Can you swim at Folkestone?

Caution. Sewage discharge 8.4km away 2 days ago. Folkestone 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 Folkestone?

Folkestone is rated Sufficient in the regulator's latest annual classification, a percentile taken over readings from up to four bathing seasons. The most recent sample, taken 27 August 2026, showed 130 cfu/100ml of E. coli and 36 cfu/100ml of intestinal enterococci.

Has there been sewage at Folkestone recently?

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

← All bathing waters

England · Folkestone and Hythe

Wednesday 2 September

Folkestone

Caution. Sewage discharge 8.4km away 2 days ago.

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: 8.4km 2 days ago (negative factor)
Annual classification: Sufficient (neutral factor)
Pollution risk forecast: Normal (positive factor)
Rainfall (24h): 0mm (positive factor)
Latest E. coli: 130 cfu/100ml (positive factor)
Latest intestinal enterococci: 36 cfu/100ml (positive factor)

Recent sewage discharges nearby

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

Ended 2 days ago

SWS00925 · into ENGLISH CHANNEL

8.4km from the bathing water

See every spill happening now across the UK →

Latest bacteria reading

Latest sample · 27 August 2026 · 5 days ago

E. coli: 130cfu/100ml
Intestinal enterococci: 36cfu/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, 2023 to 2025

The Environment Agency links 3 storm overflows to Folkestone. In 2025 they discharged 43 times.

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

2023

2024

2025

Down 32% since 2023, from 63 spills to 43.

Counting every monitored overflow within ten kilometres instead, whether or not it drains here, gives 184 spills across 12 overflows in 2025.

Common questions

Can you swim at Folkestone?: Caution. Sewage discharge 8.4km away 2 days ago. Folkestone 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 Folkestone?: Folkestone is rated Sufficient in the regulator's latest annual classification, a percentile taken over readings from up to four bathing seasons. The most recent sample, taken 27 August 2026, showed 130 cfu/100ml of E. coli and 36 cfu/100ml of intestinal enterococci.
Has there been sewage at Folkestone recently?: Yes. 1 storm overflow within ten kilometres of Folkestone: 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

Unclassified Sandgate Granville Parade Folkestone and Hythe Rated Excellent Seabrook Folkestone and Hythe Rated Excellent Hythe Folkestone and Hythe Rated Poor Dymchurch Folkestone and Hythe

Cleanest beaches in Folkestone and Hythe →

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Gareth Clubb