English ‘Garden town by sea' with much quieter beach than nearby seaside resort
St Anne's in Lancashire is known for being less busy than its neighbour Blackpool.
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St Anne's beach is long and features a Victorian pier
Credit: Alamy
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The pretty town centre boasts beautiful gardens and many unique shops
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The pier dates back to 1885
Credit: Alamy
It was created as a 'garden town by the sea' in the 1870s, according to St Anne's Town Council.
One of the most-known spots in St Anne's is Ashton Gardens - a 10 acre park with a variety of different plants, trees and flowers.
It sits in the town centre park and is not far from the seafront too.
In the town centre, visitors will find many shops, with lots of unique retailers.
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One of the town's loved destinations has also recently had an upgrade.
The Island Cinemas were recently refurbished and now feature four comfortable cinema theatres showing the latest releases.
St Anne's Pier is one of the main landmarks in the town and dates back to 1885.
The pier has a number of cafes and shops and amusements, including children's rides.
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Architecturally, it was built in cast iron with a wooden deck and includes shelters and pavilions in cast iron, wood and glass - a typical style of the Victorian period.
Unsurprisingly, the number one thing to do in St Anne's - according to Tripadvisor - is head to the beach.
The pretty UK beach named the best in the country
One recent visitor said: "[W]hat a nice clean pier, [with] plenty of machines for young and old, the staff are friendly and helpful and right at the end, what lovely views [with] plenty of seating.
"One of the best I've been on in a long time."
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The beach features a long stretching promenade, with views across the ocean.
There are a number of sand dunes and games of bowls and mini golf, too.
For those wanting to enjoy the beach, they can hire a beach hut for the day.
All of the beach huts have an electrical supply, with a kitchen, fresh water, crockery, and a folding table.
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For little ones, there is also an outdoor water play area with water jets and fountains.
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Upgrades to parts of the town were also recently announced
Credit: Alamy
In April, Fyde Council also revealed plans for two regeneration project, which focus on improving accessibility, connectivity and the visitor experience in St Anne's.
The projects include a transformation of £1.5million Garden Street, to create a pedestrian link between Ashton Gardens and St Anne Square.
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According to Lancashire Business View, councillor Karen Buckley, leader of Fylde Council, said: "By transforming Garden Street into an inviting gateway, we are supporting local businesses and creating spaces that encourage people to explore and enjoy everything our town has to offer."
Notably, St Anne's neighbours the very famous seaside town resort of Blackpool - which is visited by millions of people each year.
For a quieter alternative, that still has things to do and a stunning beach, St Anne's is a great option.
Three UK beaches were also named the best in Europe by Tripadvisor this year.
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Plus, the white sand beach in the UK that is so beautiful that it gets mistaken for Thailand.
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