seal.watch / uk

United Kingdom · 2000—2026

Grey and harbour seals

Seals around the United Kingdom.

Follow public seal observations from the United Kingdom. Browse published records, explore the places and stories behind them, or share an encounter with the Seal Watch team.

Meet the grey seal → · Meet the harbour seal →

Total reports
764
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Public records archive

1 August—31 August

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24 of 764 reports

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Markers represent named areas, never exact sighting positions. Circle size reflects report counts; numbers match the area list. Select an area to filter the archive.

24 of 24 reports mapped · 1 area

N ↑London · 24 reports1

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Mapped areas North to south

  1. London24 reports

Map: Natural Earth.

Reports over time

All dates

Select a year, then a month. Counts describe published reports; one animal may appear in several reports.

  1. 12010
  2. 22013
  3. 12015
  4. 22016
  5. 12018
  6. 22019
  7. 62021
  8. 42022
  9. 22024
  10. 42025
  11. 2342026

Months in 2026

  1. 9Jan
  2. 14Feb
  3. 49Mar
  4. 33Apr
  5. 26May
  6. 41Jun
  7. 24Jul
  8. 24Aug
  9. 14Sep
  10. 0Oct
  11. 0Nov
  12. 0Dec

Grouped by each record’s archive date. Approximate dates keep their original labels in the records below.

  1. By St Marys Church (Clapham Riverside) London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5813 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Head with short whiskered muzzle. Spotty back. Probably 1.5m long.

  2. Middle of the Thames near Millbank tower and just up from the Tamesis Dock boat pub. London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5811 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: I think it was a grey seal based on the silhouette of the head (I thought it was a dog in the water at first). It popped its head up from the water, looked around and then popped back into the water. I waited about 5 - 10 minutes for it to pop back up when I saw its head and body surface briefly by the Tamesis Dock boat pub. I could then see its body swim towards Lambeth bridge and disappear under the water again.

  3. In Thames, downstream from Westminsters bridge by county hall. London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5810 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: See photo

  4. By tower Bridge London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5808 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Heads popping up oit if water and backs as diving down

  5. Close to rivers edge. London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5809 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Head emerged from surface. Dan said it was a stick.

  6. Between Battersea bridge and Albert Bridge London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5806 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Shape of head and muzzle. The seal was eating a large fish that it had caught. The fish was about 2.5 feet long.

  7. Waterloo Bridge, swimming on the Upstream side of the bridge heading downstream, on the South Bank side of the river. London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5805 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Partly submerged, roughly 2m plus in length, light grey colour. Definitely a seal, but didn’t get a good look at its head.

  8. Greenwich Pier London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5804 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: None. It was in the water.

  9. Near Hammersmith bridge London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5803 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Grey Seal

  10. North side opposite Nine Elms just along from Battersea Power Station London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5802 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Saw muzzle breaking the water for a shirt while and then diving.

  11. In the water 50m east of Putney Bridge London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5801 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Seal seen basking on the surface of the river on its back before rolling over, looking around and then diving underwater with its back out of the water

  12. Hammersmith bridge London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5800 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Head poking from the water and looking around

  13. Black friars bridge London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5799 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Its head popping up and then swimming under…

  14. Under Charing Cross bridge at the cocktail bar on the bank London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5797 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Head and body. It dove down

  15. In the river by Tate Modern London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5795 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Swimming on back, so saw underside and face, then the seal dived and we didn’t see it surface

  16. Mid way between greenwich pier and canary Wharf London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5812 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: I saw it lying full length and initially thought it was a small tree trunk but then it turned and dove under the water as we approached. Its tail was last to dissappear. I spoke to the river guide about it and he said he has seen it too and sightings were quite common. Observer notes: Very happy to see the seal!

  17. Tower Bridge London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5793 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: The head coming out of the water Observer notes: We are happy!

  18. By the tate modern Blackfriars bridge opposite st pauls cathedral London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5794 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: I was sat on the steps when a seal came out of the water towards me in the night. It was so unexpected that I squealed “OMG its a seal” i regret that so much as it startled the darling creature and it quickly turned around and swam off with its beautiful head out the water sort of panting from its nose. Observer notes: It was Night time so not sunny more crescent moonlit warm night. Will the seal be ok? Sadly my phone had died. It was so unexpected i had absolutely no idea we had seals in the themes

  19. Seen from near Canary Wharf Pier London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5792 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Long body and head at the waters surface. Looked around for a few seconds, then dived. Popped up again a few minutes later further upstream.

  20. Walking across the bridge around 9 am facing the Eye. She was swimming towords the bridge. London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5807 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: I just saw her head pop up for about a minute. Then I saw her body so up right before she took a dive.

  21. From the south bank of the thames, as it came under Battersea Bridge, and contuied swimming with the flood tide up towards Chelsea Railway Bridge. London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5790 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Look to be a bigger seal. Just saw the head, bobbing up and down, and realsied that it wasnt a log. We double checked with the bonoculers to make sure.

  22. Next to the london eye London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5788 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Small head and spotted body as it dove down, did not see it reappear

  23. Just opposite Wandsworth Chelsea & Fulham SCC located on Putney embankment London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5789 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Could not make out any distinguishing features as we were around 45m away, just saw him pop up very briefly. Observer notes: Just found this site, I operate as staff out of SCC so will report any future sightings (will often be on a Sunday if I do see any)

  24. Neat Richmond local and wear London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5787 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Saw its head bobbing on the surface and it dive a few times Saw its body and tail as it dove