The European country with the 'worst beaches' named - and it's not good news for the UK

England's beaches have been branded the worst in Europe in a shocking verdict handed down not by foreign tourists, but by the British public themselves. In an exclusive poll commissioned by travel insurer InsureandGo, the Express can reveal that 43% of the Brits surveyed now say England has the dirtiest beaches of any country they’ve visited on the continent, a huge leap from 28% in 2023. The survey, conducted in June 2025 among more than 2,000 adults across the UK, paints a bleak picture of a coastline that is increasingly being viewed as polluted. 

England’s beaches are rated nearly five times worse than Spain’s (9%) and more than seven times worse than Greece’s (5%) in terms of litter, plastic waste, and sewage issues. England also scored worse than both Wales, at 7%, and Scotland, at 6%. This wide gap highlights a growing sense of frustration among British holidaymakers with the state of England’s coastline, a perception that has worsened markedly in recent years.

Meanwhile, 62% of holidaymakers said the beaches they visited this year were in worse condition than in previous years, up from 53% in June 2023.

The second annual Brown Flag Awards by Holiday Park Guru, which uses official Environment Agency data, has just announced the most polluted beaches, noting a significant rise in polluted UK beaches with hazardous levels of sewage and bacteria.

This year, 19 beaches across England, including popular spots like Porthluney in Cornwall, Blackpool North and Bognor Regis, have been branded 'brown-flagged' for poor water quality, up from 13 in 2024.

Garry Nelson, Head of Corporate Affairs at InsureandGo, told the Express: "This research paints a pretty stark picture. When nearly half of English holidaymakers are calling out their own beaches as the dirtiest in Europe, something has clearly gone wrong.

"Whether it’s down to pollution, sewage or general upkeep, perception matters and it’s clearly shifting. We’re seeing more and more people factoring environmental quality into their travel plans. For many, a beach break still tops the list but it has to feel clean, safe, and looked after."

Full list of the 10 European countries with the 'worst beaches' due to factors like litter, plastic waste or sewage , according to the survey: 

1. England – 43%
2. Spain – 9%
3. Wales – 7%
4. Turkey – 6%
5. Scotland – 6%
6. France – 6%
7. Greece – 5%
8. Italy – 4%
9. Portugal – 2%
10. Cyprus – 2%

The percentage of those who said the beaches they visited were all in great condition has dropped from 47% in 2023 to 38% in 2025.