To think we would enjoy Blackpool?

[Babysafari]

I haven't been for 15 years, it had a reputation for being a bit tacky even back then.

I do remember there was lots for dc to do, the waterpark, the tower, pleasurebeach, tram rides.

Thought I might book a couple of nights there but everyone looks at me like this

Is it that bad?

[nuttymango]

Yes!

[Flanderspigeonmurderer]

There is lots to do, it's not particularly cheap though. The beach front has had a bit of a makeover so nice for a walk if the weather is nice. You could also go to Lytham from Blackpool which is nice and has a lovely big park.

[katemiddletonsnudeheels]

I worked there once

[Hodooooooooor]

Yes. Its awful. It was awful in the 70's, it was awful in the 90's, its still awful. It's dirty and grubby and filled with cheap pubs and bad restaurants serving terrible food and drink.
And its swarming with people in too little clothes filled with too much alcohol. Who puke in the street and lie down in bus shelters.

[hidingwithwine]

I'm not a huge Blackpool fan but we do love the Pleasure Beach. All 3 dcs are coaster junkies. We do the Big Blue Hotel straight in the gate to the PB, back in the gate to the hotel after a day on the coasters, and into the bar

[Bearbehind]

If we enjoyed the same things life would be very boring- personally I'd prefer to chew my toenails than visit Blackpool though.

I drove through recently and what struck me, other than it does look awful if the sun isn't out, is that it must cost a fortune to visit with children.

[Vanillafox]

I begged DH to take me there a few years ago as I thought it would be a bit like Las Vegas It was bloody awful and I'll never go back if I can help it. As soon as you get away from the seafront it feels like a very deprived area. We did stay in a rubbish travel lodge though which didn't help. He clearly takes me to all the best places!

[ApocalypseNowt]

The zoo is nice since they did it up. And the beach has a blue flag now after a major clean up operation that has been going ever since i can remember.

Stanley park is nice too (which is next to the zoo). There's a little model village there that the dc love.

There's loads to do and you can make it cheaper by booking ahead online at places like the pleasure beach.

It does get ropey at times but usually later on (not always) and it's usually at and around certain drinking emporiums that can be avoided.

[TrinityForce]

Wow what a response.

It's nice for a day out, I wouldn't do a weekend unless it's particularly far from you.

The beach is better than it used to be, the water is still a grey shade but it's cleaning up. The arcades are fun for kids, there's a nice waterpark, a nice theme park, a beach. The beach at Lytham St. Anns (5 minutes drive down the road) is very clean, very quiet and beautiful.

All in all a good day out, if you want to go then go. What's there to lose? Either way you'll have something to remember.

[Babysafari]

What is so bad about it? Is it dirty/full of drunks? Be honest as I can't remember much.

We always go to Cornwall on our holidays which is lovely, but I want to take older dc somewhere for a couple of nights with lots of things to do. We like theme parks but we've done most of them.

[StillStayingClassySanDiego]

It's not somewhere I'd choose to go for a few days away but if the weather's like it is at present anywhere with a beach is lovely.

We found it to be very run down last time we were there; about 4 years ago and it was bloody freezing!

[19lottie82]

It's really run down. I think due to the rise of cheap Easyjet flights ect, people don't go there for their holidays anymore, instead they go abroad. So businesses are failing and there's not been any investment / regeneration.

[TrinityForce]

In the evening it is full of drunks, yes. It's a hotspot for the North West to go for mad drinking sessions, hen do's, stag do's and the like.

It isn't dirty. The beach did used to have a lot of rubbish but it's cleaned up a lot.

It IS a deprived area once you get away from the main strip. If poor people scare you, don't go beyond the main strip.

[Babysafari]

Oh lots of replies I'm too slow.

I doubt we'd want to go into the sea. I was thinking of the waterpark, tower and the theme park. I know it wouldn't be cheap.

We are going to St Ives for our holiday which I love.

[ApocalypseNowt]

Babysafari if you stay on and around the front it's fine. There are very deprived areas but you're unlikely to be venturing around those places anyway.

Blackpool does have it's faults however it seems one of those places it acceptable to slag off. DC tend to see things through different eyes to those of 'grown-ups'. I reckon they'd love it.

[Vagabond]

Blackpool is vile and is a travesty. It should be a wonderful place but sadly, it's full of shit hotels and trashy people.
God knows why the gov't hasn't put money into improving the infrastructure there because the place has potential. Unfortunately, there is only one decent restaurant there and the rest is just shit. Full of mums with prams drinking buckets of cheap drinks, or worse....hen nights and that awful ilk of people.
Just dreadful. Our hotel was so awful and disgusting that we left after one night and forfeited the cost for three pre-paid nights. Truly vile.

[FuckingFattyBitch]

We go to blackpool quite often. The DC like the zoo and the sea life centre and the beach and piers. It is overpriced though and we do end up spending a fortune. We go because it's a day out for the DC and it's close to us. I wouldn't stay overnight though. No point as we live 10 minutes away by train. I don't think it's that bad, but as I said I don't stay overnight and we tend to stick to the zoo and the sea front. And I'm from a "rough" council estate so nothing really phases me
The pp who said the people wear too little clothes...that happens everywhere. I see men in just shorts all the time and women with tops that are too small and skimpy shorts/skirts. It's not just blackpool.

[Hodooooooooor]

As soon as you get away from the seafront it feels like a very deprived area

Thats because it is. It's a dumping ground for the socially excluded. In last years top ten deprived areas in England, 5 of them were in the Blackpool area. It has the highest number of alcohol related deaths in Britain and rates of serious crime way above the average, as well as the highest suicide rate. It's full of homeless shelters, B&B's, and some of the worst private lets in the country, has an incredibly high rate of unemployment, and is quite possibly the very worst place in the UK to live.

So no, not really a fun spot for a holiday

[ApocalypseNowt]

quite possibly the very worst place in the UK to live There are some nice bits too.....

[IthinkIamsinking]

The worst place I have ever been to.

[Babysafari]

That's kind of what I thought apocalypse dc wouldn't care if there were a few rough people. Although loads of drunks puts me right off. I know it's got a bad reputation.

Is there anywhere similar to Blackpool with lots going on, but a bit nicer?

[DrWhooves]

Don't go to the tower, it's a massive rip off for fuck all. The pleasure beach and sandcastle are good, book your pleasure beach wristbands online in advance and it's cheaper. We went last year but stayed outside of Blackpool itself, it was only in the daytime on weekdays we went in and didn't see any drunk idiots. The zoo was nice too.

[BeckyMcDonald]

So businesses are failing and there's not been any investment / regeneration.

19lottie82 the second part of that sentence is bullshit.mtgeres been millions and millions poured into the town in the past five years.

If you want traditional kiss-me-quick bawdy British seaside then you won't beat Blackpool. If you don't, then don't touch it with a barge pole. The Tower and Pleasure Beach are awesom. The Sandcastle is always far, far to busy (and IMO dangerous) in summer. The slots are brill and there's loads of bingo and stuff like that.

We're locals and we stick to St Anne's.

[BillSykesDog]

I go for a day to the Pleasure Beach. If you like kitsch and tacky stuff and aren't bothered by quite a few of the football shirts and lager crowd it's a good laugh. The penny slots on the arcade are good fun too.

[MrsMoggy]

I really like blackpool. I was brought up going there, Rhyl and southport for holidays and I enjoyed them all. We usually stay at a haven camp nearby but we've also stayed at some lovely b and bs. The Rutland hotel, the belvedere, glenwalden, the Dutchman are a few we've stayed at