"Morecambe (and around)" Lancashire by Maxus

Lancashire Travel Guide: 677 reviews and 1,081 photos

Morecambe: view from the Battery - Lancashire

Things ain't what they used to be.......

If someone had told me when I was a child that one day I would live in Morecambe I would have been delighted because in those days it was all fairgrounds, lights and candyfloss. However, both Morecambe and I have gone rather down hill since then.

As late the 1970s Morecambe was still a happening place, most Brits had yet to discover cheap package deals to Spain and people took their holidays at home and Morecambe with its Winter Gardens, piers and annual illuminations, could still pack em in.

Landmark or Eyesore? (either way it doesnt work).

The fairgrounds, pier and illuminations have all gone now, the Winter Gardens remains a shell and Morecambe a shadow of its former self. Run down and in bad weather desolate, Morecambe has very little left to attract the visitor apart from excellent views across the bay to the Furness Peninsular and Cumbrian Mountains. “Beauty surrounds and health abounds” goes the Morecambe motto, well beauty does still surround, on a clear day the view from the promenade is quite breathtaking, but don’t look inland, because it really isnt very nice.

While most British Seaside resorts suffered from the tourist exodus to the Mediterranean sunshine few can have taken it as badly as Morecambe. Numerous schemes and projects designed to reverse the decline have been tried but none of them have had any real success and some were simply expensive disasters. The boarding houses of the west-end, built to take the thousands of mill and factory workers who once flocked to Morecambe for their holidays were used by Mrs Thatcher in the 1980s to hide the unemployed and unemployable, no one could pretend this is any longer a nice place to visit.

The Midland Hotel

The Midland Hotel opened in June 2008

One bright spot, renovation work on the Midland Hotel is almost finished and the hotel opened for business in June 2008. Some people say it will breath new life into Morecambe, others say it will be being used to house asylum seekers within two years. Whatever happens it's good to see what is one of the finest art deco buildings in the country back to it's former glory after being practically derelict for so long.

However, just across the road the site of Morecambe's last permanent fairground remains a boarded off pile of gravel and even during the summer the council is unable to run a string of lights along the promenade, leaving one of the towns best features virtually a no-go area after sundown.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Views from the prom across morecambe bay
Cons:To be honest, its had it.

Intro Updated Jun 8, 2008
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Reviews (18)

Sambo's Grave Off The Beaten Path (2)

An unfortunate name but that was then and this is now, Sambo’s grave is chilling blast from the past, particularly in... more travel advice

Sunderland Point Off The Beaten Path (2)

Remote, isolated and yet only a short drive from Morecambe or Lancaster, Sunderland Point at the mouth of the River Lune... more travel advice

Traditional Busy Pub Nightlife (5)

A lively traditional pub in the town centre which gets busy with locals throughout the day and is usually packed and... more travel advice

Buying Books Things to Do (4)

I can spend hours in the Old Pier Book Shop, it’s an Aladdin’s cave of well worn second hand books, get in there and... more travel advice

Restaurants (4)
See All Eating on the Hoof
Local Customs (1)
The Polish Quarter

Comments (12)

wise23girl Oct 21, 2009 at 7:19 PM Report Abuse

Been to some of those places but a long time ago. Have been back to my Lancs cousin a few times in the past 10 years though. Marg
SWFC_Fan Apr 5, 2008 at 3:24 PM Report Abuse

I'm glad the Donny info was useful, Mark - I'll look forward to reading your hotel review and any other tips about our South Yorkshire neighbour! :-) Great Morecambe tips here - I hope the town can recapture its past glories!
christine.j Mar 20, 2008 at 5:50 AM Report Abuse

I heard about the dangers of Morecambe Bay, it was in the news here. I think I will pass through Morecambe when taking the train from Lancaster to Heysham.
leecouk12324 Nov 3, 2007 at 5:05 PM Report Abuse

Morcambe Sands really are very dangerous. Maybe however you could mention about the Annual Guided Walk that takes place with the expert guide - good advice about doing train to Ulverston - i been planning this for some time
nickandchris Aug 7, 2007 at 10:07 AM Report Abuse

A great trip down memory lane, here. We used to go out in Morecambe when we lived on Whitelund Road, in the very early 80's. How things change....... Bring back Frontierland.
lou31 Jun 21, 2007 at 1:54 AM Report Abuse

Great page. Always interested in Englands towns and villages and this one sounds like a goodie. Thanks for sharing, and greetings from Australia
SLLiew Jun 8, 2007 at 10:23 PM Report Abuse

Interesting tips of restaurant and nightlife in this quaint looking seaside town.
davesut Nov 19, 2006 at 2:10 PM Report Abuse

ohh dear-the sandylands prom with the paddling pool, the dolphins, pony trekking, a walk to Heysham, the lights, the fair and now... lots of mud:( and one statue of Eric Bartholomew :) the footy team appears to be doing better these days
mustertal Jul 8, 2006 at 8:49 AM Report Abuse

I remember taking a French exchange student to see the lights in Morecambe,he loved it, but the town was closed!
SURFIN7TH Jul 5, 2006 at 8:44 AM Report Abuse

We have a few towns like that in NJ but hey are making rebounds and are currently the hot spots for Real Estate Developement. I hope your town comes back to prosparity.