The UK beaches with the warmest seawater in Britain
SEA SWIMS The UK beaches with the warmest seawater in Britain
WHEN summer temperatures soar, lots of Brits will flock to the beach, but dipping your toe into the sea is another story.
The waters can still be chilly even though the sun is blazing, so where in the UK is actually warmest to swim?
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The coastline in Essex also boasts some of the warmest waters for swimming
Credit: Getty
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The temperature of the sea around the UK can vary significantly, with lows in the winter of 6C to highs of 20C in summer.
Of course, tTwind, ocean currents and depth.
Sea temperatures near the coast will be at their highest when there are clear, sunny skies with low winds - these factors allow the water to warm up quickly.
The further you go in, the temperature will begin to drop as the depth increases.
Generally, the south and west coasts of the UK will have the warmest sea waters, and this year, they are warmer than usual.
In July 2025, the Met Office revealed that the waters to the south of the UK are experiencing a marine heatwave.
Sea surface temperatures in the Celtic Sea, English Channel, and Southern North Sea are 1.5C to 3C above 1982-2012 average.
The marine heatwave is predicted to last until the end of August.
A recent BBC study also revealed that the surface temperature of UK waters has risen by 0.2C, from the start of the year up until the end of July in 2025.
The English seaside town with no arcades or rides but named the best in the UK
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Clacton-on-Sea and beaches along the Essex coast also have warm sea waters
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Essex can be hotter because of its dry and sunny weather, and proximity to the European continent
Credit: Alamy
The two beaches that have the warmest waters are along the Channel coast, in Camber Sands and Hastings.
The beaches along the southern coast of England tends to be warmer than Essex, especially in the winter months, due to its more southerly location.
Both coastlines are influenced by the Gulf Stream - which is a powerful warm ocean current that carries heat from the tropics towards the North Atlantic.
However, some of the warmest waters actually surround Essex including beaches like Clacton-on-Sea and those near Mersea Island.
In the summertime, the Essex coast is warmer than most of the UK because of its proximity to mainland Europe.
The drier and sunnier conditions that come with that causes water temperatures to rise.
According to seatemperature.net, the current water temperature in Clacton-on-Sea, it's 18.7C.
The data further reveals that the warmest sea temperatures today are in Thorpeness, Sizewell, Parkeston, Walton-on-the-Naze and Manningtree - which are all along the east coast of England and sit at 19C.
Meanwhile in Sandwick, Scotland, sea temperatures are as low as 11.9C.
While 19C does sound warm, it can still be a shock for your body, so be mindful before you dive in headfirst.
A guide by The Outdoor Swimming Society has rankings of what various water temperatures mean - and how prepared for cold waters you should be.
0-6C is considered 'baltic', you'll need a wetsuit and it's unlikely you'll swim too far because it's so cold.
6-11C is 'freezing', still cold but a more manageable temperature.
12-16C is 'fresh' and quite enjoyable for open water lovers.
17-20C is considered 'summer swimming' and this will be the temperature of lakes and rivers rather than the sea itself.
21C is 'warm' and 30C is 'pool temperature'.
When taking children to the beach, be aware that they are less tolerant of cold water than adults and struggle to regulate body temperature more.
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Take care before swimming by looking up the temperature of the water
Credit: Alamy
So it's safer for them to stick to paddling and splashing in the shallows than swimming further out.
You can check the temperature of the sea with apps like Magic Seaweed, Windy, Seaside Buoy and Sea Water Temperature.
It's also worth considering taking a look at the quality of the waters before diving in.
Here you can find out the 93 cleanest beaches in England and Wales where you can swim without worrying about sewage.
Plus, here's the world's 50 best beaches, and two are in England.
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