Visit Lytham St Annes for Golf and Traditional Seaside Fun!
Lytham St Annes is an affluent seaside resort in Lancashire. It grew from two separate villages, namely Lytham which is near the mouth of the River Ribble, and St Annes-on-the-Sea which is to the north near Blackpool. It is arguably best known for its selection of excellent golf courses, including Royal Lytham & St Annes which is a regular host of the Open Championship. It also benefits from close proximity to Blackpool Airport and a railway line with direct links to Blackpool with its numerous hotels and tourist attractions.
Shopping in Lytham St Annes
The Square on St Annes Road West is a major shopping destination in the town. Located a short walk from the railway station, it’s home to many well-known high street chains and local, independent stores. Attractive borders of shrubs and flowers enhance the majestic Victorian buildings and, on the first Thursday of each month, a farmers market is held here. Nearby Wood Street, also known as the Café or Restaurant Quarter, is the place to go for a wide range of eateries. Clifton Drive South offers a great selection of hotels and b&bs to suit most budgets and tastes. For those staying in Lytham, the Clifton Walk Shopping Centre on Clifton Street offers more shopping opportunities with a similar range of high street stores and restaurants. A highlight here is the beautiful mosaic ‘Paradise Garden’ by Maggy Howarth on Clifton Square; it depicts a windmill, the red rose of Lancashire and other motifs that reflect local culture.
St Annes Beach and Pier
Arguably the town’s best tourist attraction, the lovely St Annes Beach offers a large expanse of gorgeous golden sand, perfect for building sandcastles. Visitors can enjoy traditional seaside experiences here such as donkey rides and there’s also a nature reserve with paths that wind through beautiful sand dunes speckled with rare wild flowers. Along the seafront there are beach huts available for hire and those looking for more excitement can try their hand at exhilarating kite surfing. Located just off the beach is St Annes Pier which opened in 1885. Just 600 feet in length, it features great sea views and amusement arcades as well as stalls selling ice cream and refreshments. Along the South Promenade, beyond the ornamental gardens and statue of comedian Les Dawson, there are plenty of hotels to choose from with The Grand Hotel a fine example of Edwardian architecture. Also located here is The Island, a four-screen cinema which shows the latest movies.
Famous Golf Courses
Of course, one of the main reasons people visit this part of Lancashire, aside from the lovely hotels and charming seafront, is to experience the magnificent selection of golf courses in the area. The most famous is Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, nestled in the heart of the town a few minutes’ walk from St Annes-on-the-Sea railway station. Founded in 1886, the current course dates back to 1897 and has been a regular host of The Open Championship as well as the Women’s British Open more recently. Golf fans will be pleased to hear that it’s possible to book 18 or 36-hole packages which include lunch in the Clubhouse afterwards! Other nearby golf courses are Fairhaven Golf Club and, on the other side of St. Annes towards Blackpool, St Annes Old Links Golf Course. In the northern part of Lytham, Lytham Green Drive Club, a course sometimes used for The Open Championship qualifying, is another popular option.
Fairhaven Lake and Ashton Gardens
In the Fairhaven district between St Annes and Lytham is the very popular Fairhaven Lake. Also known as the Ashton Marine Park, it’s a man-made, salt water lake that provides an important habitat for thousands of wild birds every year. The RSPB Discovery Centre located here has a wealth of information and also offers bird watching guided walks once a month during the summer season. There are plenty of other activities to enjoy here including boating, crazy golf, tennis, lawn bowls and just the simple pleasures of walking around the lake and feeding the ducks. There’s a café for refreshments and an impressive full size replica of a Spitfire! Another lovely place to spend some quiet time is Ashton Gardens in St Annes. In its ten acres are a picturesque pond and all manner of wonderful floral displays including a beautiful rose garden. There is also excellent hotel accommodation within a short walking distance.
Lytham Green and Festival
Located away from St Annes, close to Lytham town centre is Lytham Green, which stretches along the seafront for a mile or so. As well as offering a sandy beach, it’s also the home of Lytham Festival which is an annual event held in early August. The festival is a must go for music lovers: it features a great line up of famous bands and solo stars from the 80s, 90s and this century. While here, it’s impossible not to see the splendid Lytham Windmill; a tower mill, which was built in the early 19th-century and remained operational until 1919 when it was destroyed by high winds. After being restored in 1989, it’s now open to the public and offers a museum with various fascinating exhibits. For a touch of more history, Lytham Heritage Centre on Henry Street is only a short walk away. There are also numerous pubs, restaurants and seafront hotels in the area too.