Beaches across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have once again been recognised among the UK's very best, receiving a sweep of prestigious Blue Flag and Seaside Awards from environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy for 2026.
Today's visitors are looking for more than just a beautiful view; they want a destination with the right energy, a place where they can easily find their own ideal holiday pace. Thanks to these latest accolades, our stunning coastline has once again proven to be the perfect setting for exactly that kind of personalised escape.
Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has awarded the area 6 International Blue Flags and 9 Seaside Awards this year. This impressive count reaffirms the area's leading position, acting as a key draw for visitors seeking quality and confidence in their beach choice.
Blue Flags are a globally recognised mark of excellence, signifying well-managed beaches with exceptional water quality, strong environmental education programmes and high safety standards. This summer, six of our beautiful local beaches will proudly fly the international Blue Flag:
- Sandbanks Beach (Celebrating an incredible 39th consecutive year)
- Shore Road Beach
- Canford Cliffs Beach
- Durley Chine Beach
- Fisherman's Walk Beach
- Highcliffe Beach
Seaside Awards further celebrate the quality and diversity of beaches across the UK. The real magic of this stretch of coast is its incredible variety, offering a different atmosphere to suit whatever kind of day you are looking for. Impressively, all six of our Blue Flag destinations have also been honoured with Seaside Awards this year. They are joined by three more fantastic spots across the area, bringing our total to nine Keep Britain Tidy Seaside Awards:
- Sandbanks Beach
- Shore Road Beach
- Canford Cliffs Beach
- Durley Chine Beach
- Fisherman's Walk Beach
- Highcliffe Beach
- Bournemouth Beach
- Boscombe Beach
- Avon Beach
Securing and maintaining these awards requires continuous investment and dedicated year-round work on seafront maintenance and safety. The Blue Flag applications are proudly organised by the Destination Management Board in conjunction with the local council, and they are crucially funded by our dedicated partners and sponsors.
We extend our deepest thanks to the local Business Improvement Districts, community organisations and businesses whose financial support makes this possible. This year's generous sponsors include Bournemouth Coastal BID, Bournemouth Town Centre BID, Poole BID, FJB Group, Highcliffe & Walkford Parish Council and The Saltwater Sauna. Their continued support is vital in helping to secure these awards, and this ongoing collaboration remains a key part of delivering an award-winning coastline.
Andy Lennox, Chair of the Destination Management Board, highlighted the importance of this collaborative effort:
"Blue Flags are one of the conurbation's most important assets. Keeping them funded, and thus keeping the work needed to get them ongoing, is incredibly important and it’s worth millions to the local economy. Without the sponsors and the hard work of Seafront Services, this just wouldn’t be possible, so I would like to thank them. DMB is proud to have retained this accolade once again."
A spokesperson for Bournemouth and Poole Tourism shared their excitement for the upcoming season, noting how these accolades support a world-class visitor experience:
"We are absolutely thrilled to see our beaches recognised once again as some of the best in the UK. A truly great coastal holiday is all about finding the right vibe, whether that means turning up the tempo with watersports or dialling it down for a quiet afternoon by the sea. These awards guarantee a world-class, clean and safe environment across all our locations, giving our guests the confidence to curate their perfect trip. We simply cannot wait to welcome everyone for an unforgettable 2026!"
Cllr Richard Herrett, Portfolio Holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations at BCP Council, added:
“These awards highlight the consistently high standards maintained across our coastline and the dedication of the teams who deliver them daily. While awards are important recognition, what matters most is the quality of the experience on our beaches, which we are committed to maintaining across all locations. We will continue to work with partners to ensure our coastline remains one of the best in the country.”
Visitors are encouraged to contribute to preserving the beauty and cleanliness of these award-winning beaches by disposing of litter responsibly and adhering to the 'Leave Only Footprints' principle, helping to keep these beaches beautiful for years to come.
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Notes to Editors:
About the Destination
The resorts of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are lucky to enjoy over 15 miles of golden sand and 26 miles of harbourside landscape, over 6000 acres of greenspace and a thriving economy.
Previous Awards and Accolades
Some of the other prestigious awards the destination has won, as well as the 'best of' lists it is named on, include:
- Bournemouth was the only UK beach to be included in Tripadvisor’s 25th Anniversary Travellers’ Choice World Best of the Best Beaches 2025 list.
- Bournemouth was one of only two beaches in the UK to be included on Tripadvisor’s list of the 25 best beaches in Europe 2024.
- Sandbanks Beach tops the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards Top 10 Sustainable Beaches in the World 2024.
- Bournemouth Beach ranked Number one on Tripadvisor’s best UK beaches for 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023 respectively.
- Bournemouth was one of only four beaches to be included on Trip Advisor’s list of the 25 best beaches in Europe 2023.
- Avon Beach in Christchurch has recently been awarded a Trip Advisor Travellers Choice Award, this award chooses the best destinations, attractions and more based on the ratings and reviews submitted by Trip Advisor users.
- In December 2023, Crave magazine named Dorset, including Bournemouth Beach and Sandbanks in Poole, on their list of The Best UK Destinations for a Family Getaway
Blue Flag & Seaside Award Criteria
Blue Flag is an international award managed by Keep Britain Tidy in the UK on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education. It is only presented to well-managed beaches with water quality defined as 'excellent' under the EU Bathing Water Directive, while Seaside Awards are presented to the best beaches in England.
Among the criteria beaches are assessed against are:
- Safety and services, such as first aid and lifeguards where necessary.
- Environmental information including displaying details about local ecosystems.
- Water quality (Blue Flag beaches must meet the 'excellent' water quality standard and Seaside Award winners must meet the 'sufficient' standard).
- Environmental management, including litter and waste.
Contacts:
Bournemouth & Poole Tourism - bournemouth.co.uk & pooletourism.com
Andy Lennox, Chair of Destination Management Board
BCP Council Press Office
