Over 500 people take part in the Christmas swim at Porthcawl

1.  London
The most famous Christmas Day swim is at the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park, where members of the Serpentine Swimming Club have been competing in the 100-yard dash every year since 1904. The winner takes home the Peter Pan Cup, which was donated to the club by the author and former swimming club member, J M Barrie. The icy waters of the Serpentine often drop below four degrees, so the race is only open to members of the club who have acclimatised to the temperatures over several months, and swum in the winter at least three times. The race starts at 9am on the south bank of the lake close to the Serpentine Café.

2.  Cornwall
Hayle
Hayle Surf Life Saving Club follows in the tradition of the Australian Surf Life Saving Clubs by holding a Christmas Day swim every year, with around 50 club members, friends and family taking part. The rules are no wetsuits and your head has to go under, but most swimmers sensibly don’t comply with the latter rule. Swimmers meet at 10.30am outside the clubhouse overlooking Hayle Beach and St Ives Bay, the swim starts at 11am and to warm up afterwards mulled wine and warm squash are served in the clubhouse.

3.  Brighton
Founded in 1860, Brighton Swimming Club is the oldest in Britain and members take to the waters for a mid-morning dip every Christmas, with around 50 swimmers braving the seas wearing just swimming costumes and Christmas hats or reindeer antlers. It’s also a very popular spectator event, with hundreds of people lining the shore bundled-up snugly in coats, hats and scarves. The swim starts at the West Pier seafront at 11am.

4.  Porthcawl
The Christmas swim is a much-loved tradition at Coney Beach in Porthcawl, with over 500 taking part every year for charity, and thousands spectating. Last year’s swim raised £4,850 for local organisations including Macmillan Cancer Support and The Wales Air Ambulance. Just turn up on the day to register, the morning starts with carol singing at 11am, then those bold enough head into the waves at 11.45am.

5.  Norfolk
At the first Christmas Day swim in 1957 just four swimmers took part. Now known as the Hunstanton Round Table Sponsored Christmas Swim it has become a huge event, with over a hundred swimmers, most in fancy dress, taking part for charity. Swimmers assemble around 10.30am, and the swim begins at 11am from the Central Promenade.