Home | Blue Flag beaches

North Norfolk has some of the most beautiful coastlines in the country. Here are our 2024 awards.

It's official! We have one of the best stretches of sandy coast in the country. Keep Britain Tidy has awarded Blue Flags for Cromer, East Runton, Sheringham and West Runton, and Seaside Awards for Mundesley and Sea Palling.

About the awards

The Blue Flag scheme is an environmental award given to beach operators who make a special effort to manage their coastal water environments and beaches, and educate people on the local ecosystems and water safety. It is awarded annually and is valid during the bathing season from May to September.

Criteria

To achieve a Blue Flag or Seaside Award status, we must meet a number of strict criteria that the beaches have to maintain. This criteria includes:

accessibility
beach management
consistently good water quality results
environmental and educational programs
water safety

The Environment Agency takes water samples throughout the bathing season to monitor water quality. This information is on the Environment Agency's SWIMFO website.

North Norfolk beach awards

Cromer, East Runton, Sheringham and West Runton have all been awarded Blue Flag status for 2024. Cromer and Sheringham have maintained this status since 1988, the second longest only after Sandbanks and Oddicombe since 1987.

Mundesley and Sea Palling currently hold the Seaside Award for 2024. The Seaside Award is a very respected award, with many of the criteria matching the Blue Flag status. Both beaches have been awarded Blue Flag status before, so we are working closely with our environmental partners to regain them in the future with consistently good quality water results.