Forget the green list for a great seaside getaway: From Scarborough to Brighton, England now has more Blue Flag beaches than Cyprus (and Wales has plenty, too)

  • Beaches in England that have retained Blue Flag status since 2019 include Skegness and Margate Main Sands 
  • Hornsea, Leysdown and Crooklets are among the English beaches that are new Blue Flag holders for 2021
  • A total of 45 beaches and marinas are deemed Blue Flag worthy in Wales for 2021 – one more than in 2019

English and Welsh holidaymakers don’t need a ‘green list’ to experience some of the best beaches in the world – because there are plenty on their doorstep.

That’s the message from charities Keep Britain Tidy and Keep Wales Tidy, which administer the Blue Flag schemes in their respective countries and today announced their lists for 2021.

It has been revealed that England now boasts more Blue Flag beaches than Mexico, Cyprus or South Africa. This year, a total of 77 of its beaches have been awarded Blue Flag status – up from 71 in 2019 – with those at Brighton, Skegness and Carbis Bay all retaining the coveted accolade.

England now boasts more Blue Flag beaches than Mexico, Cyprus or South Africa. One of them is Scarborough North Bay, pictured 

Brighton Central Beach, pictured, has retained its Blue Flag status from 2019 

Carbis Bay Beach in Cornwall, pictured, has been deemed Blue Flag worthy for another year. Next month Carbis Bay will host the G7 summit 

ENGLAND’S BLUE FLAG WINNERS FOR 2021

BEACHES

EAST MIDLANDS – FOUR WINNERS

Central Beach, Mablethorpe

Central Beach, Skegness

Central Beach, Sutton on Sea

Cleethorpes Central

EAST OF ENGLAND – 15 WINNERS

Felixstowe South and Pier

Cromer North

Sea Palling

Sheringham

Mundesley

East Runton

West Runton

East Beach Shoeburyness

Shoebury Common

Thorpe Bay

Three Shells Beach

Westcliff Bay

Dovercourt Bay

Brightlingsea

Walton on the Naze Albion Beach

NORTH EAST – SIX WINNERS

Tynemouth Longsands

King Edward’s Bay

Whitley Bay

Roker

Seaburn

Saltburn by the Sea

YORKSHIRE AND HUMBER – THREE WINNERS

Hornsea

Scarborough North Bay

Whitby

SOUTH EAST – 15 WINNERS

Brighton Central

Hove Lawns

Tankerton

Marina St Leonards

Hayling Island Beachlands

Sandown

Sheerness Beach

Leysdown Beach

Minster Leas

Minnis Bay

West Bay

St Mildreds

Margate Main Sands

Stone Bay

West Wittering Beach

SOUTH WEST – 34 WINNERS

Blackpool Sands

Poole, Sandbanks Peninsular

Poole, Shore Road

Poole, Canford Cliffs

Poole, Branksome Chine

Alum Chine

Bournemouth Manor Steps

Durley Chine

Fisherman’s Walk

Southbourne

Carbis Bay

Crooklets

Gyllyngvase

Porthmeor

Great Western

Polzeath

Porthtowan

Trevone Bay

Widemouth Bay

Sandy Bay

Exmouth

Sidmouth Town

Challaborough Bay

Swanage Central

Dawlish Warren

Teignmouth Town

Breakwater Beach

Broadsands

Meadfoot Beach

Oddicombe Beach

Preston Sands

Torre Abbey Sands

Westward Ho!

Weymouth Central

MARINAS

Albert Dock and Salthouse Dock Marina

 Source: Keep Britain Tidy

In Wales, 45 beaches and marinas, such as those at Caswell Bay, Whitesands Bay and Prestatyn, have been deemed Blue Flag worthy, one more than in 2019.

The Blue Flag is a guarantee to visitors that the beach has excellent facilities, is litter free and has achieved a high standard of water quality.

They are only given to beaches whose local authority has promised to run a minimum of five educational activities for the local community and visitors to make people aware of the importance of looking after the natural environment.

Other beaches in England retaining Blue Flags for 2021 are Central Beach in Mablethorpe, East Runton in Norfolk, Tynemouth Longsands in North Tyneside and Whitby in North Yorkshire.

There are four Blue Flag beaches in the East Midlands region for 2021. Pictured is one of them, Central Beach Skegness

East Runton Beach in Norfolk, pictured, has retained its Blue Flag status for 2021 

In the North East region, there are six Blue Flag beaches for 2021. One of them is Roker Beach in Sunderland, pictured 

The Blue Flag is a guarantee to visitors that the beach has excellent facilities, is litter free and has achieved a high standard of water quality. Polzeath Beach in Cornwall, pictured, is a Blue Flag holder in 2021

Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: ‘This year, more than ever, we are going to be relying on our country’s beautiful beaches to escape for a much-needed break after all the stresses and strains of the past year.’ Pictured is Cornwall’s Blue-Flag-flying Porthtowan Beach 

ENGLAND’S SEASIDE AWARD WINNERS FOR 2021 

EAST MIDLANDS – THREE WINNERS

Cleethorpes Central

Cleethorpes Humberston Fitties

Cleethorpes Marine Embankment

EAST OF ENGLAND – 20 WINNERS

Hunstanton Main

Chalkwell Beach

Jubilee Beach

Thorpe Bay Beach

Three Shells Beach

Shoebury Common Beach

East Beach, Shoeburyness

Bell Wharf Beach

Westcliff Bay

Brightlingsea

Dovercourt Bay

Clacton on Sea (Martello Tower)

Frinton on Sea

Walton Albion

Walton The Naze

Harwich

Felixstowe South and Pier

Kessingland

Lowestoft South of Claremont

Southwold

NORTH EAST – NINE WINNERS

Tynemouth Longsands

King Edward’s Bay

Whitley Bay

Sandhaven Beach

Seaton Carew Central

Saltburn

Redcar Lifeboat Road

Roker

Seaburn

YORKSHIRE AND HUMBER – 12 WINNERS

Bridlington North

Bridlington South

Wilsthorpe

South Landing

Withernsea

Filey

Runswick Bay

Cayton Bay

Sandsend

Robin Hoods Bay

Scarborough North Bay

Whitby

NORTH WEST – 11 WINNERS

Morecambe North

Morecambe South

St Annes Pier

Ferry Beach, Fleetwood

Marine Beach, Fleetwood

Jubilee Beach, Cleveleys

Rossall Beach

Bispham

Blackpool North

Blackpool Central

Blackpool South

SOUTH EAST – 24 WINNERS

Worthing Beach

Bognor Regis

Littlehampton Coastguards

Saltdean

Reculver

Herne Bay

Tankerton

Marina, St Leonards on Sea

Pelham Beach

Sandgate Beach

Leysdown Beach

Minster Leas

Sheerness Beach

Botany Bay

Joss Bay

Ramsgate Main Sands

West Bay

Westbrook Bay

Viking Bay, Broadstairs

Shanklin

Sandown

Seagrove

Springvale

West Wittering

SOUTH WEST – 53 WINNERS

Bournemouth Pier

Boscombe Pier

Alum Chine

Bournemouth Manor Steps

Durley Chine

Southbourne

Fishermans Walk

Branksome Chine

Canford Cliffs

Shore Road

Sandbanks

Avon Beach

Friars Cliff Beach

Highcliffe Beach

Sandy Bay

Carbis Bay

Crackington Haven

Gyllyngvase

Great Western

Perranporth

Polzeath

Porth

Porthtowan

Porthmeor

Porthminster

Portreath

Sennan Cove

Trevone Bay

Widemouth Bay

Crooklets

Summerleaze

Exmouth East

Seaton (Devon)

Sidmouth Town

Budleigh Salterton

Challaborough Bay

Croyde Bay

Coryton Cove

Dawlish Town

Ness Cove

Swanage Central

Breakwater Beach

Broadsands Beach

Meadfoot Beach

Oddicombe Beach

Maidencombe Beach

Goodrington Beach

Paignton Beach

Preston Sands

Torre Abbey Sands

Ansteys Cove

Westward Ho!

Weymouth Central

Source: Keep Britain Tidy  

 

In the South East region, Margate Main Sands and Tankerton, both in Kent, and West Wittering in West Sussex, retain Blue Flags.

As do Sandbanks Peninsular, Portowan in Cornwall, and Exmouth and Westward Ho! beaches in Devon in the South West.

Beaches to gain Blue Flags this year after missing out in 2019 (there was no list in 2020 due to the pandemic) include Hornsea and Scarborough North Bay in Yorkshire, Leysdown in Kent and Crooklets Beach in Cornwall.

Among the sandy stretches that flew Blue Flags in 2019 but no longer have them for 2021 are Botany Bay and Westbrook Bay, both in Kent.

Meanwhile, for the first time, England now has a Blue Flag marina – the Royal Albert Dock and Salthouse Dock Marina in Liverpool.

Hornsea Beach in Yorkshire is one of several beaches to gain a Blue Flag this year after missing out in 2019 (there was no list in 2020 due to the pandemic)

Leysdown Beach in Kent – a beach that has earned Blue Flag status in 2021 after missing out in 2019 

In addition to the Blue Flags, 132 beaches across England have been given Seaside Awards, which recognise the highest standards of beach management and, in the case of bathing beaches, indicate that they meet the required standards for water quality.

In Wales, other beaches flying Blue Flags for 2021 include Porth Dafarch in Anglesey, Trecco Bay in Bridgend, Llangrannog in Ceredigion and Newgale in Pembrokeshire.

Three marinas are also deemed Blue Flag worthy – they are Porthcawl, Swansea and Penarth.

Meanwhile, a further 13 beaches have been given a Green Coast Award, which recognises the ‘hidden gems’ along the Welsh coastline.

These include Penbryn in Ceredigion, Bracelet Bay in Swansea and Manorbier and Druidston in Pembrokeshire.

A total of 25 Welsh beaches have received Seaside Awards.

The stunning Whitesands Bay in Pembrokeshire – one of 45 beaches in Wales to be awarded Blue Flag status for 2021

Caswell Bay Beach, pictured, is one of four Blue Flag beaches in 2021 in the Swansea area 

Porth Dafarch Beach in Anglesey, pictured – a Blue-Flag-winning beach in Wales  

WALES COASTAL AWARDS FOR 2021

BLUE FLAGS

ANGLESEY – SIX WINNERS

Benllech

Church Bay / Porth Swtan

Llanddwyn

Llanddonna (conditional)

Trearddur Bay

Porth Dafarch

BRIDGEND – THREE WINNERS

Rest Bay

Trecco Bay

Porthcawl Marina

CARMARTHENSHIRE – ONE WINNER

Cefn Sidan

CEREDIGION – SIX WINNERS

Aberystwyth North

Aberystwyth South

Borth

Llangrannog

New Quay Harbour

Tresaith

CONWY – FOUR WINNERS

Llandudno West Shore

Llanfairfechan

Rhos, Colwyn Bay

Porth Eirias

DENBIGHSHIRE – ONE WINNER

Prestatyn

GWYNEDD – SIX WINNERS

Barmouth (Abermaw)

Abersoch

Dinas Dinlle

Morfa Bychan (Black Rock Sands)

Pwllheli

Aberdaron

PEMBROKESHIRE – 12 WINNERS

Amroth

Newgale

Saundersfoot

Dale

Whitesands

Coppet Hall

Tenby North

Tenby South

Tenby Castle

Poppit Sands

Lydstep

Broadhaven Norther

SWANSEA – FOUR WINNERS

Caswell Bay

Langland Bay

Port Eynon

Swansea Marina 

VALE OF GLAMORGAN – TWO WINNERS 

Penarth Marina

Southerndown

SEASIDE AWARDS

ANGLESEY – ONE WINNER

Traeth Crigyll, Rhosneigr

CEREDIGION – 13 WINNERS

Cilborth

Llanrhystud

Mwnt

Aberporth

Aberystwyth South

Aberystwyth North

Clarach

Penbryn

Traeth y Dolau

Borth

Llangrannog

New Quay Harbour

Tresaith 

CONWY – FOUR WINNERS

Kinmel Bay

Llandudno N Shore

Abergele Pensarn

Penmaenmawr

DENBIGHSHIRE – ONE WINNER

Rhyl Central

GWYNEDD – TWO WINNERS

Cricceith Traeth y Promenade

Tywyn

NEATH PORT TALBOT – ONE WINNER

Aberavon

VALE OF GLAMORGAN – THREE WINNERS

Cold Knap

Jacksons Bay

Whitmore Bay

GREEN COAST AWARD

ANGLESEY – ONE WINNER

Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn

CEREDIGION – FOUR WINNERS

Cilborth

Llanrhystud

Mwnt

Penbryn

SWANSEA – ONE WINNER

Bracelet Bay

PEMBROKESHIRE – SEVEN WINNERS

Abereiddy

Freshwater East

Manorbier

Penally

Caerfai

Druidston

West Angle Bay

Source: Keep Wales Tidy 

 

Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: ‘This year, more than ever, we are going to be relying on our country’s beautiful beaches to escape for a much-needed break after all the stresses and strains of the past year.

‘Whether it’s camping in Cornwall, renting a cottage in North Yorkshire or simply having a day out at the seaside in Sussex, a fantastic beach is an essential part of a holiday for so many of us.

‘Last year, due to the pandemic, we did not have the opportunity to celebrate all the great award-winning beaches around the coast, so this year we are delighted to have even more winners than we did in 2019, thanks to the incredible work of the teams around the country that make our beaches clean and safe for us all to enjoy.

‘From environmental education for the local community and ensuring responsible beach use, to cleaning regimes and an increasing number of recycling facilities, it is a full-time commitment to create beaches worthy of these awards.

‘As we all plan our 2021 holidays much closer to home, thanks to the Blue Flag and Seaside Award, those choosing to holiday at a destination with an award-winning beach can be assured it will be clean and safe and meet the highest standards for water quality and management.’

Commenting on the first Blue Flag Marina in England, Allison added: ‘I would like to congratulate Canal and River Trust for securing the country’s first Blue Flag for its marina in Liverpool, which offers the highest standards of environmental information and management, safety and services, as well as water quality.’

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