England’s dirtiest beaches have been identified based on water quality, with popular holiday destinations like Cornwall and Devon featuring on the list. The Environment Agency’s annual testing classifies bathing waters from ‘excellent’ to ‘poor’, based on samples taken over four years.
In 2024, 37 of 455 bathing waters were rated poor, including 19 beaches. Among them are Porthluney in Cornwall, Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach in Dorset, and Bunster Beach in Somerset. Northern beaches such as Tynemouth Cullercoats, Scarborough South Bay, and Blackpool North also received poor ratings.
Holiday Park Guru’s analysis found Lancashire ranks last, with no ‘excellent’ beaches, while over 90% of Northumberland’s beaches achieved the top rating. Counties like Somerset, Cumbria, Merseyside, and Kent have less desirable water quality, but the Isle of Wight, County Durham, Lincolnshire, and Suffolk saw all designated bathing areas rated ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.
The Environment Agency publishes data to help bathers make informed choices, noting that water quality can fluctuate due to rainfall, tides, and weather. Beaches with ‘poor’ ratings display signs advising against bathing, but remain open.
