The best beaches in the UK have been revealed and a number of beautiful British beaches have been given the prestigious Blue Flag status.
To be given a Blue Flag, the criteria that are measured is water quality, safety and environmental education, with a minimum of five education activities needing to be offered.
Sixty five beaches in England have been given a Blue Flag status, while 125 received a Seaside Award – given to beaches of top ‘quality’.
Which region in the UK has the most Blue Flag beaches?
Dorset boasts the most Blue Flag beaches in 2018, with eight golden stretches of land being given the prestigious award.
These include Sandbanks, Fishermans Walk, Southbourne, Swanage Central Beach and Branksome Chine.
Devon and Cornwall, when combined, had 26 Blue Flag awards given to the beaches in the region.
The southwest is a popular place for British holidaymakers looking for a staycation.
This includes popular beaches Polzeath and Westward Ho!, as well as a number in Poole.
Cornwall Council’s cabinet member for environment and public protection, Sue Jame, told Cornwall Live what it meant for the region.
She explained: “Our success in being awarded so many Blue Flag and Seaside Awards confirm what we who live here already know – that Cornish beaches are among the best in the world.”
In Wales, 44 beaches received a Blue Flag status, with 10 in Northern Ireland and five in Scotland.
Sadly, six beaches including Hornsea and Scarborough lost their Blue Flag status this year.
Spain continues to be the number one place in the world with the most Blue Flag beaches. The country has 579 with the prestigious status, followed by Greece with 516 Blue Flag beaches.
The number of Britons visiting beaches as a family has dropped in recent years.
Dirty beaches are one of the reasons cited why one in five have never visited a British beach, with one in four also having never swum in the UK sea.
Where are the best beaches in Britain found?
Rhossili Bay in Wales is often considered one of the most visually stunning beaches, which has even seen it used as a filming location.
Doctor who and Britannia are just some of the TV shows who have filmed on the beach.
