North Tyneside's coastline has once again been recognised among the finest in the country.
King Edward's Bay, Tynemouth Longsands and Whitley Bay have all retained their Blue Flag and Seaside Awards for 2026.
The awards recognise beaches that meet high standards for cleanliness, safety, environmental management, and visitor facilities.
Today's announcement from Keep Britain Tidy saw 23 beaches across the country receive Blue Flag status and 65 earn Seaside Awards, with only 41 sites achieving both.
Maintaining the awards is a year-round effort involving beach cleaning, environmental management and ongoing work to keep the coastline welcoming for residents and visitors alike.
Councillor Hannah Johnson, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said:
“The Blue Flag is an international symbol of excellence and having it on display along our shoreline sends a clear message to visitors from near and far that North Tyneside’s beaches are among the best in the world.
“Paired with the Seaside Award, this recognition guarantees a clean, healthy, and safe environment for everyone to enjoy.
“To have maintained these high standards for more than three decades is an incredible achievement and a legacy we should all be proud of. I want to thank our staff and volunteers for the tireless work they do to protect and preserve our award-winning coast.”
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 for King Edward’s Bay, Tynemouth Longsands and Whitley Bay signalling its 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.”