New map shows beaches and wild swimming spots near London too polluted to swim in

It's summertime in England, allegedly, and when the sun does eventually choose to shine many of us will flock to the beach for a lovely refreshing swim. There are 425 locations in England that have been designated as official bathing spots by the Environment Agency but not all of them are actually safe to swim in according to new data.

The water quality of most of them (281) is classified as 'excellent'. At another 99 it's classified as 'good'. There are, however, 18 sites where tests by the Environment Agency found that the water quality was 'poor' and people are advised against bathing there.

Several of these bathing sites which should be avoided are a day trip's distance from London and popular among those looking to get out of the city. If you're looking for a countryside dip, make sure you don't go to: Littlestone in Kent, St Mary's Bay in Kent, Bognor Regis (Aldwick) in West Sussex, Southsea East in Portsmouth in Hampshire, Clacton (Groyne 41) in Essex, The River Deben Estuary in Waldringfield in Suffolk and Wolvercote Mill Stream in Oxfordshire.

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While Aldwick Beach in Bognor Regis has 'poor' water quality, its next-door neighbour East Beach, also known simply as Bognor Regis Beach, is classed as 'good'.

Meanwhile the Environment Agency has issued permanent advice against swimming in Clacton (Groyne 41) as well as four other sites in the UK, so particularly steer clear of that one. Five of the sites which are now designated as 'poor' had been okay to swim in just a year ago - like Littlestone in Kent which was 'good' last year. Three others of these had been classified as 'sufficient' last year - Porthluney in Cornwall, Southsea East in Portsmouth, and St Anne's North in Blackpool. The fourth - the River Deben Estuary in Suffolk - wasn't listed as a bathing spot last year. You can see all the bathing spots that the Environment Agency advises against bathing in by using our interactive map:

The list of bathing spots swimmers are advised to avoid includes popular seaside towns such as Blackpool North, Bridlington South Beach, Bognor Regis (Aldwick), Scarborough South Bay, and three spots in Weston-super-Mare. The Environment Agency has also issued permanent advice against swimming in four official bathing sites - Clacton (Groyne 41), Instow, Ilfracombe Wildersmouth, and Burnham Jetty North.

The Environment Agency tests water at bathing sites throughout the year for the presence of harmful bacteria such as Escherichia coli (known as E. coli) and Intestinal enterococci. Each bathing site is then given a rating based on the results over the year, either 'excellent', 'good', 'sufficient' or 'poor'. The ratings in the map therefore are based on the Environment Agency's water tests conducted throughout 2023.

Full list of 'poor' UK bathing spots

Bathing is not advised. Water quality poor
Blackpool North
Bognor Regis (Aldwick)
Bridlington South Beach
Dunster Beach
Heacham
Littlestone
Porthluney
River Deben Estuary, Waldringfield
Scarborough South Bay
Southsea East
St Annes North
St Mary's Bay (Kent)
Tynemouth Cullercoats
Weston Main
Weston-super-Mare Sand Bay
Weston-super-Mare Uphill Slipway
Wharfe at Cromwheel, Ilkley
Wolvercote Mill Stream

Permanent advice against bathing is in place at these locations

Clacton (Groyne 41)
Instow
Ilfracombe Wildersmouth
Burnham Jetty North

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