Lytham St Annes
A quieter, more grown-up stretch of coast - a windmill on the green, a championship golf course, and a sunset over the Ribble estuary most visitors never stay long enough to see.
Accommodation in Lytham St Annes
A quieter stretch of coast with a windmill green, sand dunes and a traditional pier.
Lytham Green on a summer evening, with the tide in and the windmill lit up, is this coast's best-kept secret - most visitors never get past Blackpool to see it.
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The full Lytham St Annes guide
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Things to do
Lytham Windmill
A working windmill on Lytham Green, one of the coast's most-photographed landmarks.
Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club
A genuine Open Championship course - even non-golfers will recognise the name.
Lowther Pavilion
Family-friendlyLytham's own theatre, with a year-round programme of shows and touring productions.
Best places to eat
Clifton Street, Lytham
The town's main strip for independent dining, from bistros to seafood.
Seafront fish restaurants, St Annes
A reliable catch-of-the-day option close to the beach.
The Taps, Henry Street, Lytham
A well-known real ale pub that also serves food.
Coffee & breakfast
Clifton Street and Park Street, Lytham
The town's boutique-shopping-and-coffee strip - a proper morning out, not just a stop.
Wood Street, St Annes
A quieter, more local breakfast scene than the seafront.
Ashton Gardens café, St Annes
A good stop if you're already walking the gardens.
Family activities
Fairhaven Lake, St Annes
Pedal boats and a model boating lake, with a park alongside for a full day out.
St Annes beach
Wide, flat sand backed by dunes, generally quieter than Blackpool's.
Lowther Pavilion
Family-friendly matinees and a pantomime season alongside its main programme.
Beaches & walks
St Annes beach and sand dunes
A long, quieter stretch of coast with a nature reserve behind the dunes.
Lytham Green
Dog-friendlyA large open green running along the estuary, popular for a flat evening stroll.
The coastal path to Fairhaven Lake
Links the green, the lake and the beach in one easy walk.
Pubs & nightlife
The Taps, Lytham
A long-standing real ale pub, popular with locals.
Clifton Arms Hotel, Lytham
A traditional hotel bar right on the green.
St Annes' seafront bars
A calmer, more grown-up nightlife scene than Blackpool's.
Shopping
Clifton Street and Park Street, Lytham
Independent boutiques, gift shops and delis.
Wood Street, St Annes
Another strip of independent shops, generally quieter.
Booths, Lytham
The Northern regional chain's own take on a food shop - popular for something a bit more upmarket than a standard supermarket.
Local amenities
Local GP surgeries and health centres
Serve both Lytham and St Annes directly.
Pharmacies along Clifton Street and Wood Street
Cover both town centres.
Supermarkets and high-street banks
Lytham and St Annes each have their own.
Transport
Lytham and Ansdell & Fairhaven railway stations
Connect to Preston and onward to the wider rail network.
St Annes-on-the-Sea railway station
Sits right by the town centre.
Coast-road bus routes
Regular services link Lytham and St Annes to Blackpool.
Parking
Pay-and-display parking along Lytham Green and the St Annes seafront
The main options in both towns.
On-street parking away from the green
More available here than in central Blackpool.
Fairhaven Lake car park
Useful for a family day out at the lake.
Dog-friendly places
St Annes beach and dunes
A popular, spacious dog walk with year-round access on most stretches.
Lytham Green
Wide open space that's easy walking for dogs - check local signage for any lead-only areas.
Cafés around Clifton Street
Several welcome dogs at outside tables.
Rainy-day activities
Lowther Pavilion
Family-friendlyA full indoor programme of shows whatever the weather.
Clifton Street cafés
A slower-paced, indoor way to spend a wet afternoon.
Booths café, Lytham
Genuinely popular as a coffee stop in its own right.
Events & seasonal attractions
Lytham Festival
A summer music festival held on Lytham Green, drawing major touring artists.
The Open Championship
Royal Lytham & St Annes hosts it on rotation - a huge date for the town when it does.
St Annes Carnival
A long-running town carnival weekend at Ashton Gardens each July, with a parade, live music and stalls.
Today in Lytham St Annes
19°C
Overcast
Warm and dry - a great day for the beach, a coastal walk, or eating outside.
Today's events
No ticketed events found for today - see What's On below for upcoming dates.
Perfect Days in Lytham St Annes
Ready-made plans for however you want to spend the day - pick one and go.
Family Day
Morning
Pedal boats on Fairhaven Lake
Midday
Lunch on Clifton Street, Lytham
Afternoon
St Annes beach and the dunes
Evening
A family show at Lowther Pavilion, if one's on
Couples Day
Morning
Lytham Windmill and a walk round the green
Midday
Lunch at a Clifton Street bistro
Afternoon
The coastal path from Lytham Green to Fairhaven Lake
Evening
Sunset by the windmill, then dinner at a seafront restaurant
Beach Day
Morning
St Annes beach and the sand dunes
Midday
A seafront fish restaurant in St Annes
Afternoon
The coastal path between Lytham and St Annes
Evening
Golden hour at Fairhaven Lake
Foodie Day
Morning
Breakfast on Clifton Street
Midday
Lunch at The Taps, Henry Street
Afternoon
Booths, Lytham, for something to take home
Evening
Dinner at a Clifton Street bistro
Rainy Day
Morning
Whatever's on at Lowther Pavilion
Midday
Lunch at the Booths café, Lytham
Afternoon
Clifton Street's independent shops
Evening
A Clifton Street pub that serves food
Relaxed Day
Morning
A slow lap of Ashton Gardens' lake
Midday
Coffee on Wood Street, St Annes
Afternoon
Lytham Green, watching the estuary
Evening
A drink at the Clifton Arms Hotel, right on the green
Near Your Stay
Come back here from one of our Lytham St Annes listings and this section shows real walking and driving times to everything nearby, from your exact property.
What's On
Live events and entertainment in Lytham St Annes.
No upcoming events found for Lytham St Annes yet.
FYStay Local Knowledge
The stuff regulars know that doesn't show up in a search engine - parking to avoid, when to actually turn up, and where to go instead of the obvious choice in Lytham St Annes.
- Where locals actually go
Clifton Street and Henry Street, not the seafront hotels
Locals in Lytham drink and eat around Clifton Street and Henry Street, a five-minute walk from the green - a genuinely different atmosphere from the seafront hotels most visitors default to.
- Areas to avoid for parking
The green's own car park fills first
Parking directly on Lytham Green fills quickly on any dry weekend. The streets just south of Clifton Street usually still have space, and it's actually a shorter walk to the shops from there.
- Best times to visit
Fairhaven Lake before 10am
Fairhaven Lake fills with families from late morning onwards. Arrive before 10am if you want the model boats and the paths around the water to yourselves.
- Best beaches for families
St Annes' dunes over Lytham's own stretch
St Annes beach, particularly towards the dunes, is flatter and quieter than the stretch of coast right by Lytham itself near the estuary - better for younger kids who want space to actually run around.
- Best sunset spots
The windmill end of Lytham Green
Lytham Green faces west over the Ribble estuary, and the view from beside the windmill at sunset is, without much competition, the best on this stretch of coast. Most visitors leave before dinner and never see it.
- Quiet alternatives to busy attractions
Fairhaven Lake and Ashton Gardens during tournament weeks
When Royal Lytham & St Annes hosts a major tournament, the town centre gets genuinely busy. Fairhaven Lake and Ashton Gardens, both a short walk away, rarely feel it.
- Local shortcuts & tips
Walk the green instead of driving between the two towns
Lytham and St Annes are connected by a flat, mostly traffic-free walk along the green and coastal path - about 25 minutes, and usually quicker than driving and parking twice.
- Hidden gem
Ashton Gardens' lake and aviary
A proper formal park with its own lake and aviary, two minutes off the St Annes seafront, that most day-trippers heading straight for the beach never find.