Last month my friend and I made our way to Blackpool for the day with the intention of heading to the arcades, having some tea and then driving through the illuminations. The illuminations are on from September until early November I believe in Blackpool…Read More

Last month my friend and I made our way to Blackpool for the day with the intention of heading to the arcades, having some tea and then driving through the illuminations. The illuminations are on from September until early November I believe in Blackpool and they are a series of lights which fill the whole promenade and are usually nice to look at when the nights are dark.

As we walked down the promenade in Blackpool there were of course people around selling the flashing toys which are always so popular in Blackpool around the time of the illuminations and whilst people do walk down the road trying to sell these to people in their cars we decided to purchase them from the street and were charged a very reasonable three pounds each for them. Had we purchased them off someone on the road they would have been at least five pounds and so we were happy with our savings.

After we had eaten our tea we got back in the car to drive down through the illuminations and we soon found that the traffic was pretty much at a stand still as we tried to make our way through them. Whilst we know that the traffic is usually bad during the illuminations and worse at a weekend this was the worst that we had ever seen it. What was frustrating was one side of the road seemed to be moving a little better but as we tried to make our way to that side the other side of the road cleared and again we were stuck in stand still traffic. If drivers would just drive at a nice slow pace through the lights instead of stopping there would be so many less issues like this and I do think it is something that Blackpool Council need to look at and perhaps make provisions for.

We were able to make our way towards Blackpool Pleasure Beach to see the Nickelodeon themed illuminations which were characters from SpongeBob squarepants and Dora the Explorer and so the children were pleased with them but we turned round just after these to try and make our way back towards the Tower end of Blackpool and so we had basically to see the same lights we had seen before and as the traffic was so bad it took us over an hour and a half to do this and it was 10pm and the children were exhausted so we had to call it off as a bad job which was such a shame.

There are some lovely lights in Blackpool during the illuminations and the moving ones down past the tower are lovely to look at each year. I love how the Tower is lit up and changes colour and whilst it is a little bit tacky it is a nice traditional thing to do with your family but the traffic problems just make it a nightmare. Whilst we could have left the car on a car park and walked through the lights we felt our children were too small to do this as it is a massive walk to get through all of the lights and so we are hoping to visit again before the lights are shut off and see if we have a better experience. I would say if your child is in a buggy to walk through the lights as it will make your life a lot easier but you will need to wrap up warm as it is always freezing by the sea!
   Close

Once the pride of the North West of England, the seaside town of Blackpool has suffered a tarnished reputation over the last couple of decades. Known to be loud, brash and tacky and a bit...well, common. However 2 years ago I decided to put my…Read More

Once the pride of the North West of England, the seaside town of Blackpool has suffered a tarnished reputation over the last couple of decades. Known to be loud, brash and tacky and a bit...well, common. However 2 years ago I decided to put my pre-conceptions to one side and headed off with my pre-school daughter for some seaside fun. We enjoyed it so much, we returned again this year! I think it's an unfair reputation and Blackpool is still a great family seaside town, which children in particular will love.

There are some grotty areas in Blackpool to be totally honest, but there's also some really great family attractions too. In fact there are so many attractions in the town, it's pretty impossible (and very expensive!) to do them all. I would advise anyone planning a trip to Blackpool to search on-line and decide which attractions you'd really like to see. Check review sites as some are a lot better than others. Louis Tussards for example is one we decided to miss, as although it sounds fab it didn't have very good write ups. I would also advise that once you know which attractions you are interested in, book online as we saved quite a lot of money by doing this in advance.

The same applies to finding somewhere to stay. There are literally thousands of hotels, b&b's, guest houses and 3 holiday parks to choose from, and there is something to suit every taste and budget. We recently stayed in a fantastic B&B at just £25 a night for a double room. I found it through review sites and each and everyone was a good write up. I would advise to check out a number of sites to get a balanced picture. If luxury is a must for you, then there are plenty of 4 and 5 star hotels to choose from too.

'Be Prepared' is a phrase that could have been invented when considering what clothing to take. Northern England is known for being windy and rainy, so even in summer a waterproof jacket is an essential, I'd recommend one that can role up into your bag. However I have been lucky enough to have had some fab weather whilst in Blackpool, and it's important to remember sun cream as it can be breezy and on a couple of occasions I didn't realise how strong the sun was and burnt.

Blackpool isn't known for it's cuisine, and while visiting Blackpool I haven't made any effort in seeking out eateries. My daughter and I have instead filled up on a full English breakfast at our accommodation and pretty much stuck to fast food...of which there is an abundance and you will never have to walk more than a few meters to find some. There are plenty of convenience stores too to stock up on fruit.

The beaches are huge, with perfect sandcastle building sand although it does stain clothing as it's quite muddy...not forgetting the famous donkeys who take children for rides along the beach. It's possible to spend the whole day just enjoying the beach. However be aware of tide times. It seems to come in at around 11-12 am, and comes in VERY fast. It does go out very fast too, and within an hour or two there's huge expanses of sand. My advise would be to plan an attraction for the morning and save the beach for the afternoon. Blackpool seafront has been undergoing major redevelopement and building work is continuing now, although on our most recent visit (23/6/09) the South beach redevelopement was completed and is extremely nice, modern and clean. It's also nice to take the old fashioned tram cars that still run along Blackpool promenade, right up to Cleveleys, which is a quieter and more sedate town with an equally pleasant beach.

My personal must do's in Blackpool would be the beach including a donkey ride, a tram ride along the prom, visit to the tower, the zoo, pleasure beach theme park and evening strolls along the pier. Travelling around Blackpool is very easy. Most of the attractions are with walking distance for a moderately fit person. regular trams run up and down the Golden Mile stopping at the major attractions, but my personal favourite is the open top sight seeing bus. This stops at the attractions along the seafront, the town centre, the zoo and the 3 large holiday parks (2 haven and 1 pontins). I recommend buying a 2 day hopper ticket for £7.50 giving you 48 hours of unlimited travel.

I love visiting Blackpool for a few days. I just embrace it for what it is, a traditional seaside resort with plenty of fun for the whole family.    Close

Blackpool was one about the only "coastal resort" that I’d positively identified as a place that I would NOT visit. From what I could make out it’s a place that you either love or hate and in my mind it epitomised everything that I disliked…Read More

Blackpool was one about the only "coastal resort" that I’d positively identified as a place that I would NOT visit. From what I could make out it’s a place that you either love or hate and in my mind it epitomised everything that I disliked (loathed and despised would be too strong an expression). There were crowds, tacky shops, "kiss me quick hats", roller coaster, candy floss, more crowds and variety shows by the dozen. Indeed having studiously avoided the place for almost 60 years it was with mixed feelings that I gave the green light to my company’s request that I offer some consultancy to Blackpool Council. As an aside I’ve only been working for "Corelogic", a company providing software for Social Care Providers, since I retired from my work as a Social Work Manager with a large Local Authority, and their logic (flawless I had to admit) was that I could spend some time in this west coast resort whilst visiting "my long term commitment" in Manchester.

Blackpool is only a short train journey from Manchester so at the end of my working day with the City Council, I headed for Picadilly Station to catch one of the frequent trains to Blackpool. With mixed feeling I boarded the train and counted down the minutes when my long term ambition "NOT to do something" would vanish into thin air. I’ve only now have one "NOT to do" left and I’m sure that I will manage NOT to watch the "Sound of Music"!

The train journey is probably slower than a car journey, but I wasn’t in a hurry so I sat back to enjoy the view from the comfort of the carriage. Well when I say the view I am perhaps overstating the pleasure of this – it was after all the middle of winter and it was totally black outside of the carriage. I enjoyed the trip by settling back and enjoying the recently uploaded Beethoven symphony on my i-pod.

When I reached Blackpool I can cheerfully report that everyone I met was genuinely polite, cheerful and engaging. The station porters gave a cheery wave and the taxi driver got out of his cab to help me get my case into the cab. He was responsive to my questions about Blackpool and nothing was too big an effort for him. A short ride down the front (I’m guessing the tower was at the back of me because I saw no evidence of its presence) and we were soon heading away from the "tourist zone" to the residential serenity that would be my home for the night.

The owner of the B&B gave me some tips on local dining and after the briefest of check-ins I was strolling towards the small shopping area in this "conurbation" of Blackpool. I could choose Chinese, Indian, Italian, British or could have eaten Fish and Chips, Pizza or kebabs if I’d have chosen. In the end I enjoyed a quiet meal in a local Bistro (see separate journal entry).

On my second morning the taxi company was ordered for me by the hotel and once again I was driven to my destination by a charmingly helpful driver. The town might be going through hard times and the recession biting into their income but you can’t beat the Lancashire hospitality that was evident wherever I went.

On my way back to the station later that day I actually saw Blackpool notorious tower. A mini Eifel Tower that has been an attraction for generations. Of course there were signs of "better days" but Blackpool has embarked upon a twenty year programme to tidy up the town and bring it into the 21st Century. They’re half-way through this project and I couldn‘t help but feel that this is one resort that must survive as a pleasure town. It was the summer home for thousands of workers who used to make their "annual pilgrimage" as part of the "works holiday" and millions of children will have clambered on the rides at the pleasure beach.

Indeed I did finish up feeling that I’d been a bit hard on the town and perhaps it did deserve the opportunity to display its wares to me. I guess I’ll never be 100% enthusiastic about Blackpool but I am looking forward to my next visit when I might make sure that I can at least explore a little more of the town.

Watch this space!!    Close

Being nosey, and not invited to attend the Star Trek Convention, we jumped on the trolley just so we could drive by the Norbreck Castle Hotel in the hopes we could see some of the Trekkers lolling on the hotel grounds. The trolley did…Read More

Being nosey, and not invited to attend the Star Trek Convention, we jumped on the trolley just so we could drive by the Norbreck Castle Hotel in the hopes we could see some of the Trekkers lolling on the hotel grounds. The trolley did take us directly in front of the hotel, and we did, in fact, see lots of people we assumed to be Trekkers lolling in the sandy grass. The time to go the distance between the Imperial Hotel (the trolley stop is exactly in front) and the Norbreck Castle Hotel (another stop directly in front) is 5 minutes. We didn't feel 5 minutes gave us value for our 1 pound fare, so we decided to ride to the end of the line. Instead, we got off at Clevelys, about 20 minutes away from Blackpool .. who knew it went to another town! The scenery was lovely and it was cool on the trolley. Nearly every one of the little beach houses along the route had great hydrangea bushes in their little yards with huge clusters of blooms in blue, pink or white. The little town was another typical English seaside town. All the shops on the High Street had their doors wide open to catch the breeze. It was interesting to see that the English "1 Pound Store" sold exactly the same things our US "Dollar Stores" sell. The return trip cost us another pound. We found out the hard way that if you go only 2 stops on the trolley, it costs 1 pound. If you go from one end of the trolley line to the other it costs 1 pound. We also found out you are not allowed to stay on the trolley for a "roundtrip. You have to have another pound to make the return trip.   Close

Blackpool has a place in my heart. I was a frequent visitor as a child and I still take every advantage I can to return. This city is a haven for kids with its long beaches, donkey rides, large funfair and tons of other…Read More

Blackpool has a place in my heart. I was a frequent visitor as a child and I still take every advantage I can to return. This city is a haven for kids with its long beaches, donkey rides, large funfair and tons of other activities.

The Blackpool Tower is the center of attention along with Pleasure Beach. A walk along the 6-mile long promenade yields everything from palm-reading to slot machine arcades, from cockles & mussels to cotton candy.

The large beaches cater constantly to the constant visitors with deckchairs for rent and donkey rides for the kids.

The famous Blackpool Illuminations are held in September each year. The whole city is lit up and a city organized car ride through the lights is the format for a lovely day out.   Close

The Winter Gardens is a huge traditional style concert hall as was once seen across many British seaside towns. It is well looked after and inside houses and Opera House which sounds grand but is painted in some rather dodgy purple shades and has…Read More

The Winter Gardens is a huge traditional style concert hall as was once seen across many British seaside towns. It is well looked after and inside houses and Opera House which sounds grand but is painted in some rather dodgy purple shades and has holes in the roof above the stage. There is another smaller hall which is an interesting shade of bright yellow and is very glitzy, ideal for a panto! There is a third hall as well, but I did not go in there. Within the complex there is a bar, which is always popular with brass bands, and a coffee bar, which sold some wonderful apple pie and other interesting cakes. The prices at both were very reasonable considering that Blackpool is a fairly expensive city, particularly for the north of the country. I'm not sure whether you are able to look around the venue normally, but if you get the chance to see a show there, it is a good idea as they have many good bands and showmen there. Radiohead was on in the evening. In summary this is a British traditional seaside building that should be supported to ensure it stays open and used, rather than falling into disrepair as many others across the country have.   Close

The reason for going to Blackpool was so that two members of our party of nine could attend the Star Trek Convention being held that weekend at Norbreck Castle Hotel. There were over 5,000 attendees at the convention and the Norbreck isn't air conditioned…Read More

The reason for going to Blackpool was so that two members of our party of nine could attend the Star Trek Convention being held that weekend at Norbreck Castle Hotel. There were over 5,000 attendees at the convention and the Norbreck isn't air conditioned either. With the temperatures in the 90s, the crowd of Trekkies got a little ripe! The convention was a big success with Lolita Fatjo, Tim Russ, Kate Mulgree, and Robbie McNeill to chat and sign autographs. Even with the heat, many of those 5,000 dressed in costume for the closing events. Anyway, our Trekkies were quite happy but ready to move on to our next destination...cool (we hoped) Glasgow.    Close

popped over to blackpool for a short two day visit for the wifes birthday, booked into a small family ran b+b a recomendation from a friend, the place is a great place to base yourselves, large beds clean linen, and the mega…Read More

popped over to blackpool for a short two day visit for the wifes birthday, booked into a small family ran b+b a recomendation from a friend, the place is a great place to base yourselves, large beds clean linen, and the mega breakfast superb choice large portions very very good bar open all hours landlord cross between peter kay +basil faulty i dare you to get him on about bloody thatcher overall cheap cheerfull and full of character and a great spot on the sea front you could see the sea from our bedroom and for £16.00 per person its a goodun   Close