Frinton Marks Swanage's 25th Blue Flag, with 41 Sites Awarded

frinton Swanage in Dorset has been awarded the Blue Flag for the 25th consecutive year, with the award flying outside the Swanage Information Centre. The beach also received the Seaside Award, placing it among 41 sites in England to hold both marks in 2026.

Mike Bonfield, chair of Swanage Town Council’s tourism and local economy committee, said: "We are so proud that Swanage has been awarded the Blue Flag Award for the 25th consecutive year." He added that the application process is challenging and that the result shows the beach is clean and safe for the range of residents and visitors who use it through the summer.

Mike Bonfield on Swanage

Bonfield said weekly water testing shows the water quality is graded as excellent. He also said the beach cleaning regime and customer facilities help keep Swanage Beach a fantastic and safe place for everyone to visit.

The Environment Agency carries out weekly testing from 15th May to the end of September, and Swanage's sandy beach is described as a safe beach with excellent water quality. That sits alongside the Seaside Award, which indicates the area is clean, safe and well managed.

Swanage Since 1988

Swanage first won the Blue Flag in 1988, when it was one of only eight English beaches to receive the award. The beach lost it during the 1990s, then regained it in 2001 before extending that run to 25 years in a row.

For 2026, 23 sites, including one marina, received the Blue Flag only, while 65 beaches received the Seaside Award only. Swanage's double award puts it in the smaller group of English sites meeting both standards, and the town will keep pointing visitors to the beach's water-testing record, cleaning regime and visitor facilities.