diff --git a/sycl/include/CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/detail/esimd_sycl_util.hpp b/sycl/include/CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/detail/esimd_sycl_util.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..043b40cfa08a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sycl/include/CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/detail/esimd_sycl_util.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+//==------------- esimd_sycl_util.hpp - DPC++ Explicit SIMD API  -----------==//
+//
+// Part of the LLVM Project, under the Apache License v2.0 with LLVM Exceptions.
+// See https://llvm.org/LICENSE.txt for license information.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 WITH LLVM-exception
+//
+//===----------------------------------------------------------------------===//
+// Utility functions related to interaction with generic SYCL and used for
+// implementing Explicit SIMD APIs.
+//===----------------------------------------------------------------------===//
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <CL/sycl/accessor.hpp>
+
+__SYCL_INLINE_NAMESPACE(cl) {
+namespace sycl {
+namespace INTEL {
+namespace gpu {
+namespace detail {
+
+// Checks that given type is a SYCL accessor type. Sets its static field
+// \c value accordingly. Also, if the check is succesful, sets \c mode and
+// \c target static fields to the accessor type's access mode and access target
+// respectively. Otherwise they are set to -1.
+template <typename T> struct is_sycl_accessor : public std::false_type {
+  static constexpr sycl::access::mode mode =
+      static_cast<sycl::access::mode>(-1);
+  static constexpr sycl::access::target target =
+      static_cast<sycl::access::target>(-1);
+};
+
+template <typename DataT, int Dimensions, sycl::access::mode AccessMode,
+          sycl::access::target AccessTarget,
+          sycl::access::placeholder IsPlaceholder, typename PropertyListT>
+struct is_sycl_accessor<sycl::accessor<
+    DataT, Dimensions, AccessMode, AccessTarget, IsPlaceholder, PropertyListT>>
+    : public std::true_type {
+  static constexpr sycl::access::mode mode = AccessMode;
+  static constexpr sycl::access::target target = AccessTarget;
+};
+
+using accessor_mode_cap_val_t = bool;
+
+// Denotes an accessor's capability - whether it can read or write.
+struct accessor_mode_cap {
+  static inline constexpr accessor_mode_cap_val_t can_read = false;
+  static inline constexpr accessor_mode_cap_val_t can_write = true;
+};
+
+template <sycl::access::mode Mode, accessor_mode_cap_val_t Cap>
+constexpr bool accessor_mode_has_capability() {
+  static_assert(Cap == accessor_mode_cap::can_read ||
+                    Cap == accessor_mode_cap::can_write,
+                "unsupported capability");
+
+  if constexpr (Mode == sycl::access::mode::atomic ||
+                Mode == sycl::access::mode::read_write ||
+                Mode == sycl::access::mode::discard_read_write)
+    return true; // atomic and *read_write accessors can read/write
+
+  return (Cap == accessor_mode_cap::can_read) ==
+         (Mode == sycl::access::mode::read);
+}
+
+// Checks that given type is a SYCL accessor type with given capability and
+// target.
+template <typename T, accessor_mode_cap_val_t Capability,
+          sycl::access::target AccessTarget>
+struct is_sycl_accessor_with
+    : public std::conditional_t<
+          accessor_mode_has_capability<is_sycl_accessor<T>::mode,
+                                       Capability>() &&
+              (is_sycl_accessor<T>::target == AccessTarget),
+          std::true_type, std::false_type> {};
+
+template <typename T, accessor_mode_cap_val_t Capability,
+          sycl::access::target AccessTarget, typename RetT>
+using EnableIfAccessor = sycl::detail::enable_if_t<
+    detail::is_sycl_accessor_with<T, Capability, AccessTarget>::value, RetT>;
+
+} // namespace detail
+} // namespace gpu
+} // namespace INTEL
+} // namespace sycl
+} // __SYCL_INLINE_NAMESPACE(cl)
diff --git a/sycl/include/CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/esimd.hpp b/sycl/include/CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/esimd.hpp
index d2e21bd77cc50..ca33a35949f96 100644
--- a/sycl/include/CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/esimd.hpp
+++ b/sycl/include/CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/esimd.hpp
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/detail/esimd_intrin.hpp>
+#include <CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/detail/esimd_memory_intrin.hpp>
+#include <CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/detail/esimd_sycl_util.hpp>
 #include <CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/detail/esimd_types.hpp>
 
 __SYCL_INLINE_NAMESPACE(cl) {
@@ -480,6 +482,49 @@ template <typename Ty, int N> class simd {
     }
   }
 
+  /// @name Memory operations
+  /// TODO NOTE: These APIs do not support cache hint specification yet, as this
+  /// is WIP. Later addition of hints is not expected to break code using these
+  /// APIs.
+  ///
+  /// @{
+
+  /// Copy a contiguous block of data from memory into this simd object.
+  /// The amount of memory copied equals the total size of vector elements in
+  /// this object.
+  /// @param addr the memory address to copy from. Must be a pointer to the
+  /// global address space, otherwise behavior is undefined.
+  ESIMD_INLINE void copy_from(const Ty *const addr) SYCL_ESIMD_FUNCTION;
+
+  /// Copy a contiguous block of data from memory into this simd object.
+  /// The amount of memory copied equals the total size of vector elements in
+  /// this object.
+  /// Source memory location is represented via a global accessor and offset.
+  /// @param acc accessor to copy from.
+  /// @param offset offset to copy from.
+  template <typename AccessorT>
+  ESIMD_INLINE
+      detail::EnableIfAccessor<AccessorT, detail::accessor_mode_cap::can_read,
+                               sycl::access::target::global_buffer, void>
+      copy_from(AccessorT acc, uint32_t offset) SYCL_ESIMD_FUNCTION;
+
+  /// Copy all vector elements of this object into a contiguous block in memory.
+  /// @param addr the memory address to copy to. Must be a pointer to the
+  /// global address space, otherwise behavior is undefined.
+  ESIMD_INLINE void copy_to(Ty *addr) SYCL_ESIMD_FUNCTION;
+
+  /// Copy all vector elements of this object into a contiguous block in memory.
+  /// Destination memory location is represented via a global accessor and
+  /// offset.
+  /// @param acc accessor to copy from.
+  /// @param offset offset to copy from.
+  template <typename AccessorT>
+  ESIMD_INLINE
+      detail::EnableIfAccessor<AccessorT, detail::accessor_mode_cap::can_write,
+                               sycl::access::target::global_buffer, void>
+      copy_to(AccessorT acc, uint32_t offset) SYCL_ESIMD_FUNCTION;
+
+  /// @} // Memory operations
 private:
   // The underlying data for this vector.
   vector_type M_data;
@@ -498,6 +543,88 @@ ESIMD_INLINE simd<U, n> convert(simd<T, n> val) {
   return __builtin_convertvector(val.data(), detail::vector_type_t<U, n>);
 }
 
+// ----------- Outlined implementations of esimd class APIs.
+
+template <typename T, int N> void simd<T, N>::copy_from(const T *const Addr) {
+  constexpr unsigned Sz = sizeof(T) * N;
+  static_assert(Sz >= detail::OperandSize::OWORD,
+                "block size must be at least 1 oword");
+  static_assert(Sz % detail::OperandSize::OWORD == 0,
+                "block size must be whole number of owords");
+  static_assert(detail::isPowerOf2(Sz / detail::OperandSize::OWORD),
+                "block must be 1, 2, 4 or 8 owords long");
+  static_assert(Sz <= 8 * detail::OperandSize::OWORD,
+                "block size must be at most 8 owords");
+
+  uintptr_t AddrVal = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(Addr);
+  *this =
+      __esimd_flat_block_read_unaligned<T, N, CacheHint::None, CacheHint::None>(
+          AddrVal);
+}
+
+template <typename T, int N>
+template <typename AccessorT>
+ESIMD_INLINE
+    detail::EnableIfAccessor<AccessorT, detail::accessor_mode_cap::can_read,
+                             sycl::access::target::global_buffer, void>
+    simd<T, N>::copy_from(AccessorT acc, uint32_t offset) {
+  constexpr unsigned Sz = sizeof(T) * N;
+  static_assert(Sz >= detail::OperandSize::OWORD,
+                "block size must be at least 1 oword");
+  static_assert(Sz % detail::OperandSize::OWORD == 0,
+                "block size must be whole number of owords");
+  static_assert(detail::isPowerOf2(Sz / detail::OperandSize::OWORD),
+                "block must be 1, 2, 4 or 8 owords long");
+  static_assert(Sz <= 8 * detail::OperandSize::OWORD,
+                "block size must be at most 8 owords");
+#if defined(__SYCL_DEVICE_ONLY__)
+  auto surf_ind = detail::AccessorPrivateProxy::getNativeImageObj(acc);
+  *this = __esimd_block_read<T, N>(surf_ind, offset);
+#else
+  *this = __esimd_block_read<T, N>(acc, offset);
+#endif // __SYCL_DEVICE_ONLY__
+}
+
+template <typename T, int N> void simd<T, N>::copy_to(T *addr) {
+  constexpr unsigned Sz = sizeof(T) * N;
+  static_assert(Sz >= detail::OperandSize::OWORD,
+                "block size must be at least 1 oword");
+  static_assert(Sz % detail::OperandSize::OWORD == 0,
+                "block size must be whole number of owords");
+  static_assert(detail::isPowerOf2(Sz / detail::OperandSize::OWORD),
+                "block must be 1, 2, 4 or 8 owords long");
+  static_assert(Sz <= 8 * detail::OperandSize::OWORD,
+                "block size must be at most 8 owords");
+
+  uintptr_t AddrVal = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(addr);
+  __esimd_flat_block_write<T, N, CacheHint::None, CacheHint::None>(AddrVal,
+                                                                   data());
+}
+
+template <typename T, int N>
+template <typename AccessorT>
+ESIMD_INLINE
+    detail::EnableIfAccessor<AccessorT, detail::accessor_mode_cap::can_write,
+                             sycl::access::target::global_buffer, void>
+    simd<T, N>::copy_to(AccessorT acc, uint32_t offset) {
+  constexpr unsigned Sz = sizeof(T) * N;
+  static_assert(Sz >= detail::OperandSize::OWORD,
+                "block size must be at least 1 oword");
+  static_assert(Sz % detail::OperandSize::OWORD == 0,
+                "block size must be whole number of owords");
+  static_assert(detail::isPowerOf2(Sz / detail::OperandSize::OWORD),
+                "block must be 1, 2, 4 or 8 owords long");
+  static_assert(Sz <= 8 * detail::OperandSize::OWORD,
+                "block size must be at most 8 owords");
+
+#if defined(__SYCL_DEVICE_ONLY__)
+  auto surf_ind = detail::AccessorPrivateProxy::getNativeImageObj(acc);
+  __esimd_block_write<T, N>(surf_ind, offset >> 4, data());
+#else
+  __esimd_block_write<T, N>(acc, offset >> 4, data());
+#endif // __SYCL_DEVICE_ONLY__
+}
+
 } // namespace gpu
 } // namespace INTEL
 } // namespace sycl
@@ -516,4 +643,5 @@ std::ostream &operator<<(std::ostream &OS,
   OS << "}";
   return OS;
 }
+
 #endif
diff --git a/sycl/include/CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/esimd_memory.hpp b/sycl/include/CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/esimd_memory.hpp
index a4f072c317af9..1c9e991a46fe4 100644
--- a/sycl/include/CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/esimd_memory.hpp
+++ b/sycl/include/CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/esimd_memory.hpp
@@ -158,14 +158,15 @@ scatter(T *p, simd<T, n * ElemsPerAddr> vals, simd<uint32_t, n> offsets,
                             pred.data());
 }
 
-// TODO @rolandschulz
-// Should follow existing std::simd naming for similar APIs - "copy_from" and
-// "copy_to" to avoid confusion.
-//
 /// Flat-address block-load.
 /// \ingroup sycl_esimd
+// TODO normally, this function should just delegate to
+// simd::copy_from for the deprecation period, but separate implementations are
+// needed for now, as simd::copy_from does not support cache hints yet.
+// This API, even though deprecated, can't be removed until then.
 template <typename T, int n, CacheHint L1H = CacheHint::None,
           CacheHint L3H = CacheHint::None>
+__SYCL_DEPRECATED("use simd::copy_from.")
 ESIMD_INLINE ESIMD_NODEBUG simd<T, n> block_load(const T *const addr) {
   constexpr unsigned Sz = sizeof(T) * n;
   static_assert(Sz >= detail::OperandSize::OWORD,
@@ -184,30 +185,20 @@ ESIMD_INLINE ESIMD_NODEBUG simd<T, n> block_load(const T *const addr) {
 /// Accessor-based block-load.
 /// \ingroup sycl_esimd
 template <typename T, int n, typename AccessorTy>
+__SYCL_DEPRECATED("use simd::copy_from.")
 ESIMD_INLINE ESIMD_NODEBUG simd<T, n> block_load(AccessorTy acc,
                                                  uint32_t offset) {
-  constexpr unsigned Sz = sizeof(T) * n;
-  static_assert(Sz >= detail::OperandSize::OWORD,
-                "block size must be at least 1 oword");
-  static_assert(Sz % detail::OperandSize::OWORD == 0,
-                "block size must be whole number of owords");
-  static_assert(detail::isPowerOf2(Sz / detail::OperandSize::OWORD),
-                "block must be 1, 2, 4 or 8 owords long");
-  static_assert(Sz <= 8 * detail::OperandSize::OWORD,
-                "block size must be at most 8 owords");
-
-#if defined(__SYCL_DEVICE_ONLY__)
-  auto surf_ind = detail::AccessorPrivateProxy::getNativeImageObj(acc);
-  return __esimd_block_read<T, n>(surf_ind, offset);
-#else
-  return __esimd_block_read<T, n>(acc, offset);
-#endif // __SYCL_DEVICE_ONLY__
+  simd<T, n> Res;
+  Res.copy_from(acc, offset);
+  return Res;
 }
 
 /// Flat-address block-store.
 /// \ingroup sycl_esimd
+// TODO the above note about cache hints applies to this API as well.
 template <typename T, int n, CacheHint L1H = CacheHint::None,
           CacheHint L3H = CacheHint::None>
+__SYCL_DEPRECATED("use simd::copy_to.")
 ESIMD_INLINE ESIMD_NODEBUG void block_store(T *p, simd<T, n> vals) {
   constexpr unsigned Sz = sizeof(T) * n;
   static_assert(Sz >= detail::OperandSize::OWORD,
@@ -226,24 +217,10 @@ ESIMD_INLINE ESIMD_NODEBUG void block_store(T *p, simd<T, n> vals) {
 /// Accessor-based block-store.
 /// \ingroup sycl_esimd
 template <typename T, int n, typename AccessorTy>
-ESIMD_INLINE ESIMD_NODEBUG void block_store(AccessorTy acc, uint32_t offset,
-                                            simd<T, n> vals) {
-  constexpr unsigned Sz = sizeof(T) * n;
-  static_assert(Sz >= detail::OperandSize::OWORD,
-                "block size must be at least 1 oword");
-  static_assert(Sz % detail::OperandSize::OWORD == 0,
-                "block size must be whole number of owords");
-  static_assert(detail::isPowerOf2(Sz / detail::OperandSize::OWORD),
-                "block must be 1, 2, 4 or 8 owords long");
-  static_assert(Sz <= 8 * detail::OperandSize::OWORD,
-                "block size must be at most 8 owords");
-
-#if defined(__SYCL_DEVICE_ONLY__)
-  auto surf_ind = detail::AccessorPrivateProxy::getNativeImageObj(acc);
-  __esimd_block_write<T, n>(surf_ind, offset >> 4, vals.data());
-#else
-  __esimd_block_write<T, n>(acc, offset >> 4, vals.data());
-#endif // __SYCL_DEVICE_ONLY__
+__SYCL_DEPRECATED("use simd::copy_to.")
+ESIMD_INLINE ESIMD_NODEBUG
+    void block_store(AccessorTy acc, uint32_t offset, simd<T, n> vals) {
+  vals.copy_to(acc, offset);
 }
 
 /// Accessor-based gather.
diff --git a/sycl/test/esimd/block_load_store.cpp b/sycl/test/esimd/block_load_store.cpp
index 8399eccfe2f85..1b0da0341b2a7 100644
--- a/sycl/test/esimd/block_load_store.cpp
+++ b/sycl/test/esimd/block_load_store.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-// RUN: %clangxx -fsycl -fsycl-device-only -fsyntax-only -Xclang -verify %s
-// expected-no-diagnostics
+// RUN: %clangxx -fsycl -fsyntax-only -Xclang -verify %s
 
 #include <CL/sycl.hpp>
 #include <CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd.hpp>
@@ -9,12 +8,26 @@
 using namespace sycl::INTEL::gpu;
 using namespace cl::sycl;
 
-void kernel(accessor<int, 1, access::mode::read_write, access::target::global_buffer> &buf) __attribute__((sycl_device)) {
+SYCL_EXTERNAL void kernel1(
+    accessor<int, 1, access::mode::read_write, access::target::global_buffer>
+        &buf) SYCL_ESIMD_FUNCTION {
   simd<int, 32> v1(0, 1);
-
-  auto v0 = block_load<int, 32>(buf.get_pointer());
-
+  // expected-warning@+2 {{deprecated}}
+  // expected-note@CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/esimd_memory.hpp:188 {{}}
+  auto v0 = block_load<int, 32>(buf, 0);
   v0 = v0 + v1;
+  // expected-warning@+2 {{deprecated}}
+  // expected-note@CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/esimd_memory.hpp:220 {{}}
+  block_store<int, 32>(buf, 0, v0);
+}
 
-  block_store<int, 32>(buf.get_pointer(), v0);
+SYCL_EXTERNAL void kernel2(int *ptr) SYCL_ESIMD_FUNCTION {
+  simd<int, 32> v1(0, 1);
+  // expected-warning@+2 {{deprecated}}
+  // expected-note@CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/esimd_memory.hpp:169 {{}}
+  auto v0 = block_load<int, 32>(ptr);
+  v0 = v0 + v1;
+  // expected-warning@+2 {{deprecated}}
+  // expected-note@CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/esimd_memory.hpp:201 {{}}
+  block_store<int, 32>(ptr, v0);
 }
diff --git a/sycl/test/esimd/simd_copy_to_copy_from.cpp b/sycl/test/esimd/simd_copy_to_copy_from.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..fd465ff068c0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sycl/test/esimd/simd_copy_to_copy_from.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+// RUN: %clangxx -fsycl -fsyntax-only -Xclang -verify %s
+
+// This test checks that both host and device compilers can:
+// - successfully compile simd::copy_to and simd::copy_from APIs
+// - emit an error if argument of an incompatible type is used
+//   in place of the accessor argument
+
+#include <CL/sycl.hpp>
+#include <CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd.hpp>
+#include <limits>
+#include <utility>
+
+using namespace sycl::INTEL::gpu;
+using namespace cl::sycl;
+
+// --- Postive tests.
+
+SYCL_EXTERNAL void kernel1(
+    accessor<int, 1, access::mode::read_write, access::target::global_buffer>
+        &buf) SYCL_ESIMD_FUNCTION {
+  simd<int, 32> v1(0, 1);
+  simd<int, 32> v0;
+  v0.copy_from(buf, 0);
+  v0 = v0 + v1;
+  v0.copy_to(buf, 0);
+}
+
+SYCL_EXTERNAL void kernel2(int *ptr) SYCL_ESIMD_FUNCTION {
+  simd<int, 32> v1(0, 1);
+  simd<int, 32> v0;
+  v0.copy_from(ptr);
+  v0 = v0 + v1;
+  v0.copy_to(ptr);
+}
+
+// --- Negative tests.
+
+// Incompatible target.
+SYCL_EXTERNAL void
+kernel3(accessor<int, 1, access::mode::read_write, access::target::local> &buf)
+    SYCL_ESIMD_FUNCTION {
+  simd<int, 32> v1(0, 1);
+  simd<int, 32> v0;
+  // expected-error@+3 {{no matching member function for call to 'copy_from'}}
+  // expected-note@CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/esimd.hpp:514 {{}}
+  // expected-note@CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/esimd.hpp:509 {{}}
+  v0.copy_from(buf, 0);
+  v0 = v0 + v1;
+  // expected-error@+3 {{no matching member function for call to 'copy_to'}}
+  // expected-note@CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/esimd.hpp:497 {{}}
+  // expected-note@CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/esimd.hpp:525 {{}}
+  v0.copy_to(buf, 0);
+}
+
+// Incompatible mode (write).
+SYCL_EXTERNAL void kernel4(
+    accessor<int, 1, access::mode::write, access::target::global_buffer> &buf)
+    SYCL_ESIMD_FUNCTION {
+  simd<int, 32> v;
+  // expected-error@+3 {{no matching member function for call to 'copy_from'}}
+  // expected-note@CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/esimd.hpp:514 {{}}
+  // expected-note@CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/esimd.hpp:509 {{}}
+  v.copy_from(buf, 0);
+}
+
+// Incompatible mode (read).
+SYCL_EXTERNAL void kernel5(
+    accessor<int, 1, access::mode::read, access::target::global_buffer> &buf)
+    SYCL_ESIMD_FUNCTION {
+  simd<int, 32> v(0, 1);
+  // expected-error@+3 {{no matching member function for call to 'copy_to'}}
+  // expected-note@CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/esimd.hpp:497 {{}}
+  // expected-note@CL/sycl/INTEL/esimd/esimd.hpp:525 {{}}
+  v.copy_to(buf, 0);
+}