A North Yorkshire beach has been declared among England’s greatest as environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has announced the winners of the prestigious Blue Flag and Seaside Awards for summer 2025.
In total, 12 beaches across Yorkshire and the Humber – which incorporates East Riding of Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and North-East Lincolnshire, have been presented with awards recognising the quality of the beaches, the way they are managed and the facilities they offer to visitors.
The Blue Flag is the world’s most recognised award for beaches, marinas and inland bathing waters, and to qualify, each applicant must meet and maintain a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria.
North Yorkshire beach awarded Blue Flag Award for summer 2025
@yorkshirefi Gotta love the Yorkshire coast #whitby #whitbybeach #ukbeach #yorkshirecoast #yorkshirelife ♬ Waves – Mount Eminest & Flagé & lofi.dealer
This year, three beaches across the region have met the high standards required, including North Yorkshire’s very own Whitby.
Two more beaches further afield in the region, which have also claimed the title, are:
- Hornsea – East Riding of Yorkshire Council
- Withernsea – East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Those who have enjoyed the beach at Whitby have said it’s a “stunning place”.
On Tripadvisor, the coastal hotspot currently has a 4.6/5 rating from more than 1,500 reviews – 1,017 of those are rated as “excellent”.
This visitor posted: “Our first time visiting Whitby, and it certainly won’t be our last!!! There is nothing not to like about this place! The beach was beautiful and clean! With incredible views!!! I couldn’t believe how clear the sea was for the East Coast!I can’t wait to return here, the weather did help with how warm it was! I would definitely recommend.”
Best Beaches in the UK
Another complimented: “What a fantastic beach, I did not realise how big it was. As we were out of season, we could take our dog on the beach and she had the most wonderful time running around. The views are marvellous, the rocks are stunning, people were fossil hunting smashing stones. And all in all wonderful beach.”
Elsewhere, 10 beaches in the Yorkshire and Humber region were awarded the Seaside Award, including Whitby. They are:
- Bridlington North – East Riding of Yorkshire
- Wilsthorpe – East Riding of Yorkshire
- South Landing – East Riding of Yorkshire
- Filey – North Yorkshire Council
- Runswick Bay – North Yorkshire Council
- Cayton Bay – North Yorkshire Council
- Robin Hoods Bay – North Yorkshire Council
- Sandsend – North Yorkshire Council
- Whitby – North Yorkshire Council
- Scarborough North Bay – North Yorkshire Council
Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE commented: “As an island community, the quality of our beaches and blue spaces crucial to our environment and vital for our economy, particularly in terms of tourism and employment.
“Achieving this accreditation shows the commitment of beach managers and local authorities to protect them for years to come.
“The awards are a credit to the collective efforts of beach and site managers, volunteers, residents and businesses who should take pride today in their tireless efforts to maintain and improve some of our best-loved and most popular blue spaces.”
What is a Blue Flag beach?
The Blue Flag and Seaside Awards are aimed at improving the quality of England’s coastline and blue spaces and promoting the country’s best beaches.
Blue Flag beaches are free for all to enjoy, with visitors able to experience the same quality as destinations like Spain or Trinidad and Tobago without the environmental impact – or price tag – of flying.
Blue Flag is an environmental education programme managed by Keep Britain Tidy on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education.
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
- Environmental management, including litter and waste
- Water quality – Blue Flag beaches must meet the ‘excellent’ water quality standard as set out in the EU bathing water directive and Seaside Award winners must meet the ‘sufficient’ standard
Blue Flag is only presented to beaches and inland bathing waters with bathing water which has achieved the highest classification as set by the EU Bathing Water Directive and have an environmental education programme, while Seaside Awards are presented to the best beaches in England and celebrate the quality and diversity of our coastline.
