A town with a beach near Bolton has been named one of the UK’s coolest, prettiest and quirkiest seaside towns in a list by TimeOut.

Introducing the list, TimeOut said: “The UK really does boast quite a lot of coastline – we’re an island, after all – and seeing every little lighthouse, cliff collection, sweeping bay and dramatic headland would be no walk on the beach. That’s not even all our coasts have to offer. 

“Our shores are decorated with a vast number of marvellous coastal settlements, from the characterful fishing villages of Wales and the upmarket enclaves of Cornwall to the pulsing party towns of the Sussex coast.

“Leave those clichĂ©s of soggy chips, rainy weather and nasty seagulls at home – our handpicked roundup of the country’s coolest and prettiest seaside towns includes knock-out restaurants and cutting-edge museums, as well as plenty of sandy walks for the sunniest days of the year.”

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Crosby in Merseyside which is less than an hour drive from Bolton and could be a great spot for a day out, has been ranked in 14th place out of 20.

You can see the full list of seaside towns via the TimeOut website.

What did TimeOut say about Crosby?

TimeOut says you can expect “vast sands and sculptural surprises” when visiting Crosby.

It highlights some reasons why you should visit, saying: “Near Liverpool in the suburbs of Merseyside, Crosby might look like just another English market town – apart from the fact it’s bordered by rolling sand dunes and fast-changing tides that draw out to reveal a boundless stretch of sandy beach.

“Carry on up the coast to find Hightown and its prehistoric submerged forest, and Formby National Trust coastal reserve, home to red squirrels and preserved neolithic footprints.”

TimeOut advises visitors not to miss the sculptures that stand on the beach.

It said: “The main draw here is ‘Another Place’: artist Antony Gormley’s ambitious sculpture project of 100 lifesize cast-iron figures dotted over a two-mile stretch of the beach.

“Grab a sandwich and watch the figures as they’re revealed and submerged by the tides.”

Crosby Beach is a popular attraction and has a 4.5/5 rating on Tripadvisor from 829 reviews, at the time of writing.

Best beaches in the UK

One visitor said: “Lovely walk along the promenade from the Leisure centre to the RNLI building.

“Lots to see along with 100 iron statues of humans in the sand.

“Well worth the stop and get out for a walk”.

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Another said: “We went to see Anthony Gormley's "Another Place" and we were not disappointed. There are 100 life-sized figures positioned in the sand looking out to sea.

“The parking near the leisure centre was free and was only a few minutes from the beach. Well worth a visit.”

This visitor said: “One of the best beaches I've visited in recent times. It is great for fishing, walking, jogging, running, and enjoying the view. One can spot many ships that takes this route. We loved it.”