What’s at Cleveleys?

You might have heard of this lovely little seaside town – or you might not! It gets shadowed by it’s bigger, brighter Blackpool neighbour. And it doesn’t have the history of it’s northern neighbour, Fleetwood. So what’s at Cleveleys and why should you pay it a visit?

What’s at Cleveleys?

Shops

End to end, Cleveleys town centre is actually longer than the mall at the Trafford Centre! And it’s just as well furnished with shops. There’s national names and local independents and a great mixture of products. There’s food retailers including big supermarkets plus a small butchers, greengrocers and a couple or three bakeries. You can buy clothes for ladies, gents and children. Household supplies from screws and wot-nots to sofas and carpets. And for special occasion presents or holiday souvenirs visit a variety of gift shops and jewellers.

Cleveleys town centre is chopped in half by the Blackpool to Fleetwood tramway. Retail shops are towards the sea-ward end of the town while service businesses, bars and restaurants tend to cluster on the eastern, inland side.

There’s a wide pavement on the sunny side of the street and plenty of outdoor café seating where you can enjoy the seaside atmosphere and watching the world go by.

• More about the town centre and shops in Cleveleys

Working Men’s Clubs and Bars

Whether you’re a regular who lives here or a visitor looking for the WMC vibe, Cleveleys has a few to choose from. They all offer a busy and varied entertainment programme so you won’t be short of a great night out.

There’s also a blossoming bar scene in Cleveleys too, where anyone of any age can enjoy a great night out. It’s the kind of place where young and old mix together to socialise, enjoy live music and a great time. If you’re looking for a friendly and safe experience, Cleveleys is the place to be.

• Explore places to drink in Cleveleys

Cafés and Restaurants

If you’re looking for a café in Cleveleys, you’re spoiled for choice. The town has everything from traditional seaside cafés serving full English breakfasts to independent coffee shops with speciality coffee and homemade cakes.

There’s always one conveniently positioned when you’re ready for a brew, with plenty of options throughout the town centre. Most of them have outdoor seating areas, many of which are on the sunny side of the street. Sit awhile and watch the world go by and savour the continental pavement-cafe culture.

There’s also a range of delicious and enjoyable restaurants in Cleveleys too, with a night out for most palates. From Chinese to Italian, Greek to English.

• Explore cafes and restaurants in Cleveleys

Cinema

The Vue Cinema Cleveleys is a modern eight-screen multiplex on North Promenade at Jubilee Leisure Park, overlooking the seafront. It’s been a popular entertainment venue since opening in August 2006 as part of the major redevelopment of the promenade. It replaced the former pitch-and-putt course and part of the old seafront car park.

Inside are eight fully digital screens with seating for over 1,060 people. Enjoy live “Big Screen Events”, accessible screenings and wheelchair spaces throughout the complex.

One of its biggest advantages is its location with free on-site parking behind the cinema. It’s just a short walk from Cleveleys town centre, and against the promenade. Why not combine your film with a walk, meal or ice cream.

• More about Jubilee Leisure Park

Pop Culture

Many Star Wars fans are surprised to discover that Cleveleys is part of the Star Wars universe.

In May 2021, Disney and Lucasfilm transformed part of the space-age seafront into a secret film set for the Disney+ series Andor. At the time, production was kept under tight security. But sightings of Shoretroopers, palm trees installed on the promenade and actor Diego Luna soon gave it away.

When Andor was released in 2022, fans finally saw Cleveleys appear on screen as the tropical resort planet Niamos. Although visual effects altered parts of the landscape, many local landmarks are still easy to recognise. For many viewers, it’s one of the most recognisable real-world locations used in the series.

• Filming Star Wars in Cleveleys

Amusements

A visit to Cleveleys wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the seaside amusements. While the town is much quieter than neighbouring Blackpool, it still has a good selection of arcades that capture the traditional British seaside experience. Have a go on the 2p pushers, claw machines, ticket redemption games and modern video games for all ages.

There’s two family amusements to choose from. Olympia Family Entertainment Centre is right on the seafront at Rough Lea Road. This iconic Art Deco building has entertained visitors for generations. Inside you’ll find everything from classic penny pushers and grabber machines to interactive games and virtual reality attractions. In 2026, a new mini golf course opened at the front of the building, adding another family-friendly activity. Treasure Island is just a short walk along Victoria Road West from the promenade. This deceptively large arcade offers a wide range of redemption games, skill games, racing simulators and prize machines. There’s also a separate adult gaming area.

• Best things to see and do in Cleveleys

Events

Cleveleys has developed a busy year-round events programme. Enjoy a mix of family entertainment, community celebrations, markets and seasonal festivities. Many events are free to attend and take place in the town centre, on the promenade or at the Princess Road Events Space.

Some of the most popular annual events include:

• Cleveleys Car Show – One of the town’s biggest events, attracting hundreds of classic, vintage, sports and modern vehicles. Victoria Road West fills with display cars while thousands of visitors enjoy live entertainment, food stalls and family activities.
• Dancing on the Prom – A lively celebration of Northern Soul music and dance on the seafront, with entertainment throughout the day.
• Mythic Coast Day – Celebrating Cleveleys’ unique Mythic Coast artwork trail, this family event brings the sculptures to life with storytelling, costumed characters, activities and entertainment inspired by local folklore.
• Summer Fun Days – Throughout the school holidays, Princess Road hosts themed family events including Punch and Judy shows, children’s entertainers, crafts, games and seaside activities.
• Seasonal Markets – Princess Road regularly hosts Wednesday markets and artisan craft fairs where you can browse handmade gifts, local produce and independent traders.
• Christmas in Cleveleys – The festive season brings Christmas lights, markets, entertainment, visits from Santa and seasonal activities that create a welcoming atmosphere in the town centre.

Beyond these headline events, there’s something happening most weeks. Care for Cleveleys organises family activities such as craft sessions, themed fun days, dress-up events and community entertainment. Local pubs and venues host live music, quizzes and tribute acts throughout the year.

If you’re planning a visit, the easiest way to keep up to date is through the What’s On listings on Visit Fylde Coast, where new small to large events are added throughout the year.

Promenade

Cleveleys Promenade is one of the town’s biggest attractions. A wide, modern seafront walkway combining coastal protection, art, history and leisure. It stretches along the Irish Sea from the boundary with Blackpool in the south towards Anchorsholme and beyond. It’s a fantastic place for walking, cycling, enjoying the views and experiencing the seaside atmosphere. Popular throughout the year and in all weathers, every day is different!

The major redevelopment of the seafront in phases between 2005 and 2010 created the stepped sea defence system. It protects homes and businesses from flooding while also creating a large public space for everyone to enjoy.

The distinctive features include wide open walking areas, with split-level paving and integral seating. There’s uninterrupted stepped access to the beach, with ramps providing accessible routes.

• Explore Cleveleys seafront

Artworks

One of the things that makes Cleveleys Promenade special is its public art trail, The Mythic Coast.

Inspired by local legends, including stories of the lost village of Singleton Thorpe and the petrified forest found on the beach. The trail follows the story of the Sea Swallow through a series of sculptures and artworks.

You can’t miss the tall, white Sea Swallow sculpture at the end of the high street. Mary’s Shell and the Ogre are both to be found on the beach when the tide is out. Meanwhile The Shipwreck Memorial and The Ogre’s Paddle are at opposite ends of the promenade. Make sure you catch them all!

The seafront is one of the towns strongest stories: a modern award-winning sea defence scheme, a unique art trail, a Star Wars filming location and a beautiful seaside walk all in one place.

• Explore the artworks at Cleveleys seafront

Park and Kids Facilities

Cleveleys is a very family-friendly seaside town, with a good mix of parks, play areas, open spaces and activities for children. One of its strengths is that many attractions are close together, so a family day out can easily include a playground, beach walk, ice cream, amusements and cafés.

Right on the seafront, Jubilee Gardens is probably Cleveleys’ best-known children’s park. It is a large open green space with something for different ages. Of course one of Cleveleys’ biggest “playgrounds” is the coastline itself.

There are other pockets of green space and even an urban woodland, across the town. Cleveleys’ appeal for families is that it feels safe, relaxed and easy-going. It’s a traditional seaside day out without the crowds and intensity of a larger resort.

• Parks in Cleveleys

And a warm welcome!

One of the things many people comment on when they visit Cleveleys is the friendly, welcoming atmosphere. It has the feel of a traditional seaside town where people still stop for a chat, look out for each other and take pride in where they live.

Cleveleys is often described as having a “small town with a village feel”. It’s a place where visitors can come for the day but still feel like they belong.

Unlike larger resorts where you can sometimes feel anonymous, Cleveleys has a more relaxed pace of life. A walk along the promenade, browsing the shops or sitting in a café often involves friendly conversations with locals, dog walkers, volunteers and business owners.

The town’s character is built around friendly independent businesses, community groups and regular events for locals and visitors.

Perhaps the biggest part of Cleveleys’ charm is that people genuinely seem to care about it. From volunteers planting flowers and cleaning beaches, to residents supporting local businesses. There’s a strong sense that this is a town people want to look after.

For visitors, that creates something difficult to manufacture: a feeling of being welcomed rather than simply being a tourist.

Cleveleys may not be the biggest seaside resort. But its greatest attraction is often the simplest one — the people who live here.

What makes Cleveleys Different?

When you look beyond the obvious attractions (the promenade, beach, cinema, cafés and events), one of the strongest things the town has going for it is the sense of community.

That’s also one of the hardest things for a visitor website or tourism campaign to capture. Because you can list attractions for anywhere, but you can’t easily manufacture the feeling of a place. The friendliness of the cafés, the volunteers planting flowers, people chatting on the promenade. Businesses knowing their customers, community groups putting on events. These are the things that make people come back.

It has a really strong combination:

• 🌊 A beautiful, accessible promenade and beach
• ☕ Independent cafés and businesses where people feel known
• 🌿 Volunteers who care about making the town better
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Family-friendly attractions without feeling overwhelming
• 🎭 Events that bring people together
• ⭐ Unique stories like the Star Wars filming and Mythic Coast
• ❤️ A welcoming atmosphere that makes visitors feel like locals

It’s actually one of the town’s strongest stories. A lot of seaside resorts sell excitement, but Cleveleys has a different appeal – and its own personality. It’s “a place where the sea meets community.” There’s another page here telling you everything else you need to know about Cleveleys.