Bathing water quality in England
England has 464 designated bathing waters. The regulator's latest classifications are 297 Excellent, 95 Good, 25 Sufficient and 32 Poor.
Updated June 2026
The cleanest beaches in England
Rated Excellent or Good in the regulator's latest annual classification. Open any beach for today's live verdict.
Every bathing water in England
Classification:Excellent Amble Links Classification:Excellent Anderby Classification:Excellent Anstey's Cove (Torquay) Classification:Excellent Babbacombe Classification:Excellent Bamburgh Castle Classification:Excellent Bantham Classification:Excellent Beacon Cove Classification:Excellent Beadnell Classification:Excellent Beer Classification:Excellent Bigbury-on-Sea North Classification:Excellent Bigbury-on-Sea South Classification:Excellent Birling Gap Classification:Excellent Blackpool Sands Classification:Excellent Blyth South Beach Classification:Excellent Booby's Bay Classification:Excellent Botany Bay, Broadstairs Classification:Excellent Bournemouth Alum Chine Classification:Excellent Bournemouth Boscombe Pier Classification:Excellent Bournemouth Durley Chine Classification:Excellent Bournemouth Fisherman`s Walk Classification:Excellent Bournemouth Hengistbury West Classification:Excellent Bournemouth Manor Steps Classification:Excellent Bournemouth Pier Classification:Excellent Bournemouth Southbourne Classification:Excellent Bovisand Classification:Excellent Bracklesham Bay Classification:Excellent Breakwater Beach (Shoalstone) Classification:Excellent Brean Classification:Excellent Brightlingsea Classification:Excellent Brighton Kemptown Classification:Excellent Broadsands Classification:Excellent Caister Point Classification:Excellent Calshot Classification:Excellent Carbis Bay Classification:Excellent Cawsand Classification:Excellent Cayton Bay Classification:Excellent Challaborough Classification:Excellent Chapel Porth Classification:Excellent Chapel St Leonards Classification:Excellent Charlestown Classification:Excellent Charmouth West Classification:Excellent Christchurch Avon Beach Classification:Excellent Christchurch Bay Classification:Excellent Christchurch Friar`s Cliff Classification:Excellent Christchurch Highcliffe Castle Classification:Excellent Christchurch Mudeford Sandbank East Classification:Excellent Church Cove Classification:Excellent Church Ope Cove Classification:Excellent Clacton Classification:Excellent Colwell Bay Classification:Excellent Colwick Country Park (West Lake) Classification:Excellent Combesgate Beach, Woolacombe Classification:Excellent Compton Bay Classification:Excellent Constantine Bay Classification:Excellent Cotswold Country Park and Beach Classification:Excellent Coverack Classification:Excellent Cowes Classification:Excellent Crackington Haven Classification:Excellent Crimdon Classification:Excellent Crinnis Beach Classification:Excellent Cromer Classification:Excellent Crooklets Classification:Excellent Croyde Bay Classification:Excellent Danes Dyke, Flamborough Classification:Excellent Dartmouth Castle Cove Classification:Excellent Dawlish Coryton Cove Classification:Excellent Dawlish Warren Classification:Excellent Daymer Bay Classification:Excellent Dittisham, Dart Estuary Classification:Excellent Dovercourt Classification:Excellent Downderry Classification:Excellent Druridge Bay North Classification:Excellent Druridge Bay South Classification:Excellent Duporth Classification:Excellent Durdle Door East Classification:Excellent Durdle Door West Classification:Excellent East Cowes Classification:Excellent East Runton Classification:Excellent Exmouth Classification:Excellent Eypemouth Classification:Excellent Felixstowe North Classification:Excellent Felixstowe South Classification:Excellent Fistral North Classification:Excellent Fistral South Classification:Excellent Flamborough South Landing Classification:Excellent Formby Classification:Excellent Frensham Great Pond Classification:Excellent Frinton Classification:Excellent Godrevy Towans Classification:Excellent Gorleston Beach Classification:Excellent Gorran Haven Little Perhaver Classification:Excellent Great Western Classification:Excellent Great Yarmouth North Classification:Excellent Great Yarmouth Pier Classification:Excellent Great Yarmouth South Classification:Excellent Gurnard Classification:Excellent Gwithian Towans Classification:Excellent Gwynver Classification:Excellent Gyllyngvase Classification:Excellent Hampstead Heath (Mens Pond) Classification:Excellent Hampstead Heath (Mixed Pond) Classification:Excellent Harlyn Bay Classification:Excellent Hartland Quay Classification:Excellent Hayle Towans Classification:Excellent Hayling Beachlands Central Classification:Excellent Hayling Beachlands West Classification:Excellent Hayling Eastoke Classification:Excellent Hemsby Classification:Excellent Henleaze Lake Classification:Excellent Herne Bay Classification:Excellent Highcliffe Classification:Excellent Hillhead Classification:Excellent Hive Classification:Excellent Holland Classification:Excellent Hollicombe Classification:Excellent Holywell Bay Classification:Excellent Hornsea Classification:Excellent Hove Classification:Excellent Huttoft and Marsh Yard Classification:Excellent Hythe Classification:Excellent Ingoldmells Classification:Excellent Jaywick Classification:Excellent Joss Bay, Broadstairs Classification:Excellent Kennack Sands Classification:Excellent Kimmeridge Bay Classification:Excellent Ladram Bay Classification:Excellent Lee-on-Solent Classification:Excellent Lepe Classification:Excellent Long Rock Classification:Excellent Low Newton Classification:Excellent Lulworth Cove Classification:Excellent Lusty Glaze Classification:Excellent Lynmouth Classification:Excellent Mablethorpe Town Classification:Excellent Maenporth Classification:Excellent Maidencombe Classification:Excellent Marazion Classification:Excellent Margate Fulsam Rock Classification:Excellent Marsden Classification:Excellent Marske Sands Classification:Excellent Mawgan Porth Classification:Excellent Meadfoot Classification:Excellent Mexico Towans Classification:Excellent Middleton-on-sea Classification:Excellent Milford-on-sea Classification:Excellent Mill Bay Classification:Excellent Millendreath Classification:Excellent Minnis Bay, Birchington Classification:Excellent Minster Leas Classification:Excellent Mother Ivey`s Bay Classification:Excellent Mundesley Classification:Excellent Ness Cove Classification:Excellent Newbiggin North Classification:Excellent Newbiggin South Classification:Excellent Norman`s Bay Classification:Excellent Northcott Mouth Classification:Excellent Oddicombe Classification:Excellent Paignton Preston Sands Classification:Excellent Pendower Classification:Excellent Pentewan Classification:Excellent Penzance Classification:Excellent Perranporth Penhale Sands Classification:Excellent Perranuthnoe Classification:Excellent Plymouth Firestone Bay Classification:Excellent Plymouth Hoe East Classification:Excellent Plymouth Hoe West Classification:Excellent Poldhu Cove Classification:Excellent Polkerris Classification:Excellent Polstreath Classification:Excellent Polurrian Cove Classification:Excellent Polzeath Classification:Excellent Poole Branksome Chine Classification:Excellent Poole Canford Cliffs Chine Classification:Excellent Poole Harbour Lake Classification:Excellent Poole Harbour Rockley Sands Classification:Excellent Poole Sandbanks Peninsular Classification:Excellent Poole Shore Road Beach Classification:Excellent Porlock Weir Classification:Excellent Porthallow Classification:Excellent Porthcothan Classification:Excellent Porthcurnick Classification:Excellent Porthcurno Classification:Excellent Porthgwidden Classification:Excellent Porthkidney Sands Classification:Excellent Porthleven Sands Classification:Excellent Porthmeor Classification:Excellent Porthminster Classification:Excellent Porthoustock Classification:Excellent Porthpean Classification:Excellent Porthtowan Classification:Excellent Portland Harbour Castle Cove Classification:Excellent Portland Harbour Sandsfoot Castle Classification:Excellent Portmellon Classification:Excellent Portreath Classification:Excellent Portwrinkle Classification:Excellent Praa Sands East Classification:Excellent Praa Sands West Classification:Excellent Putsborough Classification:Excellent Ramsgate Sands Classification:Excellent Ramsgate Western Undercliffe Classification:Excellent Redcar Granville Classification:Excellent Redcar Lifeboat Station Classification:Excellent Redcar Stray Classification:Excellent Ringstead Bay Classification:Excellent Roker - Sunderland Classification:Excellent Rottingdean Beach Classification:Excellent Rutland Water Sykes Lane Classification:Excellent Rutland Water Whitwell Creek Classification:Excellent Salcombe South Sands Classification:Excellent Saltdean Classification:Excellent Sandsend Classification:Excellent Sandymouth Classification:Excellent Saunton Sands Classification:Excellent Sea Palling Classification:Excellent Seabrook Classification:Excellent Seaford Classification:Excellent Seagrove Classification:Excellent Seahouses North Classification:Excellent Seaton (Cornwall) Classification:Excellent Seaton (Devon) Classification:Excellent Seaton Carew North Gare Classification:Excellent Seaton Sluice Classification:Excellent Seatown Classification:Excellent Selsey Classification:Excellent Sennen Classification:Excellent Shanklin Classification:Excellent Sharrow Classification:Excellent Sheerness Classification:Excellent Shell Bay North Classification:Excellent Sheringham Classification:Excellent Shoebury East Classification:Excellent Shoreham Beach Classification:Excellent Shorthorn Beach Classification:Excellent Sidmouth Jacobs Ladder Classification:Excellent Sidmouth Town Classification:Excellent Silecroft Classification:Excellent Skegness Classification:Excellent Slapton Sands Monument Classification:Excellent Slapton Sands Torcross Classification:Excellent Southend Thorpe Bay Classification:Excellent Southend Three Shells Classification:Excellent Southwick Classification:Excellent Southwold The Denes Classification:Excellent Southwold The Pier Classification:Excellent St Helens Classification:Excellent St Leonards Classification:Excellent St Margaret`s Bay Classification:Excellent St Mary's Bay (Devon) Classification:Excellent Studland Knoll House Classification:Excellent Summerleaze Classification:Excellent Sutton-on-Sea Classification:Excellent Swanage Central Classification:Excellent Swanpool Classification:Excellent Tankerton Classification:Excellent Teignmouth Holcombe Classification:Excellent Thurlestone North Classification:Excellent Thurlestone South Classification:Excellent Tolcarne Classification:Excellent Torre Abbey Classification:Excellent Totland Bay Classification:Excellent Towan Classification:Excellent Tregonhawke Classification:Excellent Trevaunance Cove Classification:Excellent Trevone Bay Classification:Excellent Treyarnon Bay Classification:Excellent Tynemouth King Edwards Bay Classification:Excellent Tynemouth Long Sands North Classification:Excellent Tynemouth Long Sands South Classification:Excellent Upton Towans Classification:Excellent Vault Beach Classification:Excellent Ventnor Classification:Excellent Walton Classification:Excellent Warfleet Creek, Dart Estuary Classification:Excellent Warkworth Classification:Excellent Watcombe Classification:Excellent Watergate Bay Classification:Excellent Wells Classification:Excellent West Bay (West) Classification:Excellent West Beach, Whitstable Classification:Excellent West Runton Classification:Excellent West Wittering Classification:Excellent Westbrook Bay, Margate Classification:Excellent Westward Ho! Classification:Excellent Weymouth Lodmoor Classification:Excellent Wherry Town Classification:Excellent Whitby Classification:Excellent Whitecliff Bay Classification:Excellent Whitley Bay Classification:Excellent Widemouth Sand Classification:Excellent Wilsthorpe Classification:Excellent Windermere, Fellfoot Classification:Excellent Windermere, Lakeside YMCA Classification:Excellent Windermere, Millerground Landing Classification:Excellent Windermere, Rayrigg Meadow Classification:Excellent Withernsea Classification:Excellent Woolacombe Village Classification:Excellent Yaverland Classification:Good Allonby Classification:Good Bembridge Classification:Good Berrow North of Unity Farm Classification:Good Bispham Classification:Good Bowleaze Cove Classification:Good Bridlington North Beach Classification:Good Brighton Central Classification:Good Broadstairs, Stone Bay Classification:Good Broadstairs, Viking Bay Classification:Good Budleigh Salterton Classification:Good Camber Classification:Good Clacton Beach Martello Tower Classification:Good Cleethorpes Classification:Good Clevedon Beach Classification:Good Cleveleys Classification:Good Coniston Water, Brown Howe Classification:Good Coniston Water, Monk Coniston Classification:Good Crantock Classification:Good Dawlish Town Classification:Good Deal Castle Classification:Good East Looe Classification:Good Eastbourne Classification:Good Eastney Classification:Good Felpham Classification:Good Filey Classification:Good Fleetwood Classification:Good Friars Meadow, River Stour Classification:Good Goodrington Classification:Good Goring Beach Classification:Good Hampstead Heath (Ladies Pond) Classification:Good Hastings Pelham Beach Classification:Good Herne Bay Central Classification:Good Hope Cove Classification:Good Humberston Fitties Classification:Good Hunstanton (Old Hunstanton) Classification:Good Hunstanton Main Beach Classification:Good Ilfracombe Hele Classification:Good Kingsand Classification:Good Lancing, Beach Green Classification:Good Leigh Bell Wharf Classification:Good Leysdown Classification:Good Littlehampton Classification:Good Lowestoft (North of Claremont Pier) Classification:Good Lowestoft (South of Claremont Pier) Classification:Good Lyme Regis Front Beach Classification:Good Manningtree Beach, Stour Estuary Classification:Good Margate The Bay Classification:Good Meols Classification:Good Morecambe South Classification:Good Moreton Classification:Good Mothecombe Classification:Good Pagham Classification:Good Paignton Paignton Sands Classification:Good Par Sands Classification:Good Perranporth Classification:Good Pevensey Bay Classification:Good Porth Classification:Good Readymoney Cove Classification:Good Redcar Coatham Classification:Good Reighton Classification:Good River Deben Estuary, Waldringfield Classification:Good Runswick Bay Classification:Good Ryde Classification:Good Salcombe North Sands Classification:Good Saltburn Classification:Good Sandown Classification:Good Sandwich Bay Classification:Good Sandy Bay Classification:Good Seaburn - Sunderland Classification:Good Seaham Beach Classification:Good Seaham Hall Beach Classification:Good Seascale Classification:Good Seaton Carew Centre Classification:Good Seaton Carew North Classification:Good Shaldon Classification:Good Shoeburyness Classification:Good South Shields Classification:Good Southend Chalkwell Classification:Good Southend Jubilee Classification:Good Southend Westcliff Bay Classification:Good Spittal Classification:Good St Bees Classification:Good St Mildred's Bay, Westgate Classification:Good Stokes Bay Classification:Good Teignmouth Town Classification:Good The Serpentine - Hyde Park Classification:Good Trebarwith Strand Classification:Good Wallasey Classification:Good Walney Sandy Gap Classification:Good Walpole Bay, Margate Classification:Good Wembury Classification:Good West Mersea Classification:Good Weymouth Central Classification:Good Winchelsea Classification:Good Worthing Classification:Sufficient Ainsdale Classification:Sufficient Bexhill Classification:Sufficient Blackpool Central Classification:Sufficient Blackpool South Classification:Sufficient Bognor Regis East Classification:Sufficient Bridlington South Beach Classification:Sufficient Combe Martin Classification:Sufficient Coniston Water, Boating Centre Classification:Sufficient Folkestone Classification:Sufficient Fraisthorpe Classification:Sufficient Heacham Classification:Sufficient Minehead Terminus Classification:Sufficient Morecambe North Classification:Sufficient Porthluney Classification:Sufficient Robin Hoods Bay Classification:Sufficient Scarborough North Bay Classification:Sufficient Southport Classification:Sufficient St Annes Classification:Sufficient St Annes North Classification:Sufficient St Mary's Bay (Kent) Classification:Sufficient Wallingford Beach, River Thames Classification:Sufficient Walney Biggar Bank Classification:Sufficient Walney West Shore Classification:Sufficient West Bay, Westgate Classification:Sufficient West Kirby Classification:Poor Blackpool North Classification:Poor Blue Anchor West Classification:Poor Bognor Regis (Aldwick) Classification:Poor Coastguards Beach, Erme Estuary Classification:Poor Derwent Water at Crow Park Classification:Poor Dunster Beach Classification:Poor Dymchurch Classification:Poor Haverigg Classification:Poor Littlehaven Beach Classification:Poor Littlestone Classification:Poor Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach Classification:Poor Nidd at the Lido, Knaresborough Classification:Poor River Avon at Fordingbridge Classification:Poor River Frome at Farleigh Hungerford Classification:Poor River Ribble at Edisford Bridge Classification:Poor River Severn at Ironbridge Classification:Poor River Severn in Shrewsbury Classification:Poor River Teme in Ludlow Classification:Poor River Tone at French Weir Park Classification:Poor Scarborough South Bay Classification:Poor Sheep's Green, River Cam Classification:Poor Southsea East Classification:Poor Steamer Quay, Dart Estuary Classification:Poor Stoke Gabriel, Dart Estuary Classification:Poor Tynemouth Cullercoats Classification:Poor Weston Main Classification:Poor Weston-super-Mare Sand Bay Classification:Poor Weston-super-Mare Uphill Slipway Classification:Poor Wharfe at Cromwheel, Ilkley Classification:Poor Wharfe at Wilderness Carpark Classification:Poor Wolvercote Mill Stream Classification:Poor Worthing Beach House Classification:Closed Ilfracombe Tunnels Beach Classification:Closed Skipsea Classification:Unknown Amble Little Shore Classification:Unknown Canvey Island Foreshore Classification:Unknown East Beach at West Bay Classification:Unknown Falcon Meadow, River Waveney Classification:Unknown Ham and Kingston, River Thames Classification:Unknown Lostwithiel, River Fowey Classification:Unknown New Brighton Beach East Classification:Unknown Newton and Noss Classification:Unknown Pangbourne Meadow, River Thames Classification:Unknown River Avon at Queen Elizabeth Gardens Classification:Unknown Sandgate Granville Parade Classification:Unknown Sandy Lane, Chester Classification:Unknown Swale above Richmond Falls
Areas in England
- Arun 6 bathing waters
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 19 bathing waters
- Cornwall 90 bathing waters
- Cumberland 5 bathing waters
- Dorset 22 bathing waters
- East Devon 8 bathing waters
- East Lindsey 7 bathing waters
- East Riding of Yorkshire 9 bathing waters
- East Suffolk 8 bathing waters
- Folkestone and Hythe 7 bathing waters
- Great Yarmouth 6 bathing waters
- Isle of Wight 15 bathing waters
- North Devon 9 bathing waters
- North Norfolk 7 bathing waters
- North Tyneside 5 bathing waters
- North Yorkshire 10 bathing waters
- Northumberland 14 bathing waters
- Redcar and Cleveland 6 bathing waters
- Somerset 6 bathing waters
- South Hams 18 bathing waters
- South Hams, South Hams 5 bathing waters
- Southend-on-Sea 8 bathing waters
- Teignbridge 7 bathing waters
- Tendring 8 bathing waters
- Thanet 13 bathing waters
- The City of Brighton and Hove 5 bathing waters
- Torbay 15 bathing waters
- Westmorland and Furness 7 bathing waters
- Wirral 5 bathing waters
Common questions
- Which beach is cleanest in England?
- Amble Links holds an Excellent classification, the regulator's top tier. 392 of the 464 bathing waters in England are rated Excellent or Good.
- How many bathing waters are in England?
- 464. The regulator's latest classifications are 297 Excellent, 95 Good, 25 Sufficient and 32 Poor.