Yorkshire’s beaches are some of the best in the world. They range from quaint hidden gems to long sandy stretches of beach – all making our coastline a sought-after place to visit. Along with fantastic beaches, Yorkshire also has fantastic seaside towns where you can enjoy fish & chips and all the classic tropes of a visit to the coast.
The Blue Flag is an internationally recognised award by leading environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy that highlights the quality of beaches, including the way they are managed and the facilities offered to visitors. To meet the requirements, a beach must fulfil 30 strict criteria, including water quality, environmental education, cleanliness, provision of litter bins and toilets, no dogs during the bathing season, lifeguards, and others.
Yorkshire’s blue flag beaches 2026
This year, 14 beaches were given awards. The Blue Flag beaches were Whitby, Hornsea and Withernsea. Saltburn, Redcar, Cayton Bay, Filey, Runswick Bay, Robin Hoods Bay, Sandsend and Whitby, Bridlington South, Bridlington North and Wilsthorpe have all been honoured with Seaside Awards. Hornsea has earned a Blue Flag for six years running now, with Withernsea winning one for four years in a row. It’s also Bridlington South’s first Seaside Award since 2022.
The water quality for Hornsea, Withernsea and Wilsthorpe has been recorded as “excellent”, and Bridlington North as “good”, and Bridlington South as “sufficient”.
Councillor Paul West, East Riding Council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “I’m extremely proud that our beaches have once again won Blue Flags and Seaside Awards to show they are among the best in the country. For Hornsea and Withernsea to be able to fly Blue Flags for the 2026 season is a superb achievement, and for Bridlington’s two beaches to earn Seaside Awards, alongside Wilsthorpe, proves that water quality progress is being made. We already know we have a fantastic coastline in the East Riding – and these are the icing on the cake.”
Allison Ogden-Newton, Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, said: “England is fortunate to boast some of the world’s finest beaches, and it’s encouraging to see this reflected in the awards to Hornsea, Withernsea, Bridlington and Wilsthorpe, signalling their high standards to all who visit or live nearby. Everybody involved in these achievements should feel proud of their ongoing work to care for and enhance these important local blue spaces.”
Read More: Yorkshire Beach Named In 15th Place In ‘Brown Flag’ Awards 2026
Feature Image Credit: Unsplash
