St Annes thrives with strongest August footfall in years

Town centres on the Fylde coast welcomed their highest August footfall levels in years.

St Annes bounced back stronger than ever to pre-pandemic heights with over 277,000 visitors enjoying our vibrant coastal resort throughout the month.

The figures, captured through footfall monitoring funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, represent an impressive eight per cent increase in St Annes compared to last August, while Lytham also thrived with a 7.3 per cent rise in visitors in the same month.

Kirkham continues to enjoy strong community support following the £10m Kirkham Futures Programme investment, with just under 190,000 people choosing to shop local in August – a third being loyal customers from the PR4 postcode area.

St Anne's Road West buzzed with more activity than ever, welcoming increasing numbers of visitors each month since February 2025.

Locals and visitors flocked to enjoy everything from independent shops to seaside cafes, creating a wonderful atmosphere that supported businesses through their crucial summer trading period.

Major events brought communities together across the Fylde Coast throughout the season.

The spectacular St Annes International Kite Festival filled skies with kites of all shapes and sizes, the ever-popular St Annes Music Festival bringing live entertainment to the town, and the nostalgic Lytham 1940s Weekend – one of the country’s most established 1940s events – transporting thousands of visitors back in time.

Coun Karen Buckley, leader of Fylde Council, said: “These record-breaking footfall figures across our towns demonstrate that Fylde continues to grow as a premier destination.

"The amazing refurbishment of St Annes Square has created a beautiful heart for our town, and our local traders have worked incredibly hard alongside these improvements. The momentum we've built this summer sets us up perfectly for the festive season ahead."

The council hopes to sustain these impressive visitor numbers through autumn and winter with the inaugural Fylde Fest: In the Square event taking place in St Annes on Saturday 25 October, the much-anticipated return of Christmas Markets to Ashton Gardens in December, and magical light switch-on events planned for Lytham, Kirkham, Ansdell and St Annes.

Find out more about upcoming events in Fylde: www.discoverfylde.co.uk/events/

For detailed footfall analysis, visit: www.investinfylde.co.uk/fylde-footfall-updates/