East Suffolk Council
Four East Suffolk beaches amongst the best in country
Four of East Suffolk’s beautiful beaches have once again received national awards, ranking them amongst the best in the country.
Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has today announced the winners of the prestigious Blue Flag and Seaside Awards for 2025, and once again, four of East Suffolk’s beaches have been selected.
Both Felixstowe (Felixstowe South and Pier) and Southwold (Southwold Pier) have again received combined Seaside Awards and Blue Flags whilst the beaches at Lowestoft South of Claremont Pier (bathing / resort) and Kessingland (non-bathing) have received Seaside Awards, consistent with recent years.
Cllr Sarah Whitelock, East Suffolk’s cabinet member for Communities, Leisure and Tourism said: “We are pleased to once again receive these prestigious awards which highlight all the hard work which goes into maintaining the cleanliness of our beaches and their facilities for the benefit of residents and visitors and helps bring them up to such a high standard. East Suffolk has miles of beautiful coastline, and these awards continue to position our beaches as some of the best in the country.”
Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “In England we are lucky enough to have some of the best beaches in the world. It’s wonderful to see the flags flying proudly over East Suffolk’s beaches, demonstrating their quality to residents and visitors alike.
“The awards are a credit to the collective efforts of beach and site managers, volunteers, residents and businesses who should take pride today in their tireless efforts to maintain, protect and improve some of our best-loved and most popular blue spaces.
“Visitors to a beach flying a Blue Flag can be assured the beach will be clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards.”
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.
Among the criteria beaches are assessed against are:
- 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.
Beach hut and chalet hire is available at both Lowestoft and Felixstowe.
Accessible beach chalets are available to hire at Felixstowe's Seashore Village, as well as traditional beach huts. Each chalet has a kitchenette including sink with hot/cold water and facilities to make your own hot drinks, chairs and tables, electric heating and access to an accessible, Changing Places toilet.
In Lowestoft, beach huts are available to hire throughout the year, from the new Eastern Edge huts or chalet style huts further along the seafront. There is also a range of accessible huts, with a beach boardwalk, beach buggy and Changing Places facilities nearby.