Littlestone water quality history

Explore historical Environment Agency samples and annual bathing water classifications for Littlestone in Folkestone and Hythe.

Littlestone-on-Sea is a resort beach in the middle of a 20 kilometre (km) stretch of beach in Hythe Bay, Kent. Hythe Bay stretches from Folkestone down to the headland of Dungeness. The bathing water is a steeply shelving shingle bank with sand dunes at the southern edge. Wide shallow sand and mud flats are exposed at low tide, resulting in a long distance to the sea. Fine sediments suspended in the water column leave the water cloudy at times.

Available sample history
1988 to 2026
Samples
770
Latest official classification
Poor (2025)

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Annual classification history

Official assessments and historical estimates are labelled separately. Missing years are not filled in.

Available annual results, newest first
YearClassificationAssessment source
2025PoorOfficial Environment Agency assessment
2024PoorOfficial Environment Agency assessment
2023PoorOfficial Environment Agency assessment
2022GoodOfficial Environment Agency assessment
2021GoodOfficial Environment Agency assessment
2019GoodOfficial Environment Agency assessment
2018GoodOfficial Environment Agency assessment
2017GoodOfficial Environment Agency assessment
2016SufficientOfficial Environment Agency assessment
2015SufficientOfficial Environment Agency assessment
2014SufficientOfficial Environment Agency assessment
2013SufficientOfficial Environment Agency assessment
2012SufficientOfficial Environment Agency assessment
2011SufficientOfficial Environment Agency assessment
2010PoorOfficial Environment Agency assessment
2009SufficientHistorical estimate
2008SufficientHistorical estimate
2007SufficientHistorical estimate
2006SufficientHistorical estimate
2005SufficientHistorical estimate
2004SufficientHistorical estimate
2003SufficientHistorical estimate
2002SufficientHistorical estimate
2001SufficientHistorical estimate
2000SufficientHistorical estimate
1999SufficientHistorical estimate
1998SufficientHistorical estimate
1997PoorHistorical estimate
1996PoorHistorical estimate
1995PoorHistorical estimate
1994PoorHistorical estimate
1993PoorHistorical estimate
1992PoorHistorical estimate
1991PoorHistorical estimate
1990PoorHistorical estimate
1989Not assessedHistorical estimate
1988Not assessedHistorical estimate

Source: Environment Agency / Swimfo. Data retrieved 16 October 2026. Historical trends do not describe conditions today; check Swimfo and local notices for current advice.

Nearby bathing waters