I went to St Annes to see how the Great British high street was coping, and I left surprised

Visiting St Annes on the Fylde coast on a cold morning, it was impossible not to notice the quietness that hung over both the promenade and the town centre.

With grey skies and a sharp sea breeze sweeping across the coastline, there were only a handful of people walking along the front when I first arrived.

The town centre initially felt similarly subdued, adding to the wider sense of uncertainty surrounding the future of Britain’s high streets.

Across the UK, many seaside towns and shopping areas have faced declining footfall, rising costs and the closure of once-familiar businesses, contributing to ongoing concerns about the gradual decline of the British high street.

However, the longer I spent in St Annes, the more signs of life began to emerge.

Despite one shopkeeper telling me that things are definitely quieter than they used to be thanks to the grown of e-commerce, more people gradually appeared around the centre, while a market taking place in the town brought some activity to the area, even if it remained relatively quiet overall.

There were also several roadworks taking place across St Annes, which may have contributed to the lack of visitors and slower atmosphere throughout the morning.

Despite the quieter conditions, I still enjoyed walking around both the town and the promenade, although visiting during the morning likely explained some of the quieter scenes.

Yet there remained a sense that St Annes remains a wonderful place to visit and the kind of classic seaside town which will always have a certain bustle when visitors get the chance to enjoy the beaches, promenade and local businesses.