The sun has been shining in Manchester, and as much as we love going for an iced coffee, ice cream or sitting in a beer garden (we really do), sometimes all we can think about is going to the beach. And one thing Manchester does not have is a beach. Fear not, though, as there’s one beach just an hour from Manchester that’s been included in TripAdvisor’s list of the top beaches in the UK, and that’s Crosby Beach on the Mersey Estuary.
Those who grew up in and around the North West will think of the British seaside as the likes of Southport, Morecambe, Blackpool, and even over on the east coast with destinations like Scarborough and Filey (both of which were also included in the list). But Crosby is a beach that has crept up on us – just north of Liverpool, which you can get a good look at from the beach.
Famous for its unique ‘Another Place’ cast-iron statues by Antony Gormley, Crosby is a bit of an underdog when it comes to beaches, but you cannot go wrong with it being potentially the closest beach to Manchester. The promenade is around 2.5 miles long, ensuring a lovely walk on a sunny day, and when the tide goes out, there is plenty of sand to sit and play on.
Antony Gormley’s installation comprises 100 cast-iron life-size sculptures made from 17 different moulds taken from the sculptor’s own body. The ‘iron men’ all face the open sea, and evoke the relationship between the natural elements, space and the human body.
Of course, as the tide goes out, the statues become gradually more visible, and then disappear as the water creeps toward the beach, which in itself is a sight to behold – you can find tide times here. With food trucks, ice cream vans and even a double decker bus bar, there’s so much going on especially during holidays and on sunny days meaning you won’t be bored at Crosby Beach.
The reviews don’t lie either, with TripAdvisor users describing the beach as “wide with sand dunes”, “superb beach and setting with cheap parking” and “the figures present a wondrously different look to what would otherwise be a really nice beach, however the statues add that little something unique”.
The best beaches in the UK according to TripAdvisor:
- Brighton Beach
- Bournemouth Beach
- Camber Sands
- Weymouth Beach
- Gorleston-on-Sea Beach
- Filey Beach
- Fistral Beach
- Rhossili Bay
- Woolacombe Beach
- Scarborough Beach
- Horsey Beach
- Barafundle Beach
- Sandbanks Beach
- Carbis Bay Beach
- Luskentyre
- West Wittering Beach
- Perranport Beach
- Crosby Beach
- Tunnels Beaches
- Hunstanton Beach
Crosby Beach really is worth the day out, and with it being named one of the best UK beaches that’s just one hour’s drive from Manchester, it’s an absolute must for the whole family the next time the sun’s out!
📍 Crosby Beach, 30 Burbo Bank Rd N, Liverpool L23 8TA.