On Fylde’s doorstep…
Not far from St Annes on the Sea, Lytham or rural Fylde, there’s plenty of interesting places to explore and fantastic visitor attractions, including the bright lights of Blackpool, the Forest of Bowland, the market town of Garstang, the stunning Lake District National Park, the Fylde coastline up to Cleveleys (aka Niamos to Star Wars fans!) and Fleetwood and so much more.
Blackpool
The UK’s most popular holiday destination is just a short drive away. Take a lift to the top of Blackpool Tower, dance in the world famous Ballroom as seen on Strictly Come Dancing, visit the Pleasure Beach – the world’s most ride intensive amusement park with the Big One and ICON rollercoasters, not forgetting Valhalla. Take a stroll along the Golden Mile which includes Madame Tussaud’s, the Sealife Centre, the new Showtown museum of fun and entertainment and Coral Island and the Peter Rabbit (TM) attraction. Spend the day at the indoor Sandcastle Waterpark (the UK’s largest indoor waterpark) or take your pick from three historic piers – the choice is yours! If you want concerts, shows and comedy, choose from the Blackpool Opera House or the beautiful Frank Matcham designed Grand Theatre, or explore the wonderful 104 acre Stanley Park, recently voted the best park in England with its boating lake, art deco café and beautiful gardens. You may even hear a lion roar from nearby Blackpool Zoo! For more information about Blackpool click here
Image credit: Visit Blackpool
Fleetwood, Cleveleys and Garstang
Board the tram at Starr Gate and head to Fleetwood and visit Affinity Lancashire shopping village (formerly Freeport), visit Fleetwood Market, or take a stroll along the Promenade with spectacular views across Morecambe Bay towards the Lake District and Barrow. There’s the Marine Hall with a wide range of shows and exhibitions and the nearby boating lake and Mount Pavilion and don’t forget the annual ‘Tram Sunday’ in Fleetwood.
Marsh Mill in Wyre (pictured) is a working historic windmill in Thornton, adjacent to the popular multi award winning Twelve restaurant and nearby CRE8IV Little Theatre There’s the popular bustling seaside town of Cleveleys with its Promenade featuring an art trail and in the town there’s a wide arrange of shops and cafes. To Star Wars lovers, the promenade is also known as Niamos. Head to Garstang, where there is a weekly market on Thursdays and a good variety of shops, cafes and pubs and the annual popular walking festival which takes place in the nearby beautiful countryside.
Not far from Garstang is the popular multi award winning Dewlay Cheese and also Barton Grange Garden Centre – ideal for gifts, homewares, plants or a tasty lunch in the Riverside Restaurant, or the Flower Bowl Entertainment Centre, which features bowling, cinema, curling and more.
For more information click here
Lancashire – the Red Rose County
On Fylde’s doorstep, the rest of the historic county of Lancashire offers you the opportunity to explore the Ribble Valley, Morecambe Bay, the Forest of Bowland AONB and wide open stunning scenery.
If you’re a lover of food, head to the multi award winning Northcote, with a Michelin starred restaurant with fine dining, or the Assheton Arms in beautiful Downham, Freemasons at Wiswell or Holmes Mill (pictured). Explore Clitheroe Castle or jump on board a steam train at Rawtenstall and head to Bury on the East Lancashire Railway, and it’s also full steam ahead in Preston on the Ribble Steam Railway.
For more information on things to do in Lancashire click here
Further afield…
About an hours drive away is the Lake District National Park with Bowness, Windermere, Ambleside, Keswick and Ullswater to name but a few, all offering stunning scenery across to the Fells, steam trains and boat trips on the lakes, such as the Coniston Steamer. The Lake District is also home to the world of Beatrix Potter and Grasmere Gingerbread. An hour in the opposite direction from Fylde you could visit Manchester or Liverpool for the big city experience including shopping, shows, entertainment or football.
