Dating from before the Norman conquest, this area of small farming and fishing villages was originally known as Otegrimeles, from the Norse word "melr", meaning sand-dunes.

Historically, North Meols has been centred on St. Cuthbert's Church in Churchtown, although there were vicarages in Crossens, Banks and Birkdale.

Parts of the parish were almost completely surrounded by water until large scale drainage of Martin Mere and other marshland in the 19th century.

This left behind a legacy of fine agricultural soil, which is still exploited to this day – the primary industry in the area is farming, especially of flowers and vegetables.

To this day, the northern part of the district retains a lot of its rural character, with the only large-scale development being the construction of a large number of new homes in Banks.

North Meols was previously home to the West Lancashire Railway, fully opened in 1878, which ran between Southport and Preston.