Best beaches near Manchester

Blackpool remains Britain’s archetypal seaside resort. Alongside its Golden Mile, piers, amusement arcades, tram and donkey rides, fish-and-chip shops, candyfloss stalls and glitzy venues, it boasts six miles of beach - the tide ebb is half a mile, leaving plenty of sand at low tide - a revamped prom and an increasingly attractive, gentrified centre. It’s a whole lotta fun here! The major draw is Blackpool Pleasure Beach on the South Promenade, just south of South Pier - an exciting array of amusements close to the sand. It’s been popular since the arrival of the railways in the mid-19th century enabling Lancashire cotton workers to enjoy a day beside the sea.

Looking for more UK attractions? London city breaks are always a good idea!

Bill Bryson, writing in Notes from a Small Island, named Llandudno his favourite British beach town, calling it "a fine and handsome place". And so it remains. This is one of Britain’s best examples of the genteel Victorian resort, and on a sunny day it offers quintessential seaside charm. There’s a splendid, 700ft-long pier and an increasingly sophisticated range of accommodation and restaurants. It’s a popular place to relax and chill by the water - and to grab some fish and chips of course!

The seaside resort of Morecambe lies five miles west of Lancaster. The sweep of the bay is the major attraction, with the Lake District fells visible beyond, while the Stone Jetty features bird motifs and sculptures - recognizing Morecambe Bay as Britain’s most important wintering site for wildfowl and wading birds. A little way along the prom is a statue of one of Britain’s most treasured comedians - Eric Bartholomew, who took the stage name Eric Morecambe when he met his comedy partner, Ernie Wise. It’s a wonderful spot to perch for an afternoon by the water.

Filey, half a dozen miles north up the coast from Bempton, is at the very edge of the Yorkshire Wolds (and technically in North Yorkshire). It has a good deal more class as a resort than Bridlington, retaining many of its Edwardian features, including some splendid panoramic gardens. It, too, claims miles of wide sandy beach, stretching most of the way south to Flamborough Head and north the mile or so to the jutting rocks of Filey Brigg, where a nature trail wends for a couple of miles through the surroundings. This is one of the cleanest beaches of the bunch making it one of the best sandy beaches near Manchester.