Blackpool Beach UK

Summer or winter, in shorts or big coats, there’s nothing like a walk on the many miles of golden sand on Blackpool beach UK! Or pitch a deck chair, build sandcastles, play football or just enjoy the views. There’s a bit of beach for everyone!

The whole of the Fylde Coast from Fleetwood in the north to Lytham and St Annes in is fronted by a golden, sandy beach. Walk part of it – or the whole stretch if you prefer!

Golden Sands and Miles of Blackpool Beach UK!

You’ll find Blackpool beach in the North West of the UK – it’s probably one of the most famous holiday towns in England! It also has a very long seafront – seven miles from end to end. Stretching from the boundary with St Annes at Squires Gate Lane, all the way to Anchorsholme in the north and the boundary with neighbouring Cleveleys.

Over those seven miles there’s space for everyone – whether you prefer a quiet coastal walk or like the bustle of a holiday beach. Some of it is very quiet and feels like a remote island (north and south) while the central section is full of life!

Take a look at just one part of it – and find out what all 7 miles have in common –

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Blackpool South Shore

It’s quiet and peaceful beyond South Pier and the Sandcastle, with a wide promenade, plenty of space and there’s even an art trail to follow.

Pop into the Solaris Centre Cafe for a brew and a bite to eat – with public toilets close on hand here too. You can park against the beach in one of the many on-street pay and display bays.

If you’re going to see dolphin or porpoise, here’s where you’re most likely to spot them! Explore the sea-bees which form the sea wall. These artificial concrete cogs are designed to dissipate the waves but they create perfect rock pools when the tide goes out. You’ll find all kinds of plants and sea creatures in them, waiting for the tide to return.

The beach between South and Central Pier is also reasonably quiet too. Waterloo headland (pictured below) is wide and open with amazing views over the beach.

• Explore more of South shore and beach

Central – the Busiest Blackpool Beach UK!

Between Central and North Pier, adjacent to Tower Festival Headland is the busiest of Blackpool’s seaside beaches. It’s where you’ll find attractions, amusements, donkeys, deckchairs, and lots of people! This is Blackpool at its best – full of life, noise, sights and sounds!

Central beach in front of The Blackpool Tower is the busiest bit of beach. It’s where families play and people set up camp for the day, to sunbathe and enjoy time at the coast. Hire a deckchair or sit on the steps – the huge stepped sea defence is a big enough seat for everyone!

Walk a few metres out from the promenade onto the golden sand… and peace descends, especially when the tide is out. It’s the best of both worlds and curious how, by walking just a few yards, the world completely changes from one extreme to another.

• Explore more of Central Blackpool beach

Blackpool North Beach

Beyond North Pier is another world again. It’s quieter on the beach here. Enjoy the views from the higher seafront promenade walks at the Colonnades adjacent to the Imperial Hotel.

Travel further north, beyond Gynn Square to Bispham, and the seafront changes quite dramatically, rising to tall grassy banks and cliffs. Here you’ve got a perfect view over the beach.

• Explore more of Blackpool North Shore.
• And don’t forget there are lots of other pages to look at in this Seafront section!

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Why everyone loves Blackpool Beach UK!

These gorgeous, golden sandy Blackpool beaches are enjoyed by people for many reasons.

Here’s our list of top 10 reasons to come to Blackpool Beach. What else would you do? Why don’t you leave a comment below?

1. It’s a perfect place for a long walk in winter or summer
2. Brilliant for building sandcastles
3. Sit in a deckchair and sunbathe
4. Take a donkey ride!
5. Great for sea angling and fishing
6. Great for kayaking
7. Usually plenty of wind for kitesurfing
8. Likewise, plenty of space – and wind – to fly a kite
9. Photographing the beautiful sunsets and views
10. Enjoy the Great British Weather!
11. Look out for all kinds of wildlife – from sea birds to invertebrates, worms and fish!
12. Collect litter – take a bag with you and pick up what you find. Every little bit of litter that’s removed helps the environment.
….and loads of other good reasons you can probably think of!

Donkey Rides on Blackpool Beaches

Everyone’s favourite – the seaside donkey – can still be found on central Blackpool beach.

The donkeys are very well looked after. They have an annual veterinarian inspection and aren’t allowed to work more than 48 hours a week. Did you know they also have Fridays off!

• Much more here about the tradition of seaside donkeys and our own Blackpool herds.

Catch a Great Photo!

We all love a great Blackpool beach photo and we bet that you’ve taken LOADS over the years! Why don’t you share them?

Post them in the Visit Fylde Coast Facebook Group and don’t forget you can add them to the VFC Coast Watchers timeline too. That way they’ll create a permanent record of your moment in time! By adding your photos to Coast Watchers they’ll form part of our archive – we’re capturing history as it happens.

Look out for Wildlife

Blackpool’s big open beaches might look quite bare at first glance. But if you look closely there’s all kinds of wildlife around you! There’s a few places where you can look first –

• Look in the strandline at the top of the beach – the line of sticks, twigs and debris left behind by the retreating tide. You’ll often find shells, egg cases from sharks and rays and the round balls of whelk egg cases. It can be surprising what you see, washed up and left behind in the strandline!
• Pools of water left behind in indentations in the beach often trap small shrimps. Look carefully in the water and see what else you can find?
• Head under the piers and explore the pools which form around the metalwork legs. The legs themselves are also home to barnacles and sometimes mussels. They get draped with left-behind seaweed – how many types can you identify?
• Walk out to the waters edge (but watch for the tide coming in behind you!). As the sea washes into shore it carries all kinds of things with it. There’ll be shells and seaweed that you can see – but all kinds of small fish and creatures which sea birds love to eat! That’s why you’ll see them following the tide – they’re feasting on what it carries along.
• Look out for sea birds and see how many species you can spot? From Autumn to Spring you’ll see the huge clouds of starling murmurations, coming to roost on the piers. It’s quite a sight!
• Keep an eye out on the horizon too – because if you’re lucky you might see a porpoise – or even a dolphin!

Look After the Beach

Please look after the beach. When you come to the beach, please either take your litter with you or put it in one of the many bins which are provided. Remember that litter left on the beach or promenade can end up in the sea. It not only pollutes the water, but it’s a big danger to wildlife.

Did you know? the rubbish that you leave on Blackpool beach usually washes up a few days later on the beach a bit further north at Cleveleys?

Anyone can litter pick on the beach – just pop what you find in one of the many large bins which are provided (then clean your hands!) You can also join an organised litter pick – SEA LIFE Blackpool organise regular ones.

Dogs on Blackpool Beaches

Please, wherever your dog does it’s business, at whatever time of the year, be a responsible owner. Pick up the poo, bag it and bin it.

In common with most seaside resorts, dogs are prohibited from the main Blackpool bathing beaches during the summer season. Find all the details at the link.

Enjoy Blackpool Beach all Year Round…

We bet the first thing you’d associate with ‘Blackpool beach’ is a hot, sunny day, packed with people.

But the beach is a great place to visit all year round. You can enjoy great weather in the middle of winter – albeit perhaps not quite as warm! Not the middle of winter, but March when this next clip was filmed. Mad March winds!

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You know what they say. There’s no such things as bad weather – just the wrong clothes!

You might actually be a fan of bad weather – lots of us are. OK, so really bad weather is a nightmare to go out in. By ‘really bad’ we mean heavy winds and driving, horizontal rain! But on a sunny, windy day the seaside is bracing. It makes a fabulous display with the waves and it really invigorates! Organise a winter day-trip – pack wellingtons and a flask of hot tea and enjoy a bracing walk before warming up indoors. It’s great fun.

Then of course there’s the amazing West coast sunsets, lighting up the sky in red, yellow and gold. Add the spectacle of a famous Blackpool starling murmuration and it’s a sight to be seen!

…but Watch the Tides!

Most of the seafront from Blackpool to Cleveleys is tidal – which means that the beach is covered completely by the incoming sea twice a day. You can get todays tides times at this link.

But a couple of small areas of beach at central Blackpool do remain dry at high tide. Head for these if you fancy a day on the beach when the tide is in. One of these dry beaches is near to Central Pier.

Always be aware of keeping safe when you’re on the beach. Remember that the sea can be dangerous. Always read and observe the safety signs at the entrance to the beach.

Enjoy the beach to your heart’s content, but always remember basic beach safety. You will never outrun the tide and the sea can kill. Don’t use a lilo or similar on an outgoing tide, watch the incoming tide, and don’t get cut off on sandbanks.

If in any doubt ring 999 and ask for the Coastguard.