UK's Grimiest Shores Unveiled for 2025: A Shock as a Particular English County Earns the Highest Number of Brown Flags
A Warning Before You Pack Your Beach Bag
With the sun beating down and the long weekend fast approaching, many Brits are looking forward to a trip to the beach. But hold up! There are a handful of spots you'll want to cross off your list.
England's 19 dirtiest beaches have been unveiled at the second annual 'Brown Flag Awards'. The team at Holidayparkguru.co.uk scrutinized the Environmental Agency's summer water quality data to pinpoint the beaches that have fallen short on cleanliness.
Brown Flag beaches are those that are given a 'poor' rating by the Environment Agency due to the high levels of bacteria in the water stemming from sewage and waste. Unfortunately, the number of Brown Flag beaches in England has skyrocketed from 13 in 2024 to 19 in 2025, a staggering 46% increase.
Somerset and Kent have the highest number of Brown Flag beaches, with each county boasting three beaches on the list. At the other end of the spectrum, Northumberland is officially home to England's cleanest beaches.
More than 90% of the county's beaches in Northumberland achieved the top score for water cleanliness. Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall also scored well when it came to cleanliness despite each county also hosting a Brown Flag beach. Lincolnshire and Hampshire followed closely behind as the next cleanest counties.
One piece of good news is that St Mary's Bay in Kent managed to clean up its act since the last Brown Flag Awards and no longer appears on the list of concern.
Holidayparkguru.co.uk plans to distribute free 'brown flags', adorned with the poo emoji, to the counties with dirty beaches.
Robbie Lane, a sea-swimmer who works at HolidayParkGuru.co.uk, lamented the uptick in Brown Flag beaches:
"I would like to extend my sympathies to beaches in Worthing, Lyme Regis, and the other newcomers who have earned Brown Flag Awards for the first time.
'Commiserations also to Weston Super Mare, Blackpool, and other resorts that have retained their 'awards', like a stubborn barnacle clinging onto a sewer pipe.
'We had hoped that we'd be giving out fewer Brown Flags this year, but the numbers have gone through the roof."
Some of the newcomers to the list include newly designated swimming spots, while others have seen a decline in water quality since last year.
Despite the numerous Brown Flag beaches, two-thirds of beaches in England are rated as "excellent" for their water quality. So, do your research this summer, and you'll be saying "wish you were here" rather than "wish I'd worn a hazmat suit".
Let's give a shout-out to St Mary's Bay in Kent, which is the only beach in the entire country that has managed to erase its Brown Flag!
(Note: Data from Holidayparkguru.co.uk indicates that Porthluney Beach in Cornwall, Coastguards Beach in Devon, Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach in Dorset, Southsea East in Hampshire, Deal Castle in Kent, Dymchurch in Kent, Littlestone in Kent, Blackpool North in Lancashire, St Annes North in Lancashire, Heacham in Norfolk, Weston Main, Weston Super Mare Sand Bay, and Weston Super Mare Uphill Slipway in Somerset, Dunster Beach in Somerset, Blue Anchor West in Somerset, Bognor Regis in Sussex, Worthing Beach House in Sussex, Tynemouth Cullercoats in Tyne and Wear, and Littlehaven Beach in Tyne and Wear were identified as Brown Flag beaches. However, it's important to note that Holidayparkguru.co.uk is primarily focused on holiday park reviews, not beach water quality awards.)
- As the sun gets ready to shine and the long holiday weekend approaches, many people in Britain are excited about planned trips to the beach.
- However, it's advisable to reconsider a few beach destinations.
- England's 19 dirtiest beaches have been revealed at the second annual 'Brown Flag Awards'.
- The team at Holidayparkguru.co.uk analyzed the Environmental Agency's summer water quality data to identify the beaches with poor cleanliness.
- Known as Brown Flag beaches, these spots receive a 'poor' rating due to high bacteria levels in the water, stemming from sewage and waste.
- Remarkably, the number of Brown Flag beaches in England has increased from 13 in 2024 to 19 in 2025, representing a sharp surge of 46%.
- Somerset and Kent have the highest number of Brown Flag beaches, with each county hosting three such beaches.
- In contrast, Northumberland boasts the cleanest beaches in England, with more than 90% of its beaches achieving top scores for water cleanliness.
- Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall also scored well in terms of cleanliness, despite each county also hosting a Brown Flag beach.
- Lincolnshire and Hampshire follow closely behind as the next cleanest counties.
- St Mary's Bay in Kent managed to improve its cleanliness since the last Brown Flag Awards and is no longer on the list of concern.
- Holidayparkguru.co.uk plans to distribute free 'brown flags', adorned with the poo emoji, to the counties with dirty beaches.
- Robbie Lane, a sea-swimmer who works at HolidayParkGuru.co.uk, expressed his sympathies to the beaches in Worthing, Lyme Regis, and other new Brown Flag recipients.
- He also pointed out those beaches that have retained their Brown Flag designation, likening them to stubborn barnacles.
- Lane wished that fewer Brown Flags would be given out this year but was disappointed by the increased number.
- Some of the new additions to the list include newly designated swimming spots, while others have shown a decline in water quality compared to last year.
- Despite the numerous Brown Flag beaches, two-thirds of beaches in England still rate as "excellent" for their water quality.
- Do thorough research this summer, and you'll be able to enjoy your vacation without needing a hazmat suit.
- A special mention goes to St Mary's Bay in Kent, the only beach in the entire country to have erased its Brown Flag status.
- Holidayparkguru.co.uk primarily focuses on holiday park reviews rather than beach water quality awards.
