Beaches in UK: Warning to avoid 13 beaches awarded 'Brown Flag Award' for dirty water and sewage - full list

Thirteen UK beaches have been awarded a “Brown Flag Award”, naming and shaming them for their poor water quality. UK holidaymakers have been urged to avoid these particular beaches that have been found to be the grimiest - just as temperatures are expected to hot up this weekend. The south of England will see highs of 25C today, with the potential of temperatures reaching 26C on Saturday (11 May) and possibly 27C on Sunday (12 May), according to the Met Office.

Holiday Park Guru looked at water quality data collected by the Environment Agency and compiled a list of the ones rated as ‘poor’.  The 'winners' are being offered complimentary brown flags featuring a poo emoji.

The beaches are rated as 'poor' by the Environment Agency due to bacteria such as e-coli from sewage and other waste. Beaches at holiday hotspots Cornwall and Norfolk are included in the list, including Porthluney in Cornwall which took the number one spot. In second place it’s Southsea East in Hampshire, and in third it’s St Mary’s Bay in Kent. It was Lancashire that did worst overall, though, with none of its 10 bathing spots achieving an ‘excellent’ rating – plus, Blackpool North and St Annes North both got a ‘poor’ score. 

Keen sea-swimmer, Robbie Lane, from Holiday Park Guru, said: “We’re hoping to make a real splash in the papers with the launch of England’s first ever 'Brown Flag Awards'. Commiserations to our 13 winners this year – you really are top of the plops.

"We just hope they’ll take up our offer of a free brown flag, although I’m afraid we can’t quite afford to provide a flagpole as well. On a more positive note, high praise is warranted for England's 273 beaches with the top rating for their water quality - including 72 beaches in Cornwall."

13 UK beaches to avoid 

Listed below are the UK beaches to avoid, that have been issued a ‘Brown Flag Award’ for having poor water quality.

1. Porthluney in Cornwall

2. Southsea East in Hampshire

3. Saint Mary’s Bay in Kent

4. Littlestone in Kent

5. Blackpool North in Lancashire

6. St Annes North in Lancashire

7. Heacham in Norfolk

8. Weston Main, Weston Super Mare Sand Bay and Weston Super Mare Uphill Slipway in Somerset

9. Dunster Beach in Somerset

10. Bognor Regis, Aldwick in Sussex

11. Tynemouth Cullercoats in Tyne and Wear

12. Scarborough South Bay in North Yorkshire

13. Bridlington South Beach in East Riding of Yorkshire