Near Blackpool Is A Coastal Town With Beaches, Family-Friendly Fun, And Sea Views

In Lancashire on the northwest coast of England, you'll find a roughly 15-mile stretch along the Irish Sea known as the Fylde Coast. The coast's most well-known destination is Blackpool, but if you want something quieter and less crowded, travel 5 miles south to the small town of St Annes on the Sea, known simply as St Annes. This historic coastal retreat makes for an engaging day trip (or more) thanks to its broad, sandy beach, beautiful sea views, historic promenade, and activities for all ages.

St Annes is often paired with neighboring Lytham, so much so that the two have grown together and are often referred to as Lytham St Annes. However, St Annes is very much its own town, dating back to the late 1800s. A businessman by the name of Elijah Hargreaves was visiting the coast in the 1870s and found the area so appealing that he wanted to build a seaside getaway here to attract visitors. Construction started in 1875, and when you take a stroll along the Promenade, you get a feel for the town's turn-of-the-century development through Victorian and Edwardian architecture. You can even stay in a bit of history — the Grand Hotel is a luxury spot first opened in the late 19th century, and many rooms have sea views.

You can find cafes and ice cream shops lining the Promenade — every beach trip deserves ice cream. For something a bit more filling, The View serves classic English fish and chips along with pub favorites like baked potatoes and meat pies. You can eat there and see why the restaurant got its name — it has a deck that overlooks the beach — or you can take your food to go for an easy picnic. Just keep your eyes out for gulls.

The main attraction in St Annes is its broad, sandy beach. It stretches for miles from north to south, and when there's a low tide, a vast expanse of sand sits between you and the water. While you can stake your claim on the sand with a beach chair (make sure to check our packing list for the ultimate day at the beach), you can also rent one of St Annes' traditional beach huts. These small structures come with mini-kitchens, electricity, and seating, so you can take a shaded, comfortable break from the sand and have a private place to store your stuff.

During the summer, there are beach activities for children, such as bouncy houses and donkey rides. There are two bathing areas, with one near the pier and the other about a mile north. If your little ones would rather stay out of the sea, the seafront has a small pool for kids, as well as a splash pad. Both are seasonal. The pool is free, but the splash pad charges a small fee, and booking is advised. As one splash pad visitor noted on Google Maps reviews, "definitely pre book, sessions sell out fast on hot days. Tip ... You only need to book for the children as adults are free."

Another popular attraction is St Annes Pier, opened in 1885. Walk out to the end of the 600-foot-long pier and enjoy the views, or try your luck at the amusement arcade. It's got a timeless feel; one person wrote on Tripadvisor that they "loved the place, very nostalgic and brough[t] back childhood memories ... highly recommended visiting if you have never been."

For more family-friendly activities in St Annes, Little Links has a putt-putt course, putting green, and an 18-hole "pitch n putt" course. First opened in 1934, it's a fun place to spend an hour or two. Between the Promenade and the high tide line of the beach are dunes criss-crossed with trails and a specialized ecosystem of grasses, flowers, and wildlife, including rare sand lizards. The dunes are kept healthy and even grow larger, in part, by "planting" old Christmas trees in January as another layer of defense against winter storms, according to Visit St Annes. For a unique perspective on the seafront, take a ride through the dunes and around Little Links on the St Annes Miniature Railway.

Early or late summer is arguably the best time to visit England, and that largely applies to St Annes as well. Summer is the high season, with August being the busiest month. You could also plan your trip around the St Annes International Kite Festival. This free, three-day event brings in thousands of people to watch hundreds of colorful kites in the sky, with fliers coming to St Annes from around the world. It's held along the beach near the pier around late August or into September, depending on the tides.

The closest major international airport is Manchester Airport (MAN). From there, you can be in St Annes in as little as two hours via train, or in just over an hour in a car. If you're coming up from London, it takes about three hours by train. While you're in the area, the pretty beachfront town of Fleetwood, located at the opposite end of the Fylde Coast about 12 miles away from St Annes, is well worth exploring.