Can you swim at Wallingford Beach, River Thames?

Caution. Annual classification is only Sufficient. Wallingford Beach, River Thames 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 Wallingford Beach, River Thames?

Wallingford Beach, River Thames 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 17 August 2026, showed 300 cfu/100ml of E. coli and 27 cfu/100ml of intestinal enterococci.

Has there been sewage at Wallingford Beach, River Thames recently?

No. No storm overflow within ten kilometres of Wallingford Beach, River Thames has discharged in the last 48 hours.

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England · South Oxfordshire

Wednesday 2 September

Wallingford Beach, River Thames

Caution. Annual classification is only Sufficient.

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 03:26 UK time

Why this verdict

Annual classification: Sufficient (neutral factor)
Pollution risk forecast: Normal (positive factor)
Rainfall (24h): 0mm (positive factor)
Latest E. coli: 300 cfu/100ml (positive factor)
Latest intestinal enterococci: 27 cfu/100ml (positive factor)

Latest bacteria reading

Latest sample · 17 August 2026 · 2 weeks ago

E. coli: 300cfu/100ml
Intestinal enterococci: 27cfu/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, 2024 to 2025

The Environment Agency links 1 storm overflow to Wallingford Beach, River Thames. In 2025 it discharged 18 times.

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

101

2024

2025

Down 82% since 2024, from 101 spills to 18.

Counting every monitored overflow within ten kilometres instead, whether or not it drains here, gives 268 spills across 8 overflows in 2025.

Common questions

Can you swim at Wallingford Beach, River Thames?: Caution. Annual classification is only Sufficient. Wallingford Beach, River Thames 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 Wallingford Beach, River Thames?: Wallingford Beach, River Thames 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 17 August 2026, showed 300 cfu/100ml of E. coli and 27 cfu/100ml of intestinal enterococci.
Has there been sewage at Wallingford Beach, River Thames recently?: No. No storm overflow within ten kilometres of Wallingford Beach, River Thames has discharged in the last 48 hours.

Where this data comes from

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 Pangbourne Meadow, River Thames Pangbourne Parish Rated Poor Wolvercote Mill Stream Oxford Rated Excellent Frensham Great Pond Waverley Rated Excellent Cotswold Country Park and Beach Cotswold

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Gareth Clubb