UK bathing waters rated Poor

37 of the UK's 701 designated bathing waters hold a Poor classification: 32 in England, 2 in Wales and 3 in Scotland.

Below the minimum standard. Advice against bathing must be displayed at these sites for the following bathing season.

Updated August 2026

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England 32

Rated Poor Bognor Regis (Aldwick) Arun Rated Poor Blackpool North Blackpool Rated Poor Wharfe at Cromwheel, Ilkley Bradford Rated Poor Sheep's Green, River Cam Cambridge Rated Poor Southsea East City of Portsmouth Rated Poor Derwent Water at Crow Park Cumberland Rated Poor Haverigg Cumberland Rated Poor Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach Dorset Rated Poor Dymchurch Folkestone and Hythe Rated Poor Littlestone Folkestone and Hythe Rated Poor Wharfe at Wilderness Carpark Leeds Rated Poor River Avon at Fordingbridge New Forest Rated Poor Weston Main North Somerset Rated Poor Weston-super-Mare Sand Bay North Somerset Rated Poor Weston-super-Mare Uphill Slipway North Somerset Rated Poor Tynemouth Cullercoats North Tyneside Rated Poor Nidd at the Lido, Knaresborough North Yorkshire Rated Poor Scarborough South Bay North Yorkshire Rated Poor Wolvercote Mill Stream Oxford Rated Poor River Ribble at Edisford Bridge Ribble Valley Rated Poor River Severn in Shrewsbury Shropshire Rated Poor River Teme in Ludlow Shropshire Rated Poor Blue Anchor West Somerset Rated Poor Dunster Beach Somerset Rated Poor River Frome at Farleigh Hungerford Somerset Rated Poor River Tone at French Weir Park Somerset Rated Poor Coastguards Beach, Erme Estuary South Hams Rated Poor Steamer Quay, Dart Estuary South Hams Rated Poor Stoke Gabriel, Dart Estuary South Hams Rated Poor Littlehaven Beach South Tyneside Rated Poor River Severn at Ironbridge Telford and Wrekin Rated Poor Worthing Beach House Worthing

Wales 2

Rated Poor Ogmore-By-Sea the Vale of Glamorgan Rated Poor Watch House Bay the Vale of Glamorgan

Scotland 3

Rated Poor Fisherrow Sands Scotland Rated Poor Kinghorn (Harbour Beach) Scotland Rated Poor Lower Largo Scotland

The other classifications

Rated Excellent 450 bathing waters
Rated Good 150 bathing waters
Rated Sufficient 44 bathing waters

Common questions

How many UK bathing waters are rated Poor?: 37 of the UK's 701 designated bathing waters are rated Poor: 32 in England, 2 in Wales and 3 in Scotland.
What does a Poor rating mean?: Below the minimum standard. Advice against bathing must be displayed at these sites for the following bathing season.
Does this rating tell me whether it is safe to swim today?: No. The classification is a percentile over up to four bathing seasons, so it describes the water's record rather than today's conditions. Open any bathing water for a live verdict built from sewage discharges, rainfall and the latest sample.