Sheppey's award winning beaches
Published
Friday 15 May, 2026
Updated
Friday 15 May, 2026
Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has announced the winners of the prestigious Blue Flag and Seaside Awards for summer 2026, and among them are three bathing beaches on the Isle of Sheppey.
This year the beaches which have met the high standard required to be presented with a Blue Flag, Seaside Award, or both are:
- Sheerness – Blue Flag and Seaside Award
- Leysdown – Seaside Award
- Minster Leas – Seaside Award
Cllr Dolley Wooster, chair of the environment and climate change committee at Swale Borough Council, said:
“We are proud to say that these beaches have once again received these prestigious awards, which is a testament to the hard work of our officers and dedicated volunteers.
“The awards confirm what we already knew; that we have some of the best beaches in the UK right here on the Isle of Sheppey.
“We work closely with the RNLI to make sure lifeguards are on duty at the busy beaches of Sheerness and Leysdown to make sure people can enjoy their visits safely.
“But we also need your help to make sure our beaches stay as beautiful and amazing as they are, please take home any litter with you and treat our public beaches with care and respect.”
Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, said:
“England is fortunate to boast some of the world’s finest beaches, and it’s encouraging to see this reflected in the awards to the beaches on the Isle of Sheppey, signalling the high standards to all who visit or live nearby.
“Everybody involved in these achievements should feel proud of their ongoing work to care for and enhance these important local blue spaces.”
The Blue Flag and Seaside Awards are aimed at improving the quality of England’s coastline and promoting the country’s best beaches.
Blue Flag, the world’s most recognised award for beaches and marinas, is an environmental education programme managed by Keep Britain Tidy on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education.
It is only presented to beaches with water which has achieved the highest classification as set by the EU Bathing Water Directive and has an environmental education programme, and, to qualify, each applicant must meet and maintain a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria.
Seaside Awards are presented to the best beaches in England and celebrate the quality and diversity of our coastline.
This year 41 sites, including one inland water, were awarded both the Blue Flag and Seaside Award, while 23 sites, including one marina, received the Blue Flag only and 65 beaches received the Seaside Award only.
The full list can be accessed on this page: https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/professional-services/blue-flag-award-beaches-and-marinas
The criteria beaches are assessed against include:
- Safety and services, such as first aid, lifeguards where necessary
- Environmental information including displaying details about local eco systems
- 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.
