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

3 July—27 July

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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. 22000
  2. 42001
  3. 12002
  4. 12003
  5. 32005
  6. 22006
  7. 52007
  8. 12008
  9. 32009
  10. 92010
  11. 132011
  12. 72012
  13. 152013
  14. 82014
  15. 82015
  16. 92016
  17. 282017
  18. 212018
  19. 142019
  20. 212020
  21. 182021
  22. 152022
  23. 362023
  24. 302024
  25. 2482025
  26. 2422026

Months in 2026

  1. 9Jan
  2. 15Feb
  3. 52Mar
  4. 35Apr
  5. 26May
  6. 41Jun
  7. 24Jul
  8. 24Aug
  9. 16Sep
  10. 0Oct
  11. 0Nov
  12. 0Dec

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

  1. In the section of water alongside the London Eye London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5783 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: As per the videos. It would poke its head above water for 10-20 seconds then gracefully dive down. Observer notes: It spent the whole time going first upstream then downstream and then upstream between Westminster bridge and Charing Cross bridge. We were spending the afternoon on Tattershall Castle so best ever sight to watch with a few glasses of wine! Was still there when we left.

  2. Slowly making its way up to tower bridge from around the arts ark boats. London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5784 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: About every 10 minutes we saw the head for a few minutes before the seal dove and we saw its back. Every time it came up it would be moving closer to tower bridge. Head was grey-seal shaped, back was dark with some light markings.

  3. Westminster Bridge, looking at the London Eye, closer to London eye side London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5782 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Gray, spotted seal, small to medium size, I saw the muzzle, head and some of the body when it was coming for air.

  4. 25.07 15:08 for about 20 mins Viewed from Bermondsey Beach London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5780 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: I poked its head out of the water, swam a bit against the tide, and dived under - I saw its back - and disappeared. It did that 3 or 4 times.

  5. On the south facing mud bank approximately 500 meter east from the 2 tree slipway London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5781 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: The large dark coloured seal had red possible blood around its neck area Observer notes: I regularly see these animals

  6. Surfacing from the river in this location - between Southwark bridge and the adjacent railway bridge (Cannon Street?) London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5778 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: I saw the back of a seal as it breached the water. So I saw the entire back come out of the water and go back in. Unfortunately I didn’t see the face so couldn’t get an identification based on the muzzle/snout. It was without question a seal.

  7. Gravesend prom. it was in the water London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5776 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: only its head. close enough i could hear it breathing. it went back under and came back up about 20ft further along.

  8. Close to Blackfriars station, London London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5785 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Face and body

  9. The Seal swam under Barnes Bridge London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5775 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Seal face above water, then dived under when it got level with the bridge

  10. West of tower bridge about one third of the way between tower bridge and HMS Belfast and closer to the South Bank London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5777 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Dark head sticking out of the water, initially thought to be a buoy though after watching for longer and seeing it move could identify the head shape, very dark and more angular head so concluded was grey seal, unable to see full body shape as Thames was very brown

  11. In front of The Oystercatcher pub. London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5773 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Head well out of water. Blowing air from nose. Long roman nose, big head.

  12. We saw the seal right by the globe theatre London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5779 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Saw the head bobbing along the surface. Black with white spots on the body which we saw diving under

  13. While on the Uber Thames Boat inbetween tower and london brudge London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5774 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: We saw its head floating as it was swimming along the water went under then came back up before diving down

  14. Midstream right in front of the London Eye, swimming downstream London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5769 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Swimming downstream, mid river, swam along surface and bobbed up and down breathing a dozen times times and then dived and we lost sight

  15. Embankment, swimming downstream London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5771 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Large, dark seal, it came up to surface and I was the whole of it as it “arched” up. Head, fins, back and tail Observer notes: It was a brilliant moment!

  16. In the Thames opposite Battersea park London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5768 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Seal, large, long muzzle

  17. Right next to the RNLI Tower Lifeboat Station, next to Waterloo Bridge London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5770 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Saw a large seal that had spots on it and a very long face. It was very dark and floating in the water, then turned so we could see its face, before diving under the water. Observer notes: We’d loved seeing it! :)

  18. We were sitting at Erith Pier and we kept on seeing the nose of a seal - in and out. London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5766 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: We saw a nose appearing and disappearing. We observed for an hour.

  19. Just SW of Tamesis Dock. Roughly equidistant between Lambeth Bridge and Vauxhall Bridge. London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5767 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Head and back. Nostrils above water and whiskers were clear to see. Black eyes. Smooth head. Back was slate grey and smooth. Observer notes: I was surprised to see it at first. I saw it for less than a minute. It was facing north just above the surface of the water. I assume it was breathing air in before diving down again.

  20. In the Thames, between The Wharf and Thurrock Yacht Club London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5765 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: I saw the head poking above the water

  21. Waterloo railway Bridge foot bridge London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5764 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: View from above seal swimming upstream at the surface Observer notes: Took video of seal swimming it was in the middle of the river I was on the footbridge above looking down

  22. Near millennium crossing London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5762 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Head, muzzle, back

  23. Near the embankment pier London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5763 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Looked back swim on surface then dived down

  24. By embankment bridge / pier London
    Unidentified ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey, report 5761 — https://sites.zsl.org/inthethames/main/

    Observer description: Seal breached the water to come up for air and was looking around for a bit before submerging and popping up again a few seconds later before diving back down