Beside the seaside: the best beaches in the North West

No matter how early you get here, you’ll never be first on the beach at Crosby. Anthony Gormley’s life-size Another Place sculptures stare wordlessly out to sea whilst the important business of beach life – sandcastle building, seagull squabbling – goes on around them. The cast iron figures even paddle in the waves, just like the summer day-trippers.

It’s a shame that many tourists who visit Llandudno never make it to West Shore Beach. It doesn’t have the fun of the pier at the North Shore but it’s by far the better beach with a wild feel and stunning views.

Morecambe is one of those places where the seaside glamour is very much faded but a day at the beach still has an irresistible charm. The views across Morecambe Bay to Grange-over-Sands are stunning. It has to be one of the most scenic places to sit with your fish and chips. The sandy beach soon gives way to squelch but it’s still fun for paddling and when the tide goes out, it leaves numerous pools, especially near The Battery so you can have a splash without walking to the sea.

New Brighton Beach used to have a bit of a grotty reputation but with sandy shores, shallow water for paddling, watersports and millions of pounds being spent on regeneration, it gets our recommendation. It’s not an unspoilt wilderness but you can dip your toes in the water and watch container ships glide by. Plus, The Times has named New Brighton one of the best coastal towns to live in the UK.

Prestatyn Central Beach is a great spot to take the children. There are a few amusements but it’s nothing like its more raucous neighbour, Rhyl, and it’s all the better for it. There’s a real family feel to the place with its Blue Flag status and gently sloping sandy shoreline.

St Anne’s Beach may be just down the Fylde coast from Blackpool but it’s worlds apart in terms of atmosphere. The Victorian Pier and promenade gardens offer more sedate pleasures than its northern neighbour and there are plenty of ice creams, donkey rides, mini-golf and the like. You can even hire a beach hut for the day.

A trip to Thurstaston Beach is more like a day in the countryside than at the seaside. Part of the Wirral Country Park, this sand and shingle shoreline is the most unspoilt part of the peninsula.

West Kirby Beach is a relatively small sandy beach that’s perfect for families. It’s clean and compact with soft sand and all the facilities you need for a fun day out. What sets it apart is the opportunity to walk across to Hilbre Island at low tide for the chance to spot seals and dolphins.