Finding Community and Connection by the Bay
I didn’t move to Morecambe expecting it to feel like home — but that’s exactly what happened. What started as a temporary chapter in Northern England became a life that blended seaside rhythms, deep friendships, and the joy of exploring a brand new part of the world…to me at least.
The Flat on the Prom
I lived in a simple flat overlooking Morecambe Bay. Twice a day, the tide swept in and out, transforming the view from sand flats to shimmering sea. The sunsets — glowing gold, peach, and violet — became my daily ritual, more spectacular than anywhere else I’d traveled.
Just below was the seven-mile Promenade, stretching past the iconic Midland Hotel, linking the heart of Morecambe to the village of Heysham. It was a lifeline — for morning walks, evening chats with neighbors, and countless journeys that started right outside my door.
Heysham: A Place of Stillness
On quiet days, I wandered Heysham’s St. Peter’s Church and it’s ancient cliffside graveyard. The Celtic history, wild gardens, and sea views grounded me in ways I hadn’t expected. Some mornings I joined locals for coffee in the church café, other days I traced gorse-lined footpaths, pausing at weathered stone barrows.
It was here that I began to feel less like a visitor and more like a part of the community.
Walking Into Friendship
The turning point came when I joined two local walking clubs. Every weekend we set out — through the Yorkshire Dales, across Lake District peaks, and along windswept coastal paths. Rain or shine, we ended muddy-booted and grinning, raising a pint together in some far-off pub.
Those rambles weren’t just exercise; they built friendships. Step by step, mile by mile, strangers became lifelong friends who still welcome me back whenever I return.
No Car, No Problem
Living without a car in England wasn’t a limitation — it was liberation. Local trains and buses carried me everywhere: to London, to York, even to the airport when another adventure called. My neighbors laughed when they saw me wheeling a suitcase down the Promenade:
“Where to now, Kay?”
One of my favorite outings was to nearby Carnforth Station, where the film Brief Encounter was shot. Its vintage platforms and tearoom made every journey feel like stepping into another time.
Rail travel became part of my expat identity — not just a way to get around, but a thread stitching together my life in England.
Seasons of Morecambe
Winter here is wild — fierce winds, salt spray, and early nights. But spring and summer reveal Morecambe at its best. Wildflowers and coconut-scented gorse brighten the cliffs, and the bay’s vast tides set the daily rhythm. Evenings with friends stretched long, often ending with laughter over fish and chips by the shore.
Morecambe Is Still Home
No matter how far I roam, Morecambe is my anchor. It’s the walking clubs that became my family, the neighbors who cheered my suitcase adventures, and the Promenade that kept me grounded.
Morecambe isn’t just a place I once lived. It’s a community I’ll always return to — a reminder that living abroad is less about geography and more about the people, the routines, and the friendships that turn a chapter into a home.
👉🏻 Thinking about moving abroad, or curious about life on England’s northern coast? Let me help you plan a journey that blends exploration with belonging.
