While many across the United Kingdom were unwrapping presents or preparing the roast, dozens of hardy individuals marked Christmas morning with a bracing tradition: the festive cold-water swim. Simultaneously, royal watchers gathered in Norfolk for a glimpse of the monarchy's annual church outing.
Century-Old Race in Hyde Park
The Serpentine Swimming Club in London's Hyde Park hosted its famed Peter Pan Cup race on the morning of Thursday, 25 December 2025. Swimmers, some in festive fancy dress, raced over a 100-yard course in the chilly waters for the historic trophy. This event is not for the faint-hearted and represents a remarkable continuity in British sporting tradition.
According to the club's records, the Christmas Day race has been held every single year since 1864. This makes it the oldest continuously swum race in the entire world, a fact proudly upheld by its participants who braved the cold temperatures this year to keep the legacy alive.
A Nationwide Chill: Swims From Coast to Coast
The tradition of the Christmas swim is far from confined to the capital. Across the nation, groups of revellers greeted the day with an invigorating dip.
In the North East, early risers gathered at Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside for a communal plunge into the cold sea. Further inland, scores of people descended on Blackroot Pool at Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, for their morning swim. The festive spirit was in full evidence, with some participants even dressing as Father Christmas and his reindeer Rudolph, taking a well-earned break after their night's global deliveries.
Royal Christmas Service in Sandringham
Away from the water, a different kind of British tradition unfolded on the royal estate at Sandringham. As has been customary for decades, members of the royal family attended a Christmas Day church service. Crowds of well-wishers and royal enthusiasts lined the routes, braving the weather in hopes of catching a glimpse and exchanging seasonal greetings with the King and other senior royals.
The contrasting scenes—of shivering swimmers and patient royal watchers—perfectly encapsulated the diverse yet enduring ways in which communities across the UK choose to celebrate and mark Christmas Day, embracing both the elements and long-held customs.
