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BEST BEACHES: The South West has the cleanest beaches in England
As the weather finally warms up in England, a lot of people will take advantage of the sunshine by heading to the coast.
But where are the best sandy stretches and pebbly coves for a stunning staycation?
Blue Flag Awards are considered the gold standard for coastal areas and they are handed out to beaches that are clean and safe.
This year they have awarded 65 Blue Flag Awards to beaches in England. A further six sandy stretches lost their Blue Flags for 2018.
These are Wallasey, Scarborough, Withensea, Hornsea, Joss Bay and Porthminister.
If youre looking for a beach break in England it seems the South West is the most pristine coastal area.
A whopping 26 beaches in the South West were awarded a Blue Flag. Comparatively, the South East came in second place with 15 flags.
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MAPPED: Englands cleanest beaches were named at the Blue Flag Awards in 2018
Other factors are taken into consideration during the awards. These include how many lifeguards patrol the beach, the standard of its toilets and access to clean drinking water.
Below is the complete list of safe and clean beaches in England. Did your local stretch make the cut?
1. South West – 26 winners
South Devon is known for its array of gorgeous beaches and it seems they are safe and clean too.
Beaches including Westward Ho and Blackpool Sands often make the list of best beaches in the UK.
Here is the complete list of South West with Blue Flag Awards:
- Blackpool Sands
- Poole, Sandbanks Peninsular
- Poole, Shore Road
- Poole, Canford Cliffs
- Poole, Branksome Chine
- Alum Chine
- Durley Chine
- Fisherman's Walk
- Southbourne
- Carbis Bay
- Gyllyngvase
- Porthmeor
- Great Western
- Polzeath
- Porthtowan
- Trevone Bay
- Widemouth Bay
- Sandy Bay
- Challaborough Bay
- Swanage Central
- Dawlish Warren
- Breakwater Beach
- Meadfoot Beach
- Oddicombe Beach
- Westward Ho!
- Weymouth Central
Top 10 secret British beaches
You would think these gorgeous coastal scenes would be something out of a Caribbean or Mediterranean holiday brochure. But all these beaches are in Blighty, so you won't need to remember your passport to top up the tan… 
BNPS Pedn Vounder in Cornwall could easily be mistaken for somewhere more tropical than the UK
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STUNNING: Blackpool Sands has been awarded a Blue Flag in this years awards
2. South East – 15 winners
The South East came in second place with 15 winning beaches. Despite being in the centre of the city, Brighton Central is surprisingly clean.
West Wittering Beach, a huge sandy stretch on the south coast, also made the cut.
Here is the complete list:
- Brighton Central
- Hove Lawns
- Tankerton
- Marina St Leonards
- Hayling Island Beachlands
- Sheerness Beach
- Minster Leas
- Leysdown Beach
- Minnis Bay
- West Bay
- St MildredsBotany BayMargate Main Sands
- Stone Bay
- West Wittering Beach
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STAYCATION: Sea Palling was one of 12 beaches in the East of England to win the award
3. East of England – 12 winners
Areas such as Essex and Norfolk are famous for their beaches. The area came in third place with 12 beaches making the list.
- Cromer
- Sea Palling
- Sheringham
- Mundesley
- East Runton
- West Runton
- East Beach Shoeburyness
- Shoebury Common
- Thorpe Bay
- Dovercourt Bay
- Brightlingsea
- Southwold Pier
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CRYSTAL CLEAR: Tynemouth Longsands is one of the cleanest beaches in the North East
4. North East – six winners
The North East is home to six different Blue Flag beaches, including Tynemouth Longsands and King Edwards Bay.
It's also a great part of the country for surfing. Did you favourite beach make the list?
- Tynemouth Longsands
- King Edwards Bay
- Whitley Bay
- Sandhaven Beach
- Roker
- Seaburn
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VIBRANT: Whitby is famous for its colourful beach huts
5. East Midlands – four winners
The East Midlands has four winning beaches in the Blue Flag Awards. The Lincolnshire coast runs for 50 miles down the North Sea coast of England and is filled with golden sandy beaches.
Here is the full list of beaches that made the cut:
- Ingoldmells South
- Central Beach, Mablethorpe
- Central Beach, Skegness
- Central Beach, Sutton on Sea
6. North West – one winner
Blackpool South beach is the only beach that made the list in the North West.
Close by to the famous Pleasure Beach – which was voted the best beach in Britain in 2017 – it has very clean water and golden sands.
The beach was awarded the flag back in 2016 and has held onto it ever since.
7. Yorkshire – one winner
Probably Yorkshires most famous beach, Whitby was the only one to make the Blue Flag list.
It is famously where Dracula is set and the beach has a whole host of watersports such as windsurfing, sailing and surfing on offer.
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