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Original poster

Lancashire coast

123 replies

Beachwisher · 08/02/2023 14:18

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.

OP posts:
BobbinThreadbare123 · 11/02/2023 15:14

Basically, move to where there is a Booths.

Original poster
Beachwisher · 11/02/2023 22:55

I had to Google Booths!!!

Definitely I need to spend a view days looking round and getting a feel of each area. Some of the villages mentioned a bit inland do sound lovely but I definitely want to be walkable to the seafront.

OP posts:
Rebellious23 · 11/02/2023 23:34

Beachwisher · 11/02/2023 22:55

I had to Google Booths!!!

Definitely I need to spend a view days looking round and getting a feel of each area. Some of the villages mentioned a bit inland do sound lovely but I definitely want to be walkable to the seafront.

Booths is lovely

It's very much a treat shop for me. Or you know when you get a recipe and see an ingredient and think "where on earth do I get that?!"
Booths is the answer Grin

ohnoitsyou · 11/02/2023 23:43

DO NOT go to Southport or Morecambe, that's all I'm saying!

Humdrum123 · 12/02/2023 06:56

Arnside, Silverdale and Lytham all great. However I would get ahead of the inevitable boom that’s coming to Morecambe with the Eden Project. Some lovely houses still at a reasonable price and the bay itself is magnificent. One of my favourite views in the world. Just glorious when you see all the way across the bay. Had many lovely walks there followed by a cocktail in The Midland.

JussathoB · 12/02/2023 07:28

Why does everyone keep mentioning going to Manchester? Did the OP want to go there regularly?

rwalker · 12/02/2023 07:41

JussathoB · 12/02/2023 07:28

Why does everyone keep mentioning going to Manchester? Did the OP want to go there regularly?

It’s the nearest place for major events like concerts
shopping and night out in an easily commutable distance with good transport link

NoWordForFluffy · 12/02/2023 07:53

rwalker · 12/02/2023 07:41

It’s the nearest place for major events like concerts
shopping and night out in an easily commutable distance with good transport link

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That's Liverpool for some of us!

NoWordForFluffy · 12/02/2023 07:53

ohnoitsyou · 11/02/2023 23:43

DO NOT go to Southport or Morecambe, that's all I'm saying!

Well, that's helpful. Care to elaborate on that?

JussathoB · 12/02/2023 07:58

I grew up in St Anne’s and elderly relatives still live there. Lytham St Anne’s and Lytham both nice, fresh air, walks, cafes etc. Blackpool has its problems but on a bright day it’s fun to visit and there’s miles of beach and prom. Lots of elderly people. The closest cities obviously are Manchester or Liverpool but neither are that close so suit better an occasional visit. Train line to St Anne’s was always poor, people used to use the buses or drive.
Nice enough place to live but quietish. North of St Anne’s pier is great for a dog. Not much swimming in the sea though!

JussathoB · 12/02/2023 08:03

Tynemouth in the North East has more going on in the sea eg paddle boarding and personally I love the coast down south between Bournemouth and Southampton. However it’s very expensive down there. Depends where you want to be.
I would have thought there’s more going on around Lytham etc than there is in Grange over sands and the coast/beaches are more attractive? Don’t want to offend anyone from Grange over sands, maybe I’m just biased because of where I spent my childhood!

Sunflowers86 · 12/02/2023 08:08

Arnside . . . Little but lovely.

Silverdale has the most beautiful beach.

But, the most thriving on the list is Lytham. Lots of lovely shops, cafes etc.

HellcatSpangledShalalala · 12/02/2023 08:19

Beachwisher · 11/02/2023 22:55

I had to Google Booths!!!

Definitely I need to spend a view days looking round and getting a feel of each area. Some of the villages mentioned a bit inland do sound lovely but I definitely want to be walkable to the seafront.

Yes that's definitely the best idea, only a few miles separate each town on the Fylde coast but they all have very different feels.

Booths is basically the NW's version of Waitrose (but nicer!).

NoWordForFluffy · 12/02/2023 08:39

HellcatSpangledShalalala · 12/02/2023 08:19

Yes that's definitely the best idea, only a few miles separate each town on the Fylde coast but they all have very different feels.

Booths is basically the NW's version of Waitrose (but nicer!).

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Formby only has a Waitrose (and it's not a nice one at that!). Booths is far superior. 😁

Original poster
Beachwisher · 12/02/2023 08:45

@JussathoB I mentioned the links to Manchester, where I have family. I do love other parts of the country but would prefer to be in the north west.

I can see from all the local knowledge on this thread that whilst it’s not necessarily the quickest, there is public transport available, so I’m happy with that.

OP posts:
C4tastrophe · 12/02/2023 08:51

rwalker · 12/02/2023 07:41

It’s the nearest place for major events like concerts
shopping and night out in an easily commutable distance with good transport link

Show quote history

Forgive my ignorance, but in summer doesn’t Blackpool have the full range of entertainment and nights out?

Kaftankween · 12/02/2023 08:55

Blundellsands, Formby. Both lovely. Expensive to buy property. We moved up from London. More expensive than we expected.

Original poster
Beachwisher · 12/02/2023 08:56

@NoWordForFluffy @HellcatSpangledShalalala theres no Waitrose near me right now but I have been in a couple and loved the peace and quiet. Sounds like I’d spend a fortune in Booths, but if there’s also Lidl and Aldi I’ll be fine!

OP posts:
GuyFawkesDay · 12/02/2023 08:57

C4tastrophe · 12/02/2023 08:51

Forgive my ignorance, but in summer doesn’t Blackpool have the full range of entertainment and nights out?

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Depends on your tastes I suppose!

rwalker · 12/02/2023 16:06

ohnoitsyou · 11/02/2023 23:43

DO NOT go to Southport or Morecambe, that's all I'm saying!

Grew up in the outskirts of morecambe still have a lot of friends and family there

the prom is stunning ,new m6 link rd , historical Lancaster next door,30 minutes to the lakes ,Eden project due to be built definitely on the up if not going to boom

the west end that had loads of flats and HMO bit rough have been regenerated by housing association into family homes

arndale centre grim but shopping in Lancaster or Preston 30 minutes away
winter gardens theatre brought back to life as well as art deco midland hotel

schools bit up and down Lancaster has grammar school
Like everywhere there’s a handful of streets a touch rough

C4tastrophe · 12/02/2023 16:14

GuyFawkesDay · 12/02/2023 08:57

Depends on your tastes I suppose!

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Darts, pool, karaoke, horse racing on big screen tv.

No, comedy nights, live music, musicals, bit of theater.
I guess there’s a coast road bus service between Lytham and Blackpool anyhow?

Isleoftights · 12/02/2023 16:34

C4tastrophe · Today 08:51
Forgive my ignorance, but in summer doesn’t Blackpool have the full range of entertainment and nights out?

Yes, it does have a full range of entertainment. The Grand Theatre Blackpool, will this summer be featuring - inter alia - Opera (la boheme, and madame butterfly), straight theatre (The Mousetrap), Titanic the musical, Rocky Horror Show, and stand up (Dara O Briain, and Frankie Boyle).

HellcatSpangledShalalala · 12/02/2023 16:58

@C4tastrophe the buses from Lytham to Blackpool (town centre) go inland once they reach Blackpool Starr Gate but you can jump off and onto a tram to stay on the coast, which is all on the same ticket if you get one of the Blackpool transport buses rather than a stagecoach one.

Whether you would go on a night out in Blackpool is definitely down to personal taste! But there is plenty of good entertainment.

C4tastrophe · 12/02/2023 17:29

@HellcatSpangledShalalala @Isleoftights thanks. Pretty sure Blackpool would be good for a night out. I’m no longer young so can just sit back and enjoy the spectacle while practically invisible to partygoers.

ChicCroissant · 12/02/2023 18:04

Echoing what other posters have said, there is a train service from Southport to Manchester (with a change near Manchester). If you want to walk to the beach you'd be looking at the shore-side of Birkdale which is more pricey.

Formby is nice, had a Waitrose there when I lived nearby. Blundellsands/Waterloo in Liverpool (near Crosby) has a beach with the statues, both have a Merseyrail train station that you could get into Liverpool to get a mainline service to Manchester. The nearest Booths would be Burscough (that has a canal but no beach!).

Hope you find somewhere suitable OP, enjoy the research and visits!