Manchester is a landlocked city in northwest England, and it doesn’t have a coastline or beaches directly within the city limits. However, you have many great choices as you have a stretch of coast running from North Wales through Merseyside, Lancashire and into the base of Cumbria. For this guide, we believe we have given you five excellent beach choices.
Southport Beach
This large, sandy beach is located on the Irish Sea, just a short drive from Manchester. It has a pier, a boating lake, and several amusement arcades. It is also home to some hotels and guesthouses.
- Driving distance: 83 km, 1 hour 24 mins.
- Parking: Plenty of parking is available at Southport Beach, both on-street and off-street.
- Train: Regular train service with one change, 1 hour 50 mins and then 20 min walk to the beach.
- Amenities: A fun-loving seaside town with attractions for all the family, a pier and an abundance of independent restaurants and bars.
- Activities: Southport Beach is a great place to relax and enjoy the sun and sea air. You have some great walks along the beach and dunes.
- More information: Southport Beach
West Kirby Beach
This is a small beach but at low tide expands into a wide, sandy beach is located on the Wirral Peninsula, just a short drive from Manchester. It has a large boating lake and several pubs and restaurants. It is also a popular spot for watersports, walking and cycling.
- Driving distance: 90 km, 1 hour 33 mins.
- Parking: Plenty of parking is available at West Kirby Beach, both on-street and off-street.
- Train: Just under 2 hours with one change. West Kirby station is just a 5-minute walk to the beach.
- Amenities: West Kirby Beach has various amenities, including a selection of places to eat and independent shops to explore.
- Activities: West Kirby Beach is a great place well known for its watersports. You have a nice walk around West Kirby Marine Lake.
- More information: West Kirby Beach
St Anne’s Beach
A quiet sandy beach with a pier a few miles down the coast from Blackpool.
- Driving distance: 86 km, 1 hour 10 minutes
- Parking: There are a number of pay and display car parks located near the beach.
- Train: Just over 1 and half hours with one change. St Annes station is a 10-minute walk to the pier and beach.
- Amenities: St Anne’s Pier is a popular spot as it offers a variety of restaurants, cafes, arcades, and gift shops.
- Activities: This is a lot more peaceful than its very noisy neighbour Blackpool, and is excellent for those wanting a beach rather than the distractions of amusement arcades.
- More information: St Anne’s Beach
Crosby Beach
A sandy beach with a modern sculpture installation by Antony Gormley and a coastal walking/cycling path.
- Driving distance: 68.4 km, 1 hour 18 minutes
- Parking: There are a number of pay and display car parks located near the beach.
- Train: Just over one and a half hours with one change. Blundellsands & Crosby Station is then a 10-minute walk to the beach.
- Amenities: home to a number of cafes and restaurants,
- Activities: The beach is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, and walking.
- More information: Crosby Beach
Llandudno Beach
The longest journey but has to be an option if you want a traditional seaside town with a choice of beaches, a pier, and some great views from the top of the Great Orme.
- Driving distance: 134 km, 1 hour 45 mins
- Parking: Plenty of parking is available at Thurstaston Beach, both on-street and off-street.
- Train: A longer journey with a couple of stops compared to the others at over 2 hours. Train station wits between the two beaches with under 10-minute walk to either.
- Amenities: Llandudno Beach is in the heart of a traditional Victorian seaside town with a selection of cafes, restaurants, a pier and shops.
- Activities: Swimming, sunbathing, birdwatching, walking
- More information: Llandudno Beaches
While Manchester doesn’t have immediate coastal access, these nearby beach destinations provide opportunities for a day trip or weekend getaway to enjoy the coast. These are just a few options, and many other beaches within a short drive of Manchester. It’s a good idea to check the weather forecast and tide times before heading to the beach, as some beaches may not be suitable for swimming at certain times.
If you want to research your own trip, why not start with our Lancashire, Mersyside, Cumbria and Conwy destination pages.
I hope this article helps you plan your next trip to the coast!