England's Blue Flag Beaches: What the Award Means and the Best to Visit
What the Blue Flag beach award means, how beaches qualify, and England's best regularly awarded beaches, from Bournemouth to Woolacombe.
Every spring, Keep Britain Tidy announces which English beaches have won a Blue Flag – the international award for clean, safe and well-managed beaches. The list changes slightly each year, but many beaches win time after time. Here's what the award means and some of the best Blue Flag beaches to visit.
What the Blue Flag means
1. The criteria
To fly a Blue Flag, a beach must meet strict criteria, including:
- Excellent bathing-water quality throughout the testing season.
- Safety: lifeguards or safety equipment and first aid.
- Environmental management: clean facilities, recycling and protection of sensitive habitats.
- Information and education: public notices about water quality and the local environment.
The award runs for one season and must be renewed every year.
Beaches that regularly win
2. Bournemouth, Dorset
Seven miles of golden sand with piers, beach huts and a lively promenade. Several Bournemouth and Poole beaches regularly fly the flag.
3. Woolacombe, Devon
A three-mile sweep of sand popular with surfers and families on the North Devon coast.
4. Weymouth, Dorset
A sheltered, shallow bay with soft sand – ideal for young children – at the gateway to the Jurassic Coast.
5. Bamburgh and the Northumberland coast
Wide, wild beaches beneath castles, with views to the Farne Islands. Not all Northumberland beaches fly the Blue Flag, but they're among England's most beautiful.
6. Cornwall
Beaches such as Polzeath, Porthmeor in St Ives and Gyllyngvase in Falmouth have flown the flag in many years – see our active Cornwall guide.
7. Kent and the south-east
Kent beaches such as those at Margate and Broadstairs are often awarded – see our guide to Kent's Mermaid Beach and coast.
8. Yorkshire
Beaches around Scarborough, Whitby and Filey have won awards in recent years, combining sand with classic seaside towns.
Tips for a beach day
- Check the current list: awards change every year – see Keep Britain Tidy's website.
- Check water-quality alerts after heavy rain.
- Swim between the flags where lifeguards are on duty.
- More seaside ideas: see our pick of the best UK seaside towns.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Blue Flag beach?
Blue Flag is an international award run by the Foundation for Environmental Education. Beaches must meet strict standards for water quality, safety, environmental management and information.
How many Blue Flag beaches are there in England?
Around 70 or more beaches in England receive Blue Flag status in a typical year. The list is announced annually, usually in May, by Keep Britain Tidy.
Does a Blue Flag mean the water is always clean?
It means the beach met the water-quality standards over the testing period. Short-term pollution can still happen after heavy rain, so check daily water-quality alerts.
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