Best Time to Surf England
The best time to surf England is October to March: that is when the most breaks are at their best — 4 of the 4 England breaks we map at the peak.
Last updated · Counted from the surf breaks we map — each break's own season, level and wave type
Surf in England month by month
How many of the 4 breaks we map in England are at their best in each month, and which ones. The busiest months are highlighted.
January
4 at their best · 4 in season
February
4 at their best · 4 in season
March
4 at their best · 4 in season
April
3 at their best · 3 in season
May
0 at their best · 0 in season
June
0 at their best · 0 in season
July
0 at their best · 0 in season
August
0 at their best · 0 in season
September
3 at their best · 3 in season
October
4 at their best · 4 in season
November
4 at their best · 4 in season
December
4 at their best · 4 in season
Lefts, rights and peaks in England
Every break we map here, by what the wave breaks over and which way it peels — a left peels to the surfer's left as they ride towards the beach.
| Break type | Lefts | Rights | Both ways / A-frames |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reef | — | Porthleven, The Cribbar | — |
| Beach | — | — | Fistral Beach, Croyde Bay |
Season at every England break
Each break's stated season, with its best months filled in.
- Croyde Bay
Croyde
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- September to April (autumn and winter)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- Fistral Beach
Newquay, Cornwall
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- September to April (autumn and winter)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- The Cribbar
Newquay, Cornwall
- Wave
- Reef break · Right-hand
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- Winter (October to March), on very large long-period swells
- Tide
- Best around low tide on a big swell
- Watch out
- Big waves over rock, strong currents and cold water far from the beach. Strictly for experienced big-wave surfers with water safety support.
- Porthleven
Porthleven
- Wave
- Reef break · Right-hand
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- September to April (autumn and winter)
- Tide
- Best on a mid-to-high tide
- Watch out
- Heavy barrels over a shallow rock reef, a steep take-off and strong rips. Powerful shorebreak, rocks at both ends of the bay and cold water. The lineup is crowded with a competitive local crew. Water quality can drop after heavy rain.
Surf spots in England by level
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to surf England?
The best time to surf England is October to March: that is when the most breaks are at their best — 4 of the 4 England breaks we map at the peak.
Can you surf England all year round?
Not every month. None of the 4 breaks we map in England lists May to August in its season.
Which surf breaks in England are lefts and which are rights?
Rights: Porthleven and The Cribbar. The table below splits every break we map in England by type and direction.