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 (DMB) in conjunction with the local BCP 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.

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.