Wherever I am in the World, if people ask about my home town of Morecambe, I always seem to end up saying, “it’s a bit like Cannes but with a better view”. For me, this captures and highlights the seaside charm of Morecambe – with its stunning natural scenery – and although it shares ‘some’ similarities with the glamorous French Riviera seaside town (well, we so have sand and sea) but my main point is it emphasizes that Morecambe’s views are superior to Cannes. I moved to Morecambe with my parents in 1973 and my love for the view across the bay has never waned.
HISTORY of MORECAMBE
In 1846, a railway company was formed to build a harbour and connecting railway on Morecambe Bay, close to the fishing village of Poulton-le-Sands. Within four years, the railway linked out to Bradford in the West Yorkshire, and a settlement grew around the harbour and railway to service the port and as a seaside resort. The settlement expanded to include the hamlets of Poulton-le-sands, Bare, and Torrisholme. By 1889, the settlement and its hamlets became officially known as ‘Morecambe’ and in 1894, the Urban District Council was formed. By 1897, The Winter Gardens theatre was opened and described as “The Albert Hall of the North”; and in 1920, Morecambe Football Club was founded and the beautiful Happy Mount Park in the Bare area of Morecambe was opened. The Midland Hotel opened in 1933 and in 1999, a statue in tribute of Eric Morecambe was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II.
WHERE IS MORECAMBE?
Morecambe is a beautiful coastal town – situated south of the Lake District in the North West of England – and the closest seaside resort to any ‘major’ motorway in the country as it’s less than 5 miles / less than 10 minutes from M6 junction 34 to Morecambe promenade. Morecambe has a perfect mix of coastal, country, and city life nearby.
– Morecambe’s Coastal Life is enhanced through the amazing views we have of the lake district. At 200 square miles, ‘Morecambe Bay’ contains the largest intertidal area in the whole of the UK with tides twice a day.
– Morecambe’s Country Life is enhanced through being surrounded by National Parks with the Lake District to the north of us, the Yorkshire Dales to the north east of us, and the Forest of Bowland to the south east of us.
– Morecambe’s City Life is enhanced with being only 5 miles from Lancaster, 25 miles from Preston, and 60 miles from Manchester. Lancaster is on the [West Coast Main Line] and by train, Lancaster is less than 1 hour to Manchester Piccadilly, around 2 hours to Glasgow Central, and around 2.5 hours to London Euston.
THINGS TO DO IN MORECAMBE
– Promenade Walk [Take a walk on the promenade from Bare to Heysham and take in the sunset]
– Eric Morecambe’s Statue info [A tribute to Morecambe’s most famous person]
– Happy Mount Park info [A beautiful park that was originally created in the 1920’s]
– Morecambe Winter Gardens info [Take a guided tour of this historical theatre with its remarkable architecture]
– Stone Jetty info [A lovely old jetty from 1855 that was known as Morecambe’s third pier]
– Cinema info [Visit the Reel Cinema]
– Way of the Roses info [Bring your bike and cycle over to Yorkshire]
– Venus and Cupid Sculpture info [Situated near Happy Mount Park, the sculpture is made up of small tiles in the form of a 3 dimensional mosaic]
– Mazuma Stadium info [If you’re around on match day, get tickets to watch our local team Morecambe FC]
– Soul Bowl info [Ten-pin bowling centre]
– Bay Cycle Way info [If you bring your bike, you can explore the coastline on on the route that runs from Walney Barrow to Glasson Dock Lancaster]
– The TERN Project info [Celebrate birds and wildlife of Morecambe Bay through sculptures situated along Morecambe’s promenade]
– Laser Rush info [Where you can unleash your inner warrior]
– Jump Rush info [An indoor trampoline park for both little ones and big ones]
– Morecambe Heritage Centre info [Where you can find out abour Morecambe’s rich heritage through temporary and permanent exhibitions]
– West End Gardens info [Situated in the west end, the gardens offer a lovely place to relax and enjoy the astonishing views across the bay]
WHERE TO EAT IN MORECAMBE
Restaurants
– The Morecambe Hotel info [British Themed Food]
– The Brasserie info [Greek Themed Food]
– Morecambe Bay Chowder Co info [Seafood Themed Food]
– Atkinson’s info [Fish & Chips]
– Mumbai Number 9 info [Indian Themed Food]
– The Crown info [British Themed Food]
– Black Stone Grill & Thai info [Steakhouse & Thai Themed Food]
– Toby Carvery info [British Themed Food]
– Barbar Elephant info [Indian Themed Food]
– Shackleton’s of Bare info [British Themed Food]
– Vista Italian Soul Bowl info [Italian Themed Food]
– Aspects info [British Themed Food]
– The Midland Hotel info [British Themed Food]
– The Royal at Heysham info [British Themed Food]
Cafes & Takeaways
– The Bow Window info [British Themed Food, Cafe]
– Bare Chippy info [Fish & Chip, Takeaway]
– Kenny’ Chippy info [Fish & Chip, Takeaway
– Keegans info [British Themed Food, Cafe & Takeaway]
– Brucciani’s info [British Themed Food, Cafe & Takeaway]
– Sanctuary Cafe info [British Themed Food, Cafe & Takeaway]
– Costa Coffee [British Themed Food, Cafe & Takeaway]
– Clock Tower Cafe [British Themed Food, Cafe & Takeaway]
– Brew Me Sunshine info [British Themed Food, Cafe & Takeaway]
– The Stone Jetty info [British Themed Food, Cafe & Takeaway]
– Archers at Red Bank Farm info [British Themed Food, Cafe & Takeaway]
– Lewis’s Cafe info [British Themed Food, Cafe & Takeaway]
– Rita’s Cafe info [British Themed Food, Cafe & Takeaway]
– Brittlestar info [British Themed Food, Cafe & Takeaway]
– Subway info [Sandwiche’s, Eat-in & Takeaway]
– Happy Mount Park Cafe info [British Themed Food, Cafe & Takeaway]
ENTERTAINMENT VENUES IN MORECAMBE
Morecambe offers a variety of live music and entertainment venues [see below] as well as lots of pubs and bars that put on regular music on including: Johnny’s Warehouse, The Royal, The Exchange, The Boardwalk, Brittlestar, The Bath, Shore Thing, The Golden Ball, The Pier, Trimpell Sports & Social Club, Smokey O’Connors, Trimpell Sports & Social Club, etc.
– Morecambe Winter Gardens info [This beautiful Grade II listed theatre is situated on the central promenade and was opened in 1897 and – known as the ‘Albert Hall of the North’ – was one of the UK’s largest entertainment venues with its 2,500 capacity and 118ft roof span]
– The Platform info [After its closure as a working railway station in 1994, The Platform underwent extensive refurbishment in order to be converted to the entertainment venue we all know and love today]
– Alhambra Live info [A large venue on the West End promenade. Opened in 1901 as the Alhambra Palace, it was also formally known as ‘The Inn on the Bay’ and ‘The Carleton Club’ and is now a multi-purpose venue with capacity of around 1,000]
– More Music info [A live music venue in the west end of Morecambe]
PEOPLE IN MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT FROM MORECAMBE
Morecambe has lots of musicians and entertainers who live and work around the Morecambe area. Over the years, we have also had many household name people in the entertainment industry from music, stage, dance, comedy who have come from Morecambe.
– Emma Atkins, actress info [Emma is best known for her role as Charity Dingle in Emmerdale [ITV programme] but she has also appeared in the likes of ‘Dalziel and Pascoe’, ‘Doctors’, ‘Casualty’, ‘I’m with Stupid’, and New Street Law, etc]
– Keith Baxter, drummer info [Born in 1971 in Morecambe, Keith was the drummer with the bands ‘Skyclad’ and ‘3 Colours Red’. Keith passed away in 2008]
– Chris Bould, tv director and producer info [Born in 1953 in Morecambe, Chris is known for his work as a TV director and producer of over one-hundred and fifty episodes of TV programmes]
– Fiona Chadwick, ballerina info Born in Morecambe, Fiona is a world renowned ballerina who became a Royal Ballet principal dancer in 1984 and went on to be the Head of Dance at White Lodge, the Royal Ballet’s Lower School]
– Andy Crane, tv and radio presenter info [Born in 1964 in Morecambe, Andy is probably best known for presenting Children’s BBC TV and for his work as a presenter on Greatest Hits Radio]
– Bertram Dench, actor info [Born in 1891 in Morecambe, Bertram was an actor, known for the films ‘Music Hall’, ‘Flood Tide’, ‘Waltzes from Vienna’, and ‘The Immortal Gentleman’. Bertram died in 1980]
– Janine Duvitski, actress info [Born in 1952 in Morecambe, Janine is known for her roles in ‘Waiting for God’, ‘One Foot in the Grave’, and ‘Benidorm’]
– Stuart Fell, stuntman info [Born in 1942 in Morecambe, Stuart has worked on Doctor Who, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Blake’s 7, The Empire Strikes Back, Aliens, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the first two Superman films, and three James Bond films]
– Charles Gillett, broadcaster and writer info [Born in 1942, Charles was born in Morecambe and was a radio presenter, popular music musicologist, and music writer. Charles sadly passed away in 2010]
– Paul Hayes, television antiques expert info [Born in 1970 in Morecambe, Paul is an antiques expert and television personality who has appeared on ‘Bargain Hunt’, ‘Housecall’, ‘Cash in the Attic’, and ‘Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is’]
– Wayne Hemingway, designer info [Born in 1961 in Morecambe, Wayne is a designer, probably best known as the co-founder of Red or Dead]
– Dame Thora Hird, actress info [ Born in 1911 in Morecambe, Dame Thora Hird was an actress whose career spanned over 70 years where she appeared in films [over 100] and won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress three times. Thora passed away in 2003]
– Alfreda Hodgson, mezzo-soprano singer info [Born in 1940 in Morecambe, Alfreda was a soloist with many orchestras including: Liverpool Phil, Philharmonia, London Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Toronto Symphony, and others. Alfreda died in 1992]
– Cherylee Houston, actress info [Born in 1974 in Morecambe, Cherylee has been in ‘Coronation Street’, Dr Who’, ‘Doctors’, ‘The Bill’, ‘Holby City’, ‘Emmerdale’, Little Britain, etc]
– Lisa O’Hare, actress info [Born in 1983 in Morecambe, Lisa’s played the parts of ‘Eliza Doolittle’ [My Fair Lady] and Mary Poppins in the West End and UK stage. She has also appeared in several prime-time American television shows on TNT, ABC and NBC]
– Anne Miles, music industry impresario info [Born in 1939 in Morecambe, Anne was an owner of Abbey Home Entertainment; Multiple Sounds Distribution; and Warwick Records [who in the 1970s were selling millions of albums]; and established music labels for both Woolworths and Boots. Anne died in 1992]
– Albert Modley, entertainer info [Born in 1901, Albert moved to Morecambe as an adult and stayed all his life. He appeared as a comedian on TV, Radio as well as a wide variety of revues, pantomimes, summer shows, and as a one man band. Albert died in 1979]
– Eric Morecambe, entertainer info [Born in 1926 in Morecambe, Eric – original surname Bartholomew – was a comedian, actor, and author who with Ernie Wise, were one of the most famous double-acts in Britain. Eric passed away in 1984]
– Janette Scott, actress info [Born in 1938 in Morecambe, Janette – the daughter of actors Jimmy Scott and Thora Hird – was in many films including: ‘School for Scoundrels’, ‘Helen of Troy’, and ‘As Long As They’re Happy’]
– Helen Worth, actress info [Born in 1974, Helen grew up in Morecambe and is best known for her role as Gail Platt in Coronation Street. She received the British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement]
HOW IS MORECAMBE GOVERNED?
Morecambe is governed by three councils, and although they work together, they each have different responsibilities and jurisdictions. Morecambe Town Council, that focuses on local services and issues within the town of Morecambe; Lancaster City Council, that covers a larger area (including Lancaster and surrounding areas) and responsible for planning, housing, waste management, and other regional services; and Lancashire County Council, that has even broader responsibilities, covering the entire county and responsible for services like education, highways, and libraries. Find out more at Morecambe Town Council, Lancaster City Council, and Lancashire County Council.
WHAT’S HAPPENING ABOUT EDEN PROJECT MORECAMBE?
In 2018, it was announced that the design of the Eden Project’s new attraction that would be built on the seafront in Morecambe and called ‘Eden Project North’, now renamed ‘Eden Project Morecambe’. Originally, it was going to be three biodomes – shaped like mussels – but in June 2025, it was announced that there would be just one mussel shaped structure and a mushroom shaped one. It is now hoped that the attraction will open in late 2028.
MORECAMBE SCHOOLS & COLLEGES
– Lancaster & Morecambe FE College info
– Morecambe Bay Academy Secondary School info
– Bay Leadership Academy Secondary School info
– Morecambe Road Community Special School info
– Great Wood Primary School
– Torrisholme Community Primary School
– St Mary’s Catholic Primary School
– Poulton-le-Sands C of E Primary School
– Grosvenor Park Primary School
– Lancaster Road Primary School
– Morecambe Bay Community Primary School
– Westgate Primary School
– West End Primary School
– Sanylands Community Primary School
– Mossgate Primary School
– Trumacar Primary School
– Overton St Helen’s C of E Primary School
– Slyne with Hest Primary School
WHAT’S THE WEATHER LIKE IN MORECAMBE TODAY?
Check out the weather in Morecambe at the Met Office.