Blue Flag Beaches in England
We all love a beach holiday but if you are looking for the best English beaches to take your family too, then look out for the Blue Flag Beaches which you will find across England.
The Blue Flag award is an International standard that only gives its prestigious award to those beaches that meet and exceed the highest standards including water quality, facilities, safety, environmental education and management.
Whether you are looking for golden sandy beaches, rolling surfing waves or coastal paths to explore the Blue Flag point the way to some of the best. Please note that the Beach awards are updated annually - usually in May.
We have also listed below English beaches that have won Keep Britain Tidy's prestigious Quality Coast Award
English Blue Flag Beaches (2012 awards)
Below we have provided the 2012 Blue Flag list of the best beaches in England. We have also highlighted where you can find good self catering cottages and apartments close to the Blue Flag beach so you can have a short break or holiday.
Dorset Blue Flag Beaches
- Bournemouth - Alum Chine, Durley Chine, Fisherman's Walk, Southbourne Beach
- Poole - Branksome Chine, Canford Cliffs Chine, Sandbanks Peninsula, Shore Road
- Swanage - Central
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Cornwall Blue Flag Beaches
- Gyllyngvase
- Porthtowan
- Polzeath
- Porthminster
- Porthmeor
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Devon Blue Flag Beaches
- Blackpool Sands
- Bigbury-on-Sea
- Challaborough Bay
- Croyde Bay
- Woolacombe Sands
- South Sands
- Dawlish Warren
- Torbay - Oddicombe Beach, Meadfoot Beach, Broadsands Beach, Breakwater Beach,
Paignton Beach, Preston Sands
- Salcombe South Sands
- Sandy Bay
- Tunnels Beaches
- Westward Ho!
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Lincolnshire Blue Flag Beaches
- Central Beach Mablethorpe
- Central Beach Skegness
- Central Beach, Sutton on Sea
- Cleethorpes Central
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East Yorkshire Blue Flag Beaches
- Bridlington North
- Bridlington South
- Hornsea Beach
- Withernsea Beach
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North Yorkshire Blue Flag Beaches
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Tyne and Wear Blue Flag Beaches
- Whitley Bay Beach
- Cullercoats
- Tynemouth Longsands South
- Tynemouth King Edwards Bay
- Sandhaven beach, South Shields
- Roker bay
- Seaburn
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Teeside
- Seaton Carew Centre
Hampshire Blue Flag Beaches
- Hayling Island Beachlands
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Isle of Wight Blue Flag Beaches
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East Sussex Blue Flag Beaches
West Sussex Blue Flag Beaches
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Kent Blue Flag Beaches
- Bottany Bay, Broadstairs
- Herne Bay
- Joss Bay
- Margate Main Sands
- St Mildreds Bay
- Stone Bay
- Tankerton
- West Bay
- Westbrook Bay
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Norfolk Blue Flag Beaches
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Suffolk Blue Flag Beaches
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Essex Blue Flag Beaches
- East Beach, Shoeburyness
- Three Shells Beach
- Shoebury Common Beach
- Brightlingsea Beach
- Dovercourt Bay
- Clacton on Sea, Martello Bay
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English Quality Coast Award (2012 awards)
Keep Britain Tidy's Quality Coast Award recognises and reward beaches in England that achieve the highest standards of beach management.
Lincolnshire Quality Coast Award Winners
- Central Beach, Mablethorpe
- Central Beach Skegness
- Central Beach Sutton on Sea
- Cleethorpes Central
- Cleethorpes Marine Embankment
- Cleethorpes Humbertson Fitties
Norfolk Quality Coast Award Winners
Essex Quality Coast Award Winners
- East Beach, Shoeburyness
- Three Shells Beach
- Jubilee Beach
- Thorpe Bay Beach
- Clacton on Sea - Martello Bay, West Beach
- Frinton on Sea - Frinton Beach
- Harwich Beach
- Walton on the Naze, Albion Beach
- Walton, The Naze
Suffolk Quality Coast Award Winners
Dorset Quality Coast Award Winners
- Boscombe Pier Beach
- Bournemouth Pier Beach
- Friars Cliff Beach
- Avon Beach
- Swanage Central
- Weymouth Central
Devon Quality Coast Award Winners
- Highcliffe Beach
- Sandy Bay
- Coryton Cove, Dawlish
- Ness Cove Shaldon
- Teignmouth Town
- Torbay, Oddicombe Beach, Meadfoot, Broadsands Beach, Breakwater Beach, Ansteys Cove, Goodrington Beach, Maidencombe, Paignton Beach, Preston Sands, Torre Abbey Sands
- Westward Ho!
Somerset Quality Coast Award Winners
Kent Quality Coast Award Winners
- Dymchurch Beach
- Beach Street, Sheerness
- Leysdown Beach
- Viking Bay, Broadstairs
Teeside Quality Coast Awards
- Seaton Carew Centre
Tyne and Wear Quality Coast Award Winners
- Cullercoats Bay
- Whitley Bay South
- Tynemouth Lonsands South
- Tynemouth King Edwards Bay
- Sandhave, South Shields
- Roker
- Seaburn
Cumbria Quality Coast Award Winners
- Haverigg
- Seascale
- Silecroft
- St Bees
- Morecambe North
- Morecambe South
- Jubilee Beach, Cleveleys
- Ferry Beach, Fleetwood
West Sussex Quality Coast Award Winners
East Sussex Quality Coast Award Winners
- Hove Lawn
- Saltdean
- West Street
- Reculver
- Marina St Lonards on Sea
- Pelham Beach, Hastings
Isle of Wight Quality Coast Award Winners
East Yorkshire Quality Coast Award Winners
- Barmston
- Danes Dyke
- Fraisthorpe
- South Landing
- Wilsthorpe
- Filey Bay
North Yorkshire Quality Coast Award Winners
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