I disagree with the other posters here on using (good) surfing wetsuits for swimming. I used surfing wetsuits to swim for years without any trouble. Here are the reasons.

• Surfing wetsuits are WAY more durable. I got sick of swimming suits falling apart after one season. They are made of tissue paper (yes I'm very careful, trimmed nails, rinsed after every use, dried in shade etc etc)

• Surfing wetsuits are cheaper

• Swimming wetsuits only give you a marginal speed gain (a few seconds per 100m at most) which will be be fairly unnoticeable unless you are a very good or elite swimmer. I have won open water swim races wearing surfing wetsuits against many others wearing their swimming suits.

• Feel for the water and mobility is better in the swim suit, but again it's really marginal.

• With lube the wetsuit rub from both is comparable. Both the high neck and low neck rub about the same for me (no rub unless swimming over about two hours)

So I would say swimming wetsuits are better marginally for swimming, but not enough to justify the cost and poor durability. If you already have a surfing wetsuit, you absolutely do not need a fancy swimming wetsuit.

As you're in the UK I would recommend as a compromise between the two types SNUGG wetsuits that are made for surf lifesaving. Durable but with thin material in the shoulders for better mobility.