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Beaches & Coast in Manchester

There is no beach inside Manchester itself, so this is about knowing which drive is worth it. Nottingham Beach is the odd one out, a free pop-up with sand, a pool and paid rides right in the middle of the city, open all summer and a longer trip out from Manchester. The others mean an actual coastline: Crosby Beach in Liverpool has 100 cast-iron statues by Antony Gormley dotted along the sand, free to wander any time, while Southport Beach offers miles of open sand near the town's Victorian seafront. For dunes and pinewoods rather than open sand, National Trust Formby, also in Liverpool, has two beach trails, sand wheelchairs on loan and a no-fires rule to protect the wildlife, good for a slower walk with older children. Toddlers will find Southport's flat, wide sand easiest for paddling without the fuss of tides catching anyone out. Everything here is free to visit, so the real cost is the drive and what you spend once you arrive.

✓ 4 places✦ 3 free to visit