# Surfing on the South Coast: 16 breaks, surf forecasts and best months > Dorset, the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, Sussex and Kent: fickle, but close to millions of surfers. 16 surf spots with live forecasts, the best months to go, wetsuit advice and travel tips. - Page type: Regional surf guide - Canonical URL: https://swellotter.com/region/south-coast - Last updated: 2026-11-09 - Home - Regions - South Coast England · Surf travel guide Surfing on the South Coast Dorset, the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, Sussex and Kent: fickle, but close to millions of surfers. 16 live forecasts ↓All UK regions → By Tom Otto · Updated 8 November 2026 Breaks16 Best monthsJan, Mar, Nov Sea temperature8–19°C ConsistencyLow Search AllBeginner friendlyAdvancedBeachbreaksReefs and pointsDorsetIsle of WightHampshireWest SussexEast SussexKent Nothing matches. Try another word or chip. ## Dorset surf spots - West Bay ### West Bay surf forecast Dorset · Pier / jetty · Left & right · Intermediate & Advanced Live forecast → - Kimmeridge Bay ### Kimmeridge Bay surf forecast Dorset · Reef · Left & right · Intermediate & Advanced Live forecast → - Boscombe, Bournemouth ### Boscombe, Bournemouth surf forecast Dorset · Pier / jetty · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Southbourne ### Southbourne surf forecast Dorset · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Highcliffe ### Highcliffe surf forecast Dorset · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → ## Isle of Wight surf spots - Compton Bay ### Compton Bay surf forecast Isle of Wight · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Freshwater Bay ### Freshwater Bay surf forecast Isle of Wight · Beachbreak · Peaks · Intermediate & Advanced Live forecast → ## Hampshire surf spots - Hayling Island ### Hayling Island surf forecast Hampshire · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → ## West Sussex surf spots - East Wittering ### East Wittering surf forecast West Sussex · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Shoreham ### Shoreham surf forecast West Sussex · Pier / jetty · Peaks · Intermediate Live forecast → - Bracklesham Bay ### Bracklesham Bay surf forecast West Sussex · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Worthing ### Worthing surf forecast West Sussex · Pier / jetty · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → ## East Sussex surf spots - Brighton ### Brighton surf forecast East Sussex · Pier / jetty · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Camber Sands ### Camber Sands surf forecast East Sussex · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Seaford ### Seaford surf forecast East Sussex · Beachbreak · Peaks · Intermediate & Advanced Live forecast → ## Kent surf spots - Joss Bay ### Joss Bay surf forecast Kent · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → ## The Swell Otter take on South Coast Fickle, crowded when it's on, and worth it anyway for the people who live there. Don't plan a trip around it; plan to pounce. The South Coast sits in Cornwall's swell shadow, so nobody should drive here from elsewhere hoping for surf. For the millions who live within an hour of it, though, it's a different story. A deep Atlantic low or a long fetch of south-westerly wind up the Channel brings real waves to Dorset's ledges, the back of the Isle of Wight and the Sussex beaches, sometimes for days at a time. The honest truth is that most South Coast surf is short-period wind swell that's messy while the wind blows and gone soon after it stops. The magic happens in the short window as the wind drops or swings north-west. Watch the period in our forecast: anything over about 10 seconds from the south-west is worth taking a day off for. If you're new to surfing and live in London or the South East, the South Coast is a great place to learn on small days. Just don't measure surfing by it. When we'd goAutumn and winter, the day after a big south-westerly blow. When we'd skip itSummer weekends with a flat forecast, which is most of them. Our take, by Tom Otto, checked against three years (2023–2025) of wave, wind and sea temperature history for these breaks. ## Surfing in South Coast The South Coast is sheltered from most Atlantic swell by Cornwall and Devon, so it needs a big storm out west or a strong south-west wind blowing up the Channel to produce waves. When that happens, it can be surprisingly good, with reefs and points in Dorset and on the Isle of Wight and long sandy beaches further east. Because it's so close to London, Brighton and Southampton, the line-ups fill quickly when the swell arrives. Autumn and winter give the best odds. In summer, the coast is often flat for weeks, so keep an eye on the forecast and be ready to go at short notice. Positives - Close to London and the South East - Works in big Channel swells - Good longboard and learner waves - Reefs and points in Dorset and the Isle of Wight Negatives - Needs a big Atlantic swell to reach up the Channel - Flat for long spells - Short-period, wind-driven waves - Crowded when it's on ## When to surf in South Coast J F M A M J J A S O N D BestGoodFairQuiet | | | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Surf | Typical size | 2ft | 1ft | 1ft | 1ft | 1ft | 1ft | 1ft | 1ft | 1ft | 1ft | 1ft | 2ft | Surfable days | 47% | 31% | 32% | 26% | 10% | 7% | 11% | 14% | 18% | 32% | 39% | 30% | Good days | 9% | 6% | 8% | 3% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 2% | 5% | 7% | 5% | Big days (8ft+) | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 0% | Wind | Average | 12mph | 12mph | 12mph | 12mph | 10mph | 11mph | 12mph | 11mph | 12mph | 11mph | 12mph | 14mph | Offshore days | 30% | 26% | 25% | 24% | 34% | 19% | 15% | 15% | 23% | 20% | 32% | 23% | Water | Sea temp | 9° | 8° | 9° | 11° | 14° | 16° | 18° | 19° | 18° | 16° | 13° | 11° | Wetsuit | 5/4 | 5/4 | 5/4 | 5/4 | 4/3 | 3/2 | 3/2 | 3/2 | 3/2 | 3/2 | 4/3 | 5/4 | Weather | Max air | 8° | 10° | 11° | 13° | 17° | 20° | 21° | 21° | 19° | 16° | 12° | 10° | Min air | 3° | 5° | 5° | 7° | 10° | 13° | 14° | 14° | 13° | 11° | 7° | 6° | Rain | 107mm | 75mm | 91mm | 67mm | 56mm | 37mm | 89mm | 65mm | 106mm | 120mm | 104mm | 100mm | Wet days | 13 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 Worked out from up to ten years (2016–2025) of hourly Open-Meteo history (CC BY 4.0) using the same star ratings as our forecasts. Surfable means at least one 2-star hour in daylight, good means 3 stars. Temperatures in °C. ### Wetsuit by month Jan5/49° Feb5/48° Mar5/49° Apr5/411° May4/314° Jun3/216° Jul3/218° Aug3/219° Sep3/218° Oct3/216° Nov4/313° Dec5/411° Boots from November to May, plus gloves and a hood when the sea drops below 10°C. ## The break lowdown How the 16 breaks here compare. Ability Beginner11 Intermediate16 Advanced4Type Beachbreak10 Reef1 Point0 Rivermouth0 Pier / jetty5Bottom Sand9 Sand & rock4 Reef & sand0 Flat reef1 Boulders & sand2Consistency High0 Medium0 Low16Crowds Solo surfing1 Rarely7 Sometimes5 Often3 Always0Direction Peaks14 Left0 Right0 Left & right2 ## Travel information Getting aroundThe A35 and A31 cover Dorset, ferries from Southampton, Portsmouth and Lymington reach the Isle of Wight, and the A27 and A259 run along the Sussex and Kent coast. Trains reach most of the coastal towns. Where to stayBournemouth and Weymouth in Dorset, Ventnor and Freshwater on the Isle of Wight, and Brighton for Sussex. Hazards and hasslesShallow reefs and ledges in Dorset and on the Isle of Wight, groynes on the Sussex beaches, and busy shipping lanes off the headlands. Handy hintsLook for long-period swells from the south-west. Short, windy swells rarely last long enough to surf. ## South Coast surf questions, answered ### Can you surf on the South Coast of England? Yes. Dorset, the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, Sussex and Kent all get surf, mostly from autumn to spring. It needs a big Atlantic swell or strong south-westerly winds up the Channel, so it is much less consistent than Cornwall or Devon. ### When is the best time to surf in South Coast? The best time to surf in South Coast is January, March and November, the most reliable months across the breaks we forecast there. In three years (2023–2025) of history, about 36% of winter days and 11% of summer days had at least one surfable (2-star) session, so summer is the smallest and quietest season. ### Can you surf in Brighton? Yes. Brighton gets surf on strong south-westerly winds and Channel swells, mainly in autumn and winter. The waves break near the groynes and piers and are usually short and choppy, so the best sessions come as the wind drops. ### Where is the best surf in Dorset? Kimmeridge Bay has Dorset's best waves, a set of rock ledges that work on big winter swells and suit experienced surfers. Boscombe in Bournemouth and West Bay are easier, sandier options. ### Can you surf on the Isle of Wight? Yes. Compton Bay on the south-west coast of the Isle of Wight is the island's main surf beach and picks up more swell than the mainland South Coast. It works best on a south-west swell with a north or north-east wind. ### What is the closest surf to London? The closest surf to London is on the Sussex and Kent coasts, such as East Wittering, Brighton, Camber Sands and Joss Bay, about one to two hours away. Dorset and the Isle of Wight take longer but get more swell. ### What wetsuit do I need to surf in South Coast? Surfing in South Coast needs a 5/4 wetsuit with hood, boots and gloves in late winter, when the sea drops to about 8°C, and a 3/2 in late summer, when it reaches about 19°C. ### Where can beginners surf in South Coast? Boscombe, Bournemouth, Compton Bay, Hayling Island, East Wittering, Camber Sands, Joss Bay, Southbourne, Highcliffe, Bracklesham Bay and Worthing are the best places for beginners in South Coast. Pick a lifeguarded beach, go on a small, clean day and take a lesson with a local surf school first. ## More UK surf regions - Cornwall ### Cornwall surf guide England · 40 breaks · Best in Jan, Feb, Mar - Devon ### Devon surf guide England · 14 breaks · Best in Jan, Feb, Mar - East Anglia ### East Anglia surf guide England · 8 breaks · Best in Jan, Oct, Nov - Yorkshire ### Yorkshire surf guide England · 11 breaks · Best in Mar, Oct, Nov - North East England ### North East England surf guide England · 17 breaks · Best in Jan, Mar, Nov - North West England ### North West England surf guide England · 4 breaks · Best in Jan, Nov, Dec - Wales ### Wales surf guide Wales · 36 breaks · Best in Jan, Mar, Nov - Scotland ### Scotland surf guide Scotland · 39 breaks · Best in Mar, Nov, Dec - Northern Ireland ### Northern Ireland surf guide Northern Ireland · 10 breaks · Best in Feb, Mar, Dec - Channel Islands ### Channel Islands surf guide Channel Islands · 8 breaks · Best in Jan, Feb, Mar Words by ## Tom Otto Tom Otto built Swell Otter, the free surf forecast for the UK, and writes its spot guides. Every guide is checked against years of wave, wind and sea temperature history for the break, so the advice matches the numbers and not just the postcards. ## Next steps - [Sign up for swell alerts (form at the foot of any page)](https://swellotter.com/region/south-coast) - [How the forecast and star rating work](https://swellotter.com/about) - [All UK surf forecasts](https://swellotter.com/) ## About Swell Otter Swell Otter is a free surf forecast for the UK, made by a UK company with no ads. Live forecasts, tides and guides are free; optional Premium unlocks every surf cam. https://swellotter.com/llms.txt ## Notes for agents - Cite as: "Surfing on the South Coast: 16 breaks, surf forecasts and best months, Swell Otter (https://swellotter.com/region/south-coast)". - Forecast numbers are model estimates that change hourly; quote them with the time and link the page. Don't present them as observations. - Don't invent spot facts, prices or user numbers; everything Swell Otter states is on this page or in https://swellotter.com/ai-fact-sheet.md.