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Littlestone

Folkestone and Hythe, South East
Poor Water Quality
Data last verified: 12 Nov 2026

Littlestone, a picturesque coastal spot in Folkestone and Hythe, boasts a scenic shoreline of sand and shingle. Unfortunately, the official water quality rating is Poor, as tested by the Environment Agency. During the summer months, the water temperature is estimated to be around 18°C, making it suitable for swimming.

8.1°C
Air Temp
15.5 mph
Wind Speed
Low Tide (1.5m)
in 6h 14m (07:24) • Spring Tide
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Live Water Quality

30
Poor
Not advised
• Updated 10 mins ago
Today's Conditions • Updated 10 mins ago

Lifeguards

Unknown
Help us verify

Air Temp

8.1°C
Comfortable

Weather

Partly cloudy
8.1°C

Tide

Low Tide (1.5m)
in 6h 14m (07:24) • Spring Tide

Water Quality

Poor
Not advised

Pollution Alerts

None
No alerts today

Quick Overview

Sand & Shingle beach
Family friendly
Dog friendly
(winter)
Parking nearby
Toilets
Café

Beach Information View all details

Beach Type
Sand, Shingle
Water Quality
Poor
Avg. Air Temp
8.1°C
Swimming
Highly recommended

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Hub on the Beach
coffee shop
4.8 • 120m away
The Nest (New Romney)
cafe
4.8 • 120m away
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Reference Information

🌊 Live Tide Curve, Tidal Range & 7-Day Schedule

Harmonic astronomical predictions, tidal coefficients & flow rate

Spring Tide • Coeff 86
Current Water Level
Falling ↓ (6.80m)
13% through current tide cycle (LAT)
Upcoming High & Low
▲ High: 12:24 (6.96m • in 11h 14m)
▼ Low: 07:24 (1.50m • in 6h 14m)
Tidal Range & Coefficient
Range: 5.54m (Coeff 86/120)
Large tidal range — faster tidal currents and higher high water.
Current Tidal Flow
Moderate Ebbing Flow
Rule of Twelfths: fastest flow occurs in mid-tide hours 3 & 4.
📈 24-Hour Harmonic Tide Curve (LAT)
Station: Folkestone (5.7 km)
7.9m 4.4m 0.8m 23:3003:3007:3011:3015:3019:30 Low 07:24 (1.5m)High 12:24 (7.0m)Low 19:37 (1.6m) NOW
📅 7-Day High & Low Tide Table
Day High & Low Tides (Local Time) Tidal Range Coeff / Phase
Wed 11 Nov ▼ Low 19:13 (1.36m) --
Today ▲ High 00:12 (7.04m)▼ Low 07:24 (1.50m)▲ High 12:24 (6.96m)▼ Low 19:37 (1.61m) 5.54m Spring (86)
Fri 13 Nov ▲ High 00:39 (6.86m)▼ Low 07:48 (1.70m)▲ High 12:53 (6.73m)▼ Low 20:00 (1.82m) 5.16m Coeff 78
Sat 14 Nov ▲ High 01:10 (6.66m)▼ Low 08:15 (1.88m)▲ High 13:27 (6.48m)▼ Low 20:29 (2.01m) 4.78m Coeff 71
Sun 15 Nov ▲ High 01:46 (6.43m)▼ Low 08:48 (2.05m)▲ High 14:06 (6.21m)▼ Low 21:04 (2.19m) 4.38m Coeff 63
Mon 16 Nov ▲ High 02:29 (6.17m)▼ Low 09:28 (2.22m)▲ High 14:54 (5.93m)▼ Low 21:46 (2.36m) 3.95m Coeff 54
Tue 17 Nov ▲ High 03:21 (5.92m)▼ Low 10:15 (2.37m)▲ High 15:53 (5.69m)▼ Low 22:37 (2.51m) 3.55m Neap (46)
Reference Station: Folkestone • Model: FES2022 Global Ocean Model • Datum: LAT Tide predictions via TidesAtlas
Next 4 Tides
Spring Tide
Low 07:24 1.50m
High 12:24 6.96m
Low 19:37 1.61m
High 00:39 6.86m
Current: Falling (6.8m) • Moderate Ebbing Flow
Sediment Type
Sand, Shingle

The shoreline consists primarily of sand, shingle. Sediment type dictates underfoot comfort, wave energy absorption, and the water's clarity when currents stir up the seabed.

Annual Rating
Poor

Water quality regularly fails to meet safe bathing standards. Swimmers face an elevated risk of stomach infections or skin rashes due to high bacterial loads.

Rainfall Impact
Low Risk

This bathing water is generally resilient and has a low risk of quality degradation after heavy summer storm events.

Monitoring Authority
Environment Agency

Tested weekly by the Environment Agency England for bacteria levels (E. coli & Intestinal Enterococci) between May and September.

Water Body Type
Coastal Beach

Monitored as a coastal beach. Coastal beaches are subject to tidal flows and marine dilution, whereas inland lakes/rivers suffer from low water circulation, meaning bacteria can linger longer.

Sewerage Provider
Southern Water Services Limited

Southern Water Services Limited is the regional utility responsible for waste water treatment, sewage infrastructure, and storm overflow management in this catchment area.

Designated Year
1988

Officially designated as a protected bathing water site in 1988. This designation mandates regular public health monitoring.

County / District
Folkestone and Hythe

Governed under local district sanitation and environmental safety regulations in the Folkestone and Hythe area.

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