Can you swim at Cromer?

Caution. Sewage discharge 4.5km away yesterday. Cromer is a designated bathing water, so it is sampled and rated every season. This answer covers water quality only, not tides, currents or lifeguard cover.

What is the water quality like at Cromer?

Cromer is rated Excellent in the regulator's latest annual classification, a percentile taken over readings from up to four bathing seasons. The most recent sample, taken 26 August 2026, showed 10 cfu/100ml of E. coli and 10 cfu/100ml of intestinal enterococci.

Has there been sewage at Cromer recently?

Yes. 1 storm overflow within ten kilometres of Cromer: 1 in the last 48 hours.

← All bathing waters

England · North Norfolk

Wednesday 2 September

Cromer

Caution. Sewage discharge 4.5km away yesterday.

Water quality only This says nothing about tides, rip currents, cold water shock or lifeguard cover. Cold water and currents are dangerous even when the water is clean. Read the local signs before you go in. What we cannot tell you.

Checked 03:24 UK time

Why this verdict

Discharge nearby: 4.5km yesterday (negative factor)
Annual classification: Excellent (positive factor)
Pollution risk forecast: Normal (positive factor)
Rainfall (24h): 0mm (positive factor)
Latest E. coli: 10 cfu/100ml (positive factor)
Latest intestinal enterococci: 10 cfu/100ml (positive factor)

Recent sewage discharges nearby

Storm overflows operated by Anglian Water Services Limited within ten kilometres in the last 48 hours.

Ended yesterday

AWS00299 · into THE NORTH SEA

4.5km from the bathing water

See every spill happening now across the UK →

Latest bacteria reading

Latest sample · 26 August 2026 · 6 days ago

E. coli: 10cfu/100ml
Intestinal enterococci: 10cfu/100ml

The regulator samples weekly during the bathing season. E. coli and intestinal enterococci are the indicator organisms used in the official classification.

Sewage spills, 2021 to 2025

The Environment Agency links 1 storm overflow to Cromer. In 2025 it discharged 1 time.

Counted spills a year at the overflows feeding this bathing water.

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Down 50% since 2021, from 2 spills to 1.

Counting every monitored overflow within ten kilometres instead, whether or not it drains here, gives 109 spills across 9 overflows in 2025.

Common questions

Can you swim at Cromer?: Caution. Sewage discharge 4.5km away yesterday. Cromer is a designated bathing water, so it is sampled and rated every season. This answer covers water quality only, not tides, currents or lifeguard cover.
What is the water quality like at Cromer?: Cromer is rated Excellent in the regulator's latest annual classification, a percentile taken over readings from up to four bathing seasons. The most recent sample, taken 26 August 2026, showed 10 cfu/100ml of E. coli and 10 cfu/100ml of intestinal enterococci.
Has there been sewage at Cromer recently?: Yes. 1 storm overflow within ten kilometres of Cromer: 1 in the last 48 hours.

Where this data comes from

Contains water-company storm overflow data, licensed under OGL v3
Spill counts from the Environment Agency EDM Storm Overflow Annual Returns, 2021 to 2025, published annually.
View the regulator's full profile

Other beaches nearby

Rated Excellent East Runton North Norfolk Rated Excellent West Runton North Norfolk Rated Excellent Sheringham North Norfolk Rated Excellent Mundesley North Norfolk

Cleanest beaches in North Norfolk →

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Gareth Clubb