Best beaches near Blackpool

This is Blackpool’s main beach that runs between the South and Central piers. The Central Beach is backed by a recently renovated sea wall and a promenade which is part of the Golden Mile that personifies everything that the vibrant seaside resort has come to be known for. The beach itself is sandy and it stretches out for miles in front of visitors at low tide. It has all you could want from a resort beach - buckets and spades, ice creams, donkey rides and deckchair hire.

The area around is Blackpool at its best – full of life, noise, sights and sounds! However, all you need to do is walk a little way from the promenade and you may find the beach more tranquil than you think. Lifeguards patrol the beach so taking a dip is most certainly an option, otherwise simply relax on your deckchair with a good book. Dogs are not allowed on the beach between 1 May and 30 September between North Pier and the Mirror Ball and they must be kept on a lead at all times on the promenade between North and South Piers.

Blackpool South Beach is the name given to the wide expanse of sand south of Blackpool’s South Pier. If you are looking for some adrenaline fuelled fun, then South Pier is the place for you! Attractions include all the traditional amusements from trampolines to roller coasters, dodgems to waltzers. The south shore is a sandy beach but is perhaps more famous for The Blackpool Pleasure Beach - the amusement park just over the road - rather than the beach itself. The skyline is dominated by the outline of “The Big One” - Europe’s fastest and scariest rollercoaster, if reports are to be believed!

However, if you cross over the road and walk out onto South Beach, you will discover that it is actually quieter than the beaches further up The Golden Mile. There is also a promenade running alongside the beach which hosts a series of sculptures and other interesting installations such as a rotating wind shelter that is designed to rotate and give visitors optimal protection from the bracing sea breezes. There is pay parking available but in peak times, this could be a short walk from the beach. The drive from Haven Marton Mere Holiday Park is only 14 minutes away so you’ll be out of your caravan and lying back on the beach in a deckchair with an ice cream in your hand in no time at all.

Cleveleys is located just four miles north of the bright lights of lively Blackpool, but it feels a world apart. The town is much quieter and more tranquil than the famous resort down the road. The beach front here is a vast expanse of sand and while the sea may be a long way off in the distance at low tide, there are plenty of pools to paddle in. The water quality at Cleveleys is very high which helps support a wide range of sea life and if you’re lucky you may even spot a seal out at sea.

Backed by a promenade and the Jubilee Gardens, there are lots of local shops and cafes close at hand, as well as an amusement arcade. One of the main attractions of Cleveleys is the art installations that include a large shell so big you can walk inside it and a massive stone ogre that is covered up at high tide. As for amenities, there is good parking across the road from the beach and coined toilets.

Fleetwood is famously home to a lovely sea front and one of the best beaches near Blackpool. The clean, sandy beach is backed by pretty beach huts and boasts fantastic views out to the Forest of Bowland, the Lake District and Morecambe Bay. Walk the length of the promenade parallel to the sea and you’re likely see some spectacular kites being flown.

Fleetwood itself is an interesting place and has plenty of historical information available throughout the town which brings its history to life. There are also two operational lighthouses, one of which is inland. Fleetwood allows dogs on the majority of the beach throughout the year, but a section is restricted from 1 June to 31 August. Lifeguards patrol the beach and there is free parking right next door so there’s no reason to miss out on a trip to Fleetwood when you’re in the area.

This beautiful spot is found in a scenic expanse of sand and mudflats that make up Morecambe Bay. In fact, this is the largest expanse of intertidal mudflats and sand in the UK, covering a total area of 120 square miles! While the beach itself is mainly sandy and is quite popular during the summer, you should be warned before visiting that the beach is notorious for its quicksand and fast-moving tides. Paddling is possible but we strongly advise that you check the local tide times before doing so. There’s no lifeguard cover at Morecambe, but beach patrol officers are on duty.

Parking is available at the Battery and Bay Arena by the promenade. Dogs are banned on the beach from 1st May to 30th September but are allowed on the promenade year-round if they are on leads. Don’t leave Morecambe without trying out the Stone Jetty Café, which is, true to its name, located on a long, stone jetty offering a walking path decorated with unique ornaments including bird and animal sculptures and offering bay vistas over to the Lake District and perhaps even our Lakeland Holiday Park.

Lytham St Annes is a great option for those looking to avoid the hustle and bustle of Blackpool’s beaches. The vast beach lies on the estuary of the River Ribble and is almost never busy, even on the hottest days. The sea rarely comes fully in so there is plenty of space to enjoy the sand plus there is a paddling pool near the pier for younger children.

St Annes also boasts a stately Victoria Pier and Promenade where you will find a range of shops, restaurants and amusements, so there's plenty of things to do for all ages. Make sure you check out the chip shop at the head of the pier, you won’t regret it! Parking is available by the pier, and this is where the toilets are also located. Please note that there are no toilet facilities on the pier itself.

Anchorsholme Beach straddles the boundary between Cleveleys and the borough of Blackpool. The pretty, sandy beach plays host to some of the best sunsets in the UK. Depending on the depth of sand on the beach at low tide, you might be able to see the wooden ribs of the Abana shipwreck which ran aground on December 22, 1894.

The seafront promenade road, going south from Cleveleys to Blackpool called Prince’s Way has always been a really popular spot with visitors from near and far. It provides ample parking right next to the sea so it’s the ideal spot to stop and eat your fish & chips whilst enjoying the excellent views out to sea. Anchorsholme is a 10-minute drive from Haven Cala Gran Holiday Park and 20 from Haven Marton Mere Holiday Park, so wherever you choose to stay with us, this beach is an option.

North of the new sea defences in Cleveleys is Rossall Beach, a sand and shingle number that is glorious at the height of summer. The northern stretch of Cleveleys’ coastline is a more natural landscape than the formal, central section of seafront, making it great for exploration. The scenic spot retains a dry section of shingle near the wall even when the tide is high on the roughest of days, so there’s always somewhere for you to enjoy all the fabulous views and sunsets, and watch the world go by.

Rossall Beach is a very popular spot with visitors to the area as you can park right against the sea wall. At just a five-minute drive from our excellent Haven Cala Gran Holiday Park, this has to be one of our top recommendations for beaches near Blackpool.