Most people know Blackpool. They know the Tower, the trams, and the very particular kind of chaos that descends on a bank holiday weekend. What fewer people know is a few miles down the Fylde Coast, in the opposite direction from all that noise. One of Lancashire‘s most genuinely lovely destinations.
Lytham St Annes is technically two towns that grew into each other. They have never quite stopped arguing about who is the more refined. The good news is that for families on a day out, both sides of the debate are well worth your time.
At A Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Fylde Coast, Lancashire, FY8 |
| Best For | Families, beach lovers, and anyone fleeing Blackpool |
| St Annes Highlight | St Annes Pier and Ashton Gardens |
| Lytham Highlight | Lytham Green, the Windmill, and Fairhaven Lake |
| Getting There | Train to St Annes-on-Sea or Lytham from Preston; M55 by car |
| Parking | Ample and reasonably priced throughout both towns |
| Postcode for GPS | FY8 1NW (St Annes Pier) or FY8 5LH (Lytham Green) |
St Annes: Buckets, Beaches, and a Pier Worth Walking
St Annes is where most families should start their day. It gives the children something to do immediately upon arrival. The beach here is wide, clean, and properly golden in the way that Lancashire beaches can surprise you by being. It is not the Med, and nobody is pretending otherwise. On a bright day with a decent wind coming off the Irish Sea, it is exactly the kind of beach that makes children sprint ahead and parents feel quietly smug about their day trip choices.
St Annes Pier, which has been welcoming visitors since 1885, is a pleasant stroll over the water and provides the obligatory arcade machines that children consider non-negotiable on any seaside visit. There are also a couple of places to grab food and a coffee, which makes it a useful pit stop once the initial beach excitement has been thoroughly exhausted.
Ashton Gardens – Surprisingly Substantial
Just a short walk back from the seafront, Ashton Gardens is one of those places that earns its keep without any fuss. It is a beautifully maintained park with a duck pond, colourful flower beds, a children’s play area, and a café that is popular for good reason. It is the kind of place where you can sit with a coffee, while the children do several thousand laps of the play area, and feel entirely at peace with the world.
For families who want to squeeze in a little culture, the St Annes heritage mural is tucked away and well worth seeking out. Embroidered by a local group over an extraordinary number of hours, it tells the story of the town in seven panels. It is the sort of thing that children will glance at briefly (this is boring, Mum!) and adults will stand in front of for considerably longer than expected.
Lytham: Greens, Windmills, and a Lake That Earns Its Reputation
Lytham has always carried itself with a certain quiet confidence. It is the kind of place where the bunting goes up for the cricket and people genuinely use the word ‘pleasant’ without any irony whatsoever. This is not a criticism. On a family day out, pleasant is exactly what you need by mid-afternoon.
The centrepiece of Lytham is the Green, a long, open stretch of grass running along the seafront that gives the town much of its distinctive character. At one end stands the Lytham Windmill, a genuine working windmill that is now a free-to-enter heritage centre.
It is one of those understated local landmarks that punches well above its weight as a photo opportunity and a conversation starter with curious children. ‘Why is there a windmill on the seafront?’ is a question that leads, with a little encouragement, to a surprisingly engaging conversation about the history of the Fylde Coast.
Fairhaven Lake is perhaps the best-kept secret in the whole of Lytham St Annes for families. Sitting between the two towns, this saltwater lake offers [deep breath]:
- Rowing boats and motor launches for hire
- An adventure golf course
- Tennis courts
- A playground, and
- A cafe on the water’s edge (caffeine addicts rejoice!)
It is the sort of place that can absorb a couple of hours without anyone noticing, which is the highest possible compliment you can pay a family attraction.
The Lytham Festival
If you are visiting in summer, keep an eye on the events calendar for Lytham Green. The Lytham Festival brings some genuinely big names to a stage on the seafront every July. The atmosphere of an open-air concert with the Irish Sea as a backdrop is hard to beat (as long as the weather plays nicely). For families with older children, it is a memorable evening out.
I remember seeing that Kings of Leon were booked to play at the Lytham Festival in 2025. Unfortunately, the lead singer broke his heel, leading to emergency surgery and the cancellation of the gig. This ruined one of my favourite mental images which was imagining the pleasant folk of Lytham hearing “Woooooaaaahh, YOUR SEX IS ON FIRE!” at jet-engine decibel levels. Pearls may well have been clutched.
Where to Eat and Drink
Both towns have solid options for families, ranging from traditional seaside fare to something a little more considered.
| Venue | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ashton Gardens Café | A mid-morning family pause | Handy, relaxed, and right next to the playground |
| Fairhaven Lake Café | Lunch with a view | Right on the water; good for a proper sit-down break |
| The Lytham Kitchen | A step up from café fare | Popular independent with a strong local following |
| Papillon | A treat for grown-ups | One of the best-regarded independents in the town centre |
| The Trawl Boat Inn | Traditional fish and chips | A local institution; do not leave without trying the chips |
Essential Information
- By Train: Both Lytham and St Annes-on-Sea have their own stations, served by regular trains from Preston. It is a genuinely easy car-free day out from across the North West.
- By Car: Exit the M55 at Junction 4 and follow the signs for Lytham St Annes. Parking is available throughout both town centres and along the seafront, and is considerably less stressful than Blackpool on a busy day.
- Getting Between the Two Towns: Lytham and St Annes are walkable from each other along the coastal path, which takes roughly 25 to 30 minutes at a relaxed family pace. Fairhaven Lake sits neatly between them and makes an ideal midway stop.
- Best Time to Visit: Late spring through to early autumn gives you the best of the beaches and the outdoor attractions. Summer brings the Lytham Festival and the Kite Festival at St Annes Beach in September, which is spectacular and completely free.
- Postcode for GPS: FY8 1NW for St Annes Pier, or FY8 5LH for Lytham Green and the Windmill.
Final Thoughts
Lytham St Annes is one of those destinations that tends to convert sceptics on first visit. People arrive expecting a quieter version of Blackpool and find something altogether different: two distinct, characterful towns that between them offer beaches, parks, history, good food, and a pace of life that feels genuinely restorative.
For a family day out on the Fylde Coast, it is hard to think of anywhere that offers more variety without requiring military-level organisation. Let the children loose on the beach in St Annes, walk the Green in Lytham, hire a rowing boat on Fairhaven Lake, and finish with fish and chips. There are worse ways to spend a Tuesday.
If you are making a weekend of it, Blackpool is on the doorstep for a contrast in styles, and Southport to the south offers another excellent day on the coast.
