It’s that time of year when the Blue Flag beaches are announced. In 2024, 72 English beaches received the Blue Flag Award, five less than a year ago. We then have 136 Seaside Awards beaches, of which 60 have both Blue Flag and Seaside Awards.
Blue Flag and Seaside Award winners span much of the country, though the South West has the most, with 37 blue flag beaches in Cornwall and Devon, same as last year.
Just click on a title to go to our beach information pages.
England Blue Flag Awards
East Midlands Blue Flags
3 winners
East of England Blue Flags
13 Winners
- Sheringham
- East Runton
- West Runton
- Cromer
- Felixstowe South
- Dovercourt Bay
- Brightlingsea
- East Beach, Shoeburyness
- Shoebury Common
- Three Shells, Southend
- Westcliff Bay, Southend
- Southwold
- Frinton on Sea
North East Blue Flags
5 Winners
North West Blue Flags
No Winners
Yorkshire Blue Flags
3 Winners
South East Blue Flags
11 Winners
- Sheerness
- Tankerton, Whitstable
- Minnis Bay, Margate
- St Mildreds, Margate
- Botany Bay, Broadstairs
- Joss Bay, Broadstairs
- Marina, St Leonards
- Hove Lawns (see Brighton Central)
- West Wittering Beach
- Beachlands, Hayling Island
- Saltdean, Brighton
South West Blue Flags
37 Winners
- Southbourne, Bournemouth
- Fisherman’s Walk, Bournemouth
- Manor Steps, Bournemouth
- Durley Chine, Bournemouth
- Alum Chine, Bournemouth
- Branksome Chine, Poole
- Canford Cliffs, Poole
- Shore Road, Poole
- Sandbanks Peninsular, Poole
- Swanage Central
- Weymouth Central
- Sidmouth Town
- Exmouth East
- Dawlish Warren
- Oddicombe Beach, Torquay
- Broadsands, Torbay
- Breakwater Beach, Brixham
- Blackpool Sands, Dartmouth
- Gyllyngvase, Falmouth
- Porthmeor, St Ives
- Carbis Bay, St Ives
- Porthtowan
- Trevone Bay, Padstow
- Polzeath
- Crooklets, Bude
- Widemouth Bay, Bude
- Westward Ho!
- Meadfoot Beach
- Preston Sands
- Torre Abbey Beach
- Avon, Christchurch
- Highcliffe, Christchurch
- Friars Cliff, Christchurch
- Seaton
- Summerleaze
- Beer
- Croyde Bay
Blue Flag is a mark of a quality beach
The Blue Flag beach award is widely recognised as an indication of a good quality beach and has moved on since it started in France in 1985. Most people think a Blue Flag indicates clean and safe water, but although it does, it measures a beach against a lot more criteria:
- Environmental Education and Information. This includes displaying details on the Blue Flag award, water quality, and a beach map with facility locations.
- Water Quality. This is about whether the water is safe to swim in. Water samples are taken at regular points during the bathing season, and the year gets an overall grade. Each of our beach pages gives a summary of the current water quality.
- Environmental Management. This category concerns managing the beach and keeping it clean, as well as making facilities like toilets available to the public.
- Safety and Services. This is a big one for families with children, as lifeguards should patrol the beach. Other criteria include the availability of drinking water and accessibility features.
Not having a Blue Flag does not mean a beach should be avoided. The tough criteria described above are only really suited to large seaside resorts, and smaller villages and remote bays can’t offer the same management level. This means they don’t participate in the scheme, and local countries have their awards to recognise some of these other beaches.
Local quality organisations carry out the blue flag certification process every year, and for our beaches in the UK, the annual results are announced at the end of May or the beginning of June.
For more information and details of the assessment criteria, visit the Blue Flag Award website.
For a full list of Blue Flag beaches see our list at UK Blue Flag Beaches.