The Good Beach Guide recommends 516 out of 754 (68 per cent) of beaches nationwide, an 8 per cent increase on last year.
The North West of England lags behind with just over a fifth of beaches qualifying, however, while Scotland saw a 5 per cent drop in recommendations after a rainy summer triggered more sewage overflows.
MCS coastal pollution officer Rachel Wyatt hailed the figures as a “milestone for coastal resorts” and said they would boost tourism.
She added: “It’s really important that local authorities, water companies and environmental regulators don’t become complacent and take their collective feet off the pedal of continued environmental improvements.”
MCS is calling on water companies to invest in increased monitoring of combined sewer overflows (CSOs). It claims there are 31,000 CSOs in the UK and only a quarter are monitored.
From 2015, UK beaches will be subject to more stringent quality standards under the European Bathing Water Directive.