Best Blue Flag beaches in UK – find your nearest clean water swimming spot

This glorious weather has given us a taste of the warmer months to come – and there’s nothing like cooling off with a quick dip on a hot summer’s day.

For those who love nothing more than a salty splash in the sea, the country’s best beaches with the cleanest water have been revealed.

There are 104 beaches in the UK in total (with 77 in England) that have been awarded the coveted Blue Flag this year – which serves as an indication of the spot’s high environmental and quality standards.

So, put simply, a Blue Flag beach demonstrates well-managed areas for those looking for a clean (sewage-free) and safe beach experience. And let’s face it, who isn’t?


Dorset and Devon came out on top as areas with the most Blue Flag beaches, boasting 14 each in total. While Pembrokeshire has nine – including Whitesands, as well as both Tenby Castle Beach and South Beach.

The beaches closest to London include Westcliff Bay Beach, in Essex, which is just over a mile to the east of Southend Pier, as well as Three Shells Beach in Southend-on-Sea.

Thorpe Bay is another beach with a Blue Flag award that is less than two hours from London – with a sand and pebble beach with a tidal paddling pool.

Elsewhere, West Wittering, in Sussex, is another notable spot on the list – with not just clean water and sand, but 20 acres of grasses and waterbeds as well.


See the full list of this year’s Blue Flag Beaches below…

Best Blue Flag beaches in England and Wales:

Antrim Blue Flag Beaches

  • West Strand Beach, Portrush
  • Whiterocks Beach, Portrush

Bridgend Blue Flag Beaches

  • Rest Bay Beach, Porthcawl
  • Trecco Bay Beach, Porthcawl

Carmarthenshire Blue Flag Beaches

  • Cefn Sidan Beach, Llanelli

Ceredigion Blue Flag Beaches

  • Aberporth Beach, Aberporth
  • Aberystwyth South Beach, Aberystwyth
  • Borth Beach, Borth
  • Llangrannog Beach, Llangrannog
  • Tresaith Beach, Aberporth

Cornwall Blue Flag Beaches

  • Crooklets Beach, Bude
  • Polzeath Beach, Polzeath
  • Carbis Bay Beach, Penwith Peninsula
  • Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth
  • Porthtowan Beach, St Agnes
  • Summerleaze Beach, Bude
  • Trevone Bay Beach, Padstow
  • Widemouth Sands Beach, Bude
  • Porthmeor Beach, Penwith Peninsula

Denbighshire Blue Flag Beaches

  • Central Beach, Prestatyn

Derry Blue Flag Beaches

  • Magilligan Beach, Coleraine
  • Portstewart Strand Beach, Coleraine

Devon Blue Flag Beaches

  • Beer Beach, Seaton
  • Blackpool Sands Beach, Stoke Fleming
  • Broadsands Beach, Paignton
  • Croyde Bay Beach, Croyde
  • Dawlish Warren Beach, Dawlish
  • Exmouth Beach, Exmouth
  • Meadfoot Beach, Torquay
  • Oddicombe Beach, Torquay
  • Preston Sands Beach, Paignton
  • Seaton Beach, Seaton
  • Sidmouth Town Beach, Sidmouth
  • Torre Abbey Beach, Torquay
  • Westward Ho! Beach, Bideford
  • Breakwater Beach, Brixham

Dorset Blue Flag Beaches

  • Weymouth Beach, Weymouth
  • Alum Chine Beach, Bournemouth
  • Durley Chine Beach, Bournemouth
  • Fishermans Walk Beach, Bournemouth
  • Manor Steps Beach, Bournemouth
  • Southbourne Beach, Bournemouth
  • Avon Beach, Christchurch
  • Friars Cliff Beach, Christchurch
  • Highcliffe Beach, Christchurch
  • Branksome Chine Beach, Poole
  • Canford Cliffs Beach, Poole
  • Sandbanks Beach, Poole
  • Shore Road Beach, Poole
  • Swanage Central Beach, Swanage

Down Blue Flag Beaches

  • Tyrella Beach, Downpatrick
  • Cranfield Beach, Kilkeel

East Riding of Yorkshire Blue Flag Beaches

  • Hornsea Beach, Hornsea
  • Withernsea Beach, Withernsea

East Sussex Blue Flag Beaches

  • St Leonards Beach, Hastings

Essex Blue Flag Beaches

  • Brightlingsea Beach, Brightlingsea
  • Walton-on-the-Naze Beach, Walton-on-the-Naze
  • Dovercourt Bay Beach, Harwich
  • Frinton-on-Sea Beach, Frinton on Sea
  • Shoebury East Beach, Southend-on-Sea
  • Shoebury Common Beach, Southend-on-Sea
  • Thorpe Bay Beach, Southend-on-Sea
  • Three Shells Beach, Southend-on-Sea
  • Westcliff Bay Beach, Southend-on-Sea

Hampshire Blue Flag Beaches

  • Beachlands Beach, Hayling Island

Isle of Wight Blue Flag Beaches

  • Sandown Beach, Sandown

Kent Blue Flag Beaches

  • Botany Bay Beach, Broadstairs
  • Joss Bay Beach, Broadstairs
  • Margate Bay Beach, Margate
  • Sheerness Beach, Isle Of Sheppey
  • Minster Leas Beach, Isle Of Sheppey
  • Minnis Bay Beach, Margate
  • St Mildreds Bay Beach, Margate
  • Stone Bay Beach, Broadstairs
  • Tankerton Beach, Whitstable

Lincolnshire Blue Flag Beaches

  • Mablethorpe Town Beach, Mablethorpe
  • Skegness Beach, Skegness
  • Sutton-on-Sea Beach, Mablethorpe

Norfolk Blue Flag Beaches

  • Cromer Beach, Cromer
  • West Runton Beach, Cromer
  • Sheringham Beach, Sheringham

North Yorkshire Blue Flag Beaches

  • Whitby Sands Beach, Whitby
  • Scarborough North Bay Beach, Scarborough

Pembrokeshire Blue Flag Beaches

  • Dale Beach, Dale
  • Broad Haven Beach, Broad Haven
  • Amroth Beach, Amroth
  • Coppet Hall Beach, Saundersfoot
  • Newgale Sands Beach, St Davids
  • Poppit Sands Beach, St Dogmaels
  • Saundersfoot Beach, Saundersfoot
  • Tenby Castle Beach, Tenby
  • Tenby South Beach, Tenby
  • Whitesands Beach, St Davids

Suffolk Blue Flag Beaches

  • Southwold Beach, Southwold
  • Felixstowe Beach, Felixstowe

Swansea Bay and The Gower Blue Flag Beaches

  • Caswell Bay Beach, Mumbles
  • Langland Bay Beach, Mumbles
  • Port Eynon Beach, Port Eynon

Tyne and Wear Blue Flag Beaches

  • Long Sands Beach, Tynemouth
  • Whitley Bay Beach, Whitley Bay
  • Roker Beach, Sunderland
  • Seaburn Beach, Sunderland
  • King Edwards Bay Beach, Tynemouth

West Sussex Blue Flag Beaches

  • West Wittering Beach, Chichester

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