Phoebe Shipton
As of 2025, Kent is home to an impressive eight Blue Flag beaches, something that the team at Keepers Cottages are very proud of. Not only is our captivating coastline home to iconic chalky cliffs and awe-inspiring remnants of wartime history, but you can also easily find glorious stretches of golden sand and sparkling crystalline waters. Below, we’re taking a look at what exactly makes a Blue Flag beach and where you can visit them throughout Kent.
What exactly is a Blue Flag beach?
A Blue Flag beach represents high standards of water quality, environmental management, safety, and accessibility – among other things. An internationally recognised standard, the award was originally designed to bolster environmental efforts.
It has gone on to become one of the world’s best-recognised eco-labels, applied to beaches as well as marinas and sustainable boat tourism operators.
How is a beach awarded a Blue Flag?
To qualify for the Blue Flag, a series (33 to be exact!) of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained.
These include:
- Environmental Management
- Water Quality
- Environmental Education and Information
- Safety and Services
Once a beach has been awarded the coveted Blue Flag beach status – the gold standard for beaches – it must fly its flag throughout the Blue Flag season, to show that they are both a participant in the scheme and actively complying with the criteria. The Blue Flag season runs from the 1st June to the 15th September.
When the flag is flying, it also means that facilities such as toilets or services such as lifesaving are in operation.
How can I find the best beaches in Kent?
As of 2025, eight beaches in Kent have either made it onto the list or retained their status as a Blue Flag beach.
Botany Bay
Botany Bay is the most northern of the seven bays in Broadstairs. It features huge chalk stacks and offers safe swimming in beautiful blue waters. With 5-star water quality and a Seaside Award, it’s perfect for sea swimming and watersports. During Blue Flag season, services such as lifeguards and toilets are available.
There is a dog ban in place from May to October, but four-legged friends can enjoy the beach outside of those dates.
Joss Bay
Another cliff-backed bay with soft golden sand, Joss Bay (rumoured to be named after local smuggling legend, Joss Snelling,) has all of the amenities close at hand, including a cafe, toilets, surf school and showers in high season. A summertime dog restriction means that four-legged friends must enjoy their walkies before 10am or after 6pm from the 1st May to 30th September.
Margate Main Sands
This fantastic stretch of wide, sandy beach is perfect for swimming and long, hot sunny afternoons. Set against the quintessential English seaside resort of Margate, with its iconic theme park ‘Dreamland’. The Turner Contemporary is just a short walk, as are some of the best fish and chips shops in Kent.
Minnis Bay
Backed by beach huts and providing plenty of sandy space at low tide, Minnis Bay is just five miles from Margate. Containing separate areas for water sports and swimming, it’s a safe option for children. There is a tidal paddling pool with lifeguard services and a spacious, wide promenade perfect for stretching the legs. Dogs are welcome between 1st October and 30th April.
Ramsgate Main Sands
Returning as one of Kent’s Blue Flag beaches for the first time since 2016, Ramsgate Main Sands is flanked by the Royal Harbour and a wealth of amenities. Divide your day between the beach and the town, where plenty of things to see, do, enjoy and eat await.
Sheerness
Sheerness beach is located on the northern coast of the Isle of Sheppey. It’s mainly a shingle beach with wooden groynes, which offers perfect conditions for those foraging for crabs and shells at low tide. Water quality here is awarded 5 stars, and there’s even a children’s play area and skateboard park nearby.
St Mildred’s Bay
Just a few curves along the coastline from Minnis Bay, St Mildred’s is a small sandy beach close to the seaside town of Westgate. Backed by cliffs, it also features a tidal pool and is perfect for sailing, windsurfing and swimming. There is another seasonal ban on dogs during summer on this beach, but fear not, fluffy friends – there’s a choice of completely dog-friendly summer beaches nearby.
Tankerton Beach
This old-fashioned shingle beach is near the town of Whitstable and dotted with colourful beach huts and wooden groynes. Its promenade leads to gently sloping grassy banks, perfect for kids to play on. You can also walk to Whitstable Beach and enjoy a beachfront beer at the iconic Old Neptune.
The beach has lifeguards, and dogs are welcome between 1st October and 30th April.
Holiday Cottages in Kent by the Beach
Oh we do like to be beside the seaside. Great for both our mental and physical health, time spent at the Kent coast is never wasted. For those seeking to spend maximum time with salt in their hair and sand beneath their feet, we’ve compiled a collection of sea view holiday cottages.
