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Time Out
18-05-2025
- Time Out
It's official: 6 of the UK's dirtiest beaches for water quality are near London
Within London 's city limits there are plenty of excellent places to go for an alfresco swim. While we wouldn't dream of even dipping our toes in the Thames (though there are plans to make the river swimmable by 2034), London has more than its fair share of lidos and outdoor pools – and you can find Time Out's guide to the best ones here. If you're up for leaving London's boundaries, there are even more opportunities for outdoor swimming, from rivers, lakes and pools to beaches. Next time you're choosing where to head off for a swim, however, here's something to bear in mind. A recent study has just revealed England's worst beaches for water quality right now, and several are near London. The report was by Holiday Park Guru, and it made use of Environment Agency data to hand out 'Brown Flag Awards'. The full study featured 19 stretches of coast up and down the nation, all of which were deemed particularly contaminated with faecal matter from things like sewage, livestock, wildlife, birds and road drainage. The water quality readings were taken last year between May and September. Of those 19 'Brown Flag' beaches, six were near London. We're defining 'close' to the capital as in a Home County or within a couple of hours' travel by car or train. Kent had three beaches named among the UK's filthiest, with Deal Castle, Dymchurch and Littlestone featuring, while Sussex 's Aldwich and Worthing beaches were included. The final near-London beach to be named and shamed was at Southsea in Hampshire. It's worth noting that the 'Brown Flag' rating doesn't necessarily mean the whole beach is poor quality for swimming or bathing. It can refer to just one section of a beach. On the bright side, several counties and places close to London were also commended for the cleanliness of their beaches. Hampshire and the Isle of Wight were named England's joint sixth-best places for coastal water quality, with 73 percent of beaches rated 'excellent'. The UK's dirtiest beaches near London Southsea Beach, Hampshire Deal Castle Beach, Kent Dymchurch Beach, Kent Littlestone Beach, Kent Aldwich Beach, Sussex Worthing Beach, Sussex Find the .
The Independent
13-05-2025
- The Independent
Revealed: England's worst beaches for water quality
The dirtiest beaches in England have been revealed based on water quality, including coastal spots in some of the country's most popular holiday hotspots such as Cornwall and Devon. The UK's Environment Agency tests England 's bathing waters every year by taking samples in the summer to build up an assessment of the water quality, providing them with a classification from 'excellent' to 'poor'. The classifications are based on the analysis of samples taken over a four-year period. The Environment Agency tests the samples for bacteria to indicate if there is faecal matter in the water, which could come from sewage, livestock, wildlife, birds and road drainage. If bathing water is classified as poor, then a sign advising against bathing will be displayed, yet the beach will remain open for people to use at their leisure. In the 2024 study of all 455 bathing waters across England, 37 were classed as poor, and out of that group 19 were beaches. Among those on the list were Porthluney in Cornwall, Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach in Dorset and Bunster Beach in Somerset. Further up north, Tynemouth Cullercoats in Tyne and Wear, Scarborough South Bay in North Yorkshire and Blackpool North in Lancashire landed in the 'poor' category. Holiday Park Guru completed a further analysis of the Environment Agency's data, what they call its 'Brown Flag Awards' for 2025, and found that Lancashire actually ranks last as a county, since none of its bathing spots are yet to gain an 'excellent' rating. Meanwhile, more than 90 per cent of Northumberland's beaches achieved the highest category for water cleanliness. Despite having beaches on the poor quality list, Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall are highly rated, too. However, Somerset, Cumbria, Merseyside and Kent are all counties that have less than desirable water quality at their bathing spots. The publication also found that the Isle of Wight, County Durham, Lincolnshire and Suffolk saw all of their designated bathing areas gaining one of the top two ratings ('good' or 'excellent'). The Environment Agency has made its data public so bathers can make informed choices about where to relax and swim, as well as see what beaches are doing to improve their water quality. As bathing spots are ever-changing, water pollution can be temporarily reduced, as rainfall, tides, weather and the season can all impact its quality. England's beaches with a 'poor' water quality rating in 2024 Porthluney in Cornwall Coastguards Beach, Erme Estuary in Devon Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach in Dorset Southsea East in Hampshire Deal Castle in Kent Dymchurch in Kent Littlestone in Kent Blackpool North in Lancashire St Annes North in Lancashire Heacham in Norfolk Weston Main, Weston Super Mare Sand Bay and Weston Super Mare Uphill Slipway in Somerset Dunster Beach in Somerset Blue Anchor West in Somerset Bognor Regis, Aldwick in Sussex Worthing Beach House in Sussex Tynemouth Cullercoats in Tyne and Wear Littlehaven Beach in Tyne and Wear Scarborough South Bay in North Yorkshire
The Independent
12-05-2025
- The Independent
The beaches to avoid in England with the worst water quality
The dirtiest beaches in England have been revealed based on water quality, including coastal spots in some of the country's most popular holiday hotspots such as Cornwall and Devon. The UK's Environment Agency tests England 's bathing waters every year by taking samples in the summer to build up an assessment of the water quality, providing them with a classification from 'excellent' to 'poor'. The classifications are based on the analysis of samples taken over a four-year period. The Environment Agency tests the samples for bacteria to indicate if there is faecal matter in the water, which could come from sewage, livestock, wildlife, birds and road drainage. If bathing water is classified as poor, then a sign advising against bathing will be displayed, yet the beach will remain open for people to use at their leisure. In the 2024 study of all 455 bathing waters across England, 37 were classed as poor, and out of that group 19 were beaches. Among those on the list were Porthluney in Cornwall, Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach in Dorset and Bunster Beach in Somerset. Further up north, Tynemouth Cullercoats in Tyne and Wear, Scarborough South Bay in North Yorkshire and Blackpool North in Lancashire landed in the 'poor' category. Holiday Park Guru completed a further analysis of the Environment Agency's data, what they call its 'Brown Flag Awards' for 2025, and found that Lancashire actually ranks last as a county, since none of its bathing spots are yet to gain an 'excellent' rating. Meanwhile, more than 90 per cent of Northumberland's beaches achieved the highest category for water cleanliness. Despite having beaches on the poor quality list, Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall are highly rated, too. However, Somerset, Cumbria, Merseyside and Kent are all counties that have less than desirable water quality at their bathing spots. The publication also found that the Isle of Wight, County Durham, Lincolnshire and Suffolk saw all of their designated bathing areas gaining one of the top two ratings ('good' or 'excellent'). The Environment Agency has made its data public so bathers can make informed choices about where to relax and swim, as well as see what beaches are doing to improve their water quality. As bathing spots are ever-changing, water pollution can be temporarily reduced, as rainfall, tides, weather and the season can all impact its quality. England's beaches with a 'poor' water quality rating in 2024 Porthluney in Cornwall Coastguards Beach, Erme Estuary in Devon Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach in Dorset Southsea East in Hampshire Deal Castle in Kent Dymchurch in Kent Littlestone in Kent Blackpool North in Lancashire St Annes North in Lancashire Heacham in Norfolk Weston Main, Weston Super Mare Sand Bay and Weston Super Mare Uphill Slipway in Somerset Dunster Beach in Somerset Blue Anchor West in Somerset Bognor Regis, Aldwick in Sussex Worthing Beach House in Sussex Tynemouth Cullercoats in Tyne and Wear Littlehaven Beach in Tyne and Wear Scarborough South Bay in North Yorkshire
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
The beaches with the worst water quality in England revealed
The dirtiest beaches in England have been revealed based on water quality, including coastal spots in some of the country's most popular holiday hotspots such as Cornwall and Devon. The UK's Environment Agency tests England's bathing waters every year by taking samples in the summer to build up an assessment of the water quality, providing them with a classification from 'excellent' to 'poor'. The classifications are based on the analysis of samples taken over a four-year period. The Environment Agency tests the samples for bacteria to indicate if there is faecal matter in the water, which could come from sewage, livestock, wildlife, birds and road drainage. If bathing water is classified as poor, then a sign advising against bathing will be displayed, yet the beach will remain open for people to use at their leisure. In the 2024 study of all 455 bathing waters across England, 37 were classed as poor, and out of that group 19 were beaches. Among those on the list were Porthluney in Cornwall, Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach in Dorset and Bunster Beach in Somerset. Further up north, Tynemouth Cullercoats in Tyne and Wear, Scarborough South Bay in North Yorkshire and Blackpool North in Lancashire landed in the 'poor' category. Holiday Park Guru completed a further analysis of the Environment Agency's data, what they call its 'Brown Flag Awards' for 2025, and found that Lancashire actually ranks last as a county, since none of its bathing spots are yet to gain an 'excellent' rating. Meanwhile, more than 90 per cent of Northumberland's beaches achieved the highest category for water cleanliness. Despite having beaches on the poor quality list, Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall are highly rated, too. However, Somerset, Cumbria, Merseyside and Kent are all counties that have less than desirable water quality at their bathing spots. The publication also found that the Isle of Wight, County Durham, Lincolnshire and Suffolk saw all of their designated bathing areas gaining one of the top two ratings ('good' or 'excellent'). The Environment Agency has made its data public so bathers can make informed choices about where to relax and swim, as well as see what beaches are doing to improve their water quality. As bathing spots are ever-changing, water pollution can be temporarily reduced, as rainfall, tides, weather and the season can all impact its quality. Porthluney in Cornwall Coastguards Beach, Erme Estuary in Devon Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach in Dorset Southsea East in Hampshire Deal Castle in Kent Dymchurch in Kent Littlestone in Kent Blackpool North in Lancashire St Annes North in Lancashire Heacham in Norfolk Weston Main, Weston Super Mare Sand Bay and Weston Super Mare Uphill Slipway in Somerset Dunster Beach in Somerset Blue Anchor West in Somerset Bognor Regis, Aldwick in Sussex Worthing Beach House in Sussex Tynemouth Cullercoats in Tyne and Wear Littlehaven Beach in Tyne and Wear Scarborough South Bay in North Yorkshire Bridlington South Beach in East Riding of Yorkshire
The Independent
09-05-2025
- The Independent
The beaches with the worst water quality in England revealed
The dirtiest beaches in England have been revealed based on water quality, including coastal spots in some of the country's most popular holiday hotspots such as Cornwall and Devon. The UK's Environment Agency tests England 's bathing waters every year by taking samples in the summer to build up an assessment of the water quality, providing them with a classification from 'excellent' to 'poor'. The classifications are based on the analysis of samples taken over a four-year period. The Environment Agency tests the samples for bacteria to indicate if there is faecal matter in the water, which could come from sewage, livestock, wildlife, birds and road drainage. If bathing water is classified as poor, then a sign advising against bathing will be displayed, yet the beach will remain open for people to use at their leisure. In the 2024 study of all 455 bathing waters across England, 37 were classed as poor, and out of that group 19 were beaches. Among those on the list were Porthluney in Cornwall, Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach in Dorset and Bunster Beach in Somerset. Further up north, Tynemouth Cullercoats in Tyne and Wear, Scarborough South Bay in North Yorkshire and Blackpool North in Lancashire landed in the 'poor' category. Holiday Park Guru completed a further analysis of the Environment Agency's data, what they call its 'Brown Flag Awards' for 2025, and found that Lancashire actually ranks last as a county, since none of its bathing spots are yet to gain an 'excellent' rating. Meanwhile, more than 90 per cent of Northumberland's beaches achieved the highest category for water cleanliness. Despite having beaches on the poor quality list, Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall are highly rated, too. However, Somerset, Cumbria, Merseyside and Kent are all counties that have less than desirable water quality at their bathing spots. The publication also found that the Isle of Wight, County Durham, Lincolnshire and Suffolk saw all of their designated bathing areas gaining one of the top two ratings ('good' or 'excellent'). The Environment Agency has made its data public so bathers can make informed choices about where to relax and swim, as well as see what beaches are doing to improve their water quality. As bathing spots are ever-changing, water pollution can be temporarily reduced, as rainfall, tides, weather and the season can all impact its quality. England's beaches with a 'poor' water quality rating in 2024 Porthluney in Cornwall Coastguards Beach, Erme Estuary in Devon Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach in Dorset Southsea East in Hampshire Deal Castle in Kent Dymchurch in Kent Littlestone in Kent Blackpool North in Lancashire St Annes North in Lancashire Heacham in Norfolk Weston Main, Weston Super Mare Sand Bay and Weston Super Mare Uphill Slipway in Somerset Dunster Beach in Somerset Blue Anchor West in Somerset Bognor Regis, Aldwick in Sussex Worthing Beach House in Sussex Tynemouth Cullercoats in Tyne and Wear Littlehaven Beach in Tyne and Wear Scarborough South Bay in North Yorkshire
