I've spent quite a lot of time on the coast, and also some time with relatives who own boats on the sea, so I've spent a fair amount of time in places where I could see a basking shark but I never have. Are they distributed evenly around the country or are there areas of coast whre they are more likely to be seen?

The size of some of the basking sharks is impressive from clips and photos I have seen. Even though they are harmless, I would definitely think twice about swimming near to anything that size!

I've never seen one either, I haven't spent too much time in places where they frequent though.

As for where to see them, I know they live off the coast of Cornwall. There are also some around the Isle of Man. I'm sure tere are other places too.

With all the Great White sightings every year, it wouldn't surprise me at all to learn that they are actually seeing basking sharks!

I'm sure that all these great white sightings are nothing more than imagination. Lets be honest, most people (myself included) can't tell the difference between a great white fin and a basking or any other kind of sharks fin.

As for basking sharks, I haven't seen any either. You'd have to do out in a boat to see them as they are large and wouldn't come close to the shore.

Good point Bill, there's always some 'sighting' of great whites but I'm sure they're not by experts.
Sharks have always fascinated me and although I'd be very scared, I've always wanted to go swimming with them, even if it meant being in a cage.
I guess swimming with basking sharks would be a good place to start.
Mind you, they may not have any teeth but the size of their mouths are slightly off putting

There's some good fact based errr... sharkery (?) here that my son quite enjoyed (surprisingly)

http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/sharks/anatomy/