Analysts from mother and baby retailer JoJo Maman Bébé ranked every UK beach using Google Maps, looking at its overall visitor rating, how many reviews it has received, and its proximity to shops and restaurants. A weighted rank was then calculated to give an overall beach score out of 100.
Whitby Beach in North Yorkshire came in first place with a rating of 4.7 on Google from 6,699 and an overall score of 98.0.
Formby beach flew the flag for the north west, coming in fifth place. The researchers found it had a Google score of 4.7 from 2,585 visitors and gave it an overall score of 89.1 out of 100.
No other North West beaches made the JoJo Maman Bebe list, but plenty have been hailed by experts over the years. In April 2023, TimeOut media placed Morecambe at number 28 in its ‘handpicked guide to the UK’s finest beaches’ –the only Lancashire beach to make the cut.
See our list below of 10 tempting beaches for Boxing Day walks in the North West this year.
5. Southport
The golden sands of Southport Beach are part of the 22-mile Sefton coastline leading from the Mersey into the Ribble Estuary.In Southport there's an array of shops, arcades, restaurants and a promenade with a ride-on train for younger ones. Photo: jpi
6. Bispham Beach
Set between Blackpool North Shore and Cleveleys, Bispham has extensive man-made sea defences, known locally as “The Cliffs” and views along the coast and out towards the Irish Sea.According to thebeachguide.co.uk, the at high tide, the beach can be completely submerged, but when the tide is out a stretch of wet sands slopes very gently into the sea. They say: "The beach is accessed via steps so is not really suitable for those with mobility problems. The upper and lower promenades however are wheelchair/pushchair friendly and are also used by cyclists." | submit Photo: submit
7. Blackpool beach
Blackpool beach on a sunny day is surely the daddy of all Lancashire beaches.It's been a draw for more than 100 years and is fun for all the family, with cafes, bars, amusements and icecream stalls all within easy reach. Photo: NW
8. Half Moon Bay, Heysham
Half Moon Bay stretches from the wall of Heysham Harbour up the coast to the Heritage Centre at Lower Heysham. According to thebeachguide.co.uk "At high tide the beach is fairly small, flanked by rocks and backed by grassy hills. At low tide however, a vast expanse of sand and mudflats are exposed."Morecambe Bay is notorious for its fast-moving tides and shifting sands. Avoid walking far out at low tide without an experienced guide. | submit Photo: submit