to celebrate Christmas 2025.