Lancashire coast

[Beachwisher]

I’m looking for info/recommendations for coastal areas on the Lancashire coast. Must have pleasant beach/prom, interesting shops, cafes, etc, and railway station close by. I don’t know the area at all. Schools not needed. All insight and suggestions welcome so I can focus on particular places and perhaps avoid others! Thank you.

Well if you want good links to Manchester along the west lancs you need to look on Southport to Manchester line - but it has blinking slow trains a lot of the time 🙄

but you said you wanted a prom? You could always try Wigan : they gave a pier and good pies and a train to Manchester 🤣🤣🤣🤣🥴

What’s it like out in the ‘burbs’?
Is it practical or you regret not living closer to town?
I’m asking because I want to move to StAnnes/Lytham, and see the same price scenarios you mention.

@C4tastrophe another nice but cheaper place close to lytham is Freckleton, some lovely houses and has a really nice feel to it. I would move there over St Annes. The issue with St Annes are that some parts have become quite rough so if you aren't local it can be hard to know the nicer bits.

I'm not sure how trains are from Southport but from Lytham/Ansdell/St Annes getting to Manchester is easier said than done...

In theory it's about an hour and a half journey with a change at Preston but Northern Rail are pretty crap. Like a PP said I tend to drive to a different station (Kirkham, has free parking) to get on the Blackpool North line as you can go direct from there and only have to rely on one train!

@C4tastrophe sorry should have added re practicality, assuming I know where @Cookie79 lives then there are a few bus services connecting to St Annes and Lytham, Freckleton that I mentioned would be the same, has a decently reliable bus connecting it all the way to Blackpool in one direction and Preston in the other.

Morecambe is currently a bit run down but is on the up. There's Lancaster 3 miles away for coffee shops etc and has a mainline train station (1hr to Manchester, 1hr30 to Liverpool and 2hr30 to London) the bay is stunning, the beach is lovely and the prom has recently been refurbished.

Plus right next to the lakes.

@C4tastrophe that’s a really good question. Sometimes I think it would be nicer to be closer to an centre and nearer a road where DD could get the bus easier. 6th form provision is a bit sparse so she’ll have to travel.

But then I do like the fact we’re tucked away, slightly out of the way and quieter (or will be eventually once the development is finished).

A good paced 20-30 minute walk and there’s sand under my feet and we are near a couple of decent shops for top ups.

@Cookie79 thanks. I prefer not to drive if possible and like to cycle about and get ‘somewhere’ in 10 minutes, Ansdell was looking promising, though again, prices are incredibly strong for a town with no employment.

If you are happy with S Cumbria rather than Lancs, Grange over Sands has a direct train to Manchester - Barrow to Man. Airport one. Takes about 1.5hr. It is a lovely place to live, as is Arnside (also on that train line) as a PP mentioned.

@HellcatSpangledShalalala thx. I really fancy being at the coast rather than near the coast.
I need to go on a reconnaissance mission.

I’ve Grange referred to as ‘God’s waiting room’.
What’s it really like?

Jesus. Don't tell people from Southport they're 'very much Merseyside', given that, actually, they're 'new' Merseyside and were always Lancs (we have Lancs' postcodes and RM has us as Lancs).

I'm an incomer and the locals are still sore about the changes!

Thanks again everyone I am finding all the information really useful.

Re a prom, that’s the ideal for me as I like to walk next to the sea but if I’m on the beach itself it’s more of a dawdle and throwing balls for the dog. I’ve only just started looking and in no hurry just yet so can look further at all the suggestions given.

I know people in Liverpool who are still sore about the 1974 boundary changes and insist on including ‘Lancashire’ in their postal address! At least Southport has the Preston postcode! They were in Merseyside from the minute it was formed, so it’s tough 😉

@NoWordForFluffy my DP is from Southport and he hates it when I joke he is a scouser .

@Beachwisher it's worth saying that Lytham doesn't actually have a beach, it is on the Estuary not the sea. However there is a prom (The Green) which is a nicer walk than along the actual promenade in St Annes I may be biased as a Lythamer and when it's not been too wet you can walk below the main path to be on the grassy/sandy bit which is better for dogs.

BAE is a huge employer in the area which means St Annes/Ansdell/Lytham prices can remain high despite not having as many employment opportunities that aren't tourism/hospitality based.

@HellcatSpangledShalalala thanks for that!

My dad has retired to Lytham and loves it
He's always out walking, going to bars/pubs/meals out and said he feels very safe there

@NoWordForFluffy as a Sandgroundee born and bread, I’ve never read a more true statement on Mumsnet hahaha. We all know that “bloody Sefton took over Southport in the 1970s” - I believe it was because Southport was wealthy and a lot of the money still gets redirected to Sefton over Southport. Locals are a bit bitter as our town has been run down to prop others up, or so it feels.

@Beachwisher I second Southport (obviously) there’s lots of lovely areas to it. Walking distance to the beach you need Southport Town Centre, Ainsdale or Birkdale, other lovely parts a bit further out (5-10 mins on a bus) I’d really reccomend Churchtown - quaint thatched old fisherman’s village with an array of independents shops and restaurants and a Victorian botanical gardens. You get a lot for your money in Southport. My sister in law has just bought a 3 bed 1930s semi for £215k.

44 mins on the train to Liverpool central, an hour through the countryside on the Manchester line to city centre. Short drive or bus or train to Formby nature reserve to see red squirrels and the lovely beach.

Poulton Le FYLDE
Train to Blackpool, Preston and Manchester.
10 min to sea
Loads of cafe and bars

@C4tastrophe I have as well, and there is a large retired community there for sure. It is really lovely though; lots of independent shops and boutiques, cafés and restaurants. Nice prom, countryside etc.

Who knows what Fleetwood is like?

Morecambe on the up like every with Eden project going ahead
link rd to m6 and Lancaster main line station to Euston and you can get direct to Manchester in 55 minutes
you can be in the lakes in 40 minutes

What about Thornton-Cleveleys? It’s not an area I know well, just that it’s by the sea.

Having had to deal with an ongoing ‘family situation’ in Lytham St Anne’s while living in Manchester, I wouldn’t recommend it if you need to regularly get between the two. Preston is east but Manchester is a real hike.

It’s also a place where you might struggle for good GP services. There are so many elderly people in Lytham that the doctors’ surgeries are often overwhelmed.

It’s not a blanket disaster area by any stretch and there are some good GPs there. But it’s something to be aware of.