River Thames features in list of 13 potential new bathing sites

(by Karma Loveday)

Defra is consulting for six weeks on the designation of 13 new bathing water sites, including one on the River Thames. Successful designation would bring the total number of sites in England to 464.

The sites under consultation — many already popular spots for recreation — are: 

• Little Shore, Amble, Northumberland – a crescent of sand between the River Coquet and the North Sea which is popular with locals. 

• Newton and Noss Creeks, Devon – a narrow tidal inlet just off the River Yealm in the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

• Canvey Island Foreshore, Essex – a family favourite sandy beach.   

• Sandgate Granville Parade Beach, Kent – shingle beach enjoyed by swimmers and kayakers.  

• Queen Elizabeth Gardens Salisbury, Wiltshire – a park opened in the early 1960s to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

• East Beach at West Bay, Bridport, Dorset – filming location for the iconic ITV drama Broadchurch. 

• Pangbourne Meadow, Berkshire – a meadow and river in the area that inspired The Wind in the Willows.

• River Fowey in Lostwithiel, Cornwall – a scenic tidal river, flowing through the heart of the town.

• River Swale in Richmond, Yorkshire – with dramatic waterfalls over limestone steps.

• Falcon Meadow, Bungay, Suffolk – a riverside community space on the River Waveney.

• River Thames at Ham and Kingston, Greater London – which could become London’s first river bathing site on the Thames.

• New Brighton Beach (East), Merseyside – a sandy seaside resort at the mouth of the Mersey Estuary.

• River Dee at Sandy Lane, Chester, Cheshire – a popular spot for families and water sports.

The development follows Bathing Water Regulation reforms in 2025, which among other things introduced flexibility to monitoring dates beyond the traditional May to September season, and ended the old rule that automatically removed a bathing water’s status after five years of ‘poor’ ratings in a row. Now when a site is struggling, regulators will look at the issues affecting the water quality and, where possible, work towards finding realistic options for improving it.

A third reform, which will look at new criteria for bathing waters, will come into force in May 2026 to allow guidance to be fully developed.