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.
Ten Yorkshire beaches were awarded by the charity Keep Britain Tidy with a Seaside Award for summer 2023, not only that but four were given Blue Flag status.
Blue Flag is an internationally recognised award that highlights the quality of the beaches including the way they are managed and the facilities offered to visitors.

The four beaches that were given the Blue Flag award were Scarborough North Bay, Whitby, Hornsea, and Withernsea. The awards aim to improve the quality of England’s coastlines and promote the country’s best beaches.
Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, the Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, said: “Visitors to a beach flying a Blue Flag or Seaside Award can be assured the beach will be clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards, as well as international bathing water quality standards.
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“The Blue Flag is the world’s most recognised award for beaches and marinas and, in order to qualify, each applicant must meet and maintain a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria.

“We’d therefore like to recognise and applaud all those who have worked so hard to protect and improve some of our best-loved and most popular beaches. The collective efforts of beach managers, volunteers, residents and businesses all contribute to the success of these sites in achieving the incredibly high standards demanded.”
Ten Yorkshire beaches awarded the Seaside Award are:
- Bridlington North – East Riding of Yorkshire
- Wilsthorpe – East Riding of Yorkshire
- South Landing – East Riding of Yorkshire
- Filey – Scarborough Borough Council
- Runswick Bay – Scarborough Borough Council
- Cayton Bay – Scarborough Borough Council
- Robin Hoods Bay – Scarborough Borough Council
- Sandsend – North Yorkshire Council
- Scarborough North Bay – North Yorkshire Council
- Whitby – North Yorkshire Council