When people go there on holiday I just think why....

People saying its cheap, its not that cheap any more!

I had a look out of interest and it would be about the same to go there as it would for a holiday in Wales, which we go to often. When you add up all the entrance fees, etc, it isnt cheap at all.

Living there and visiting is totally different, a weekend full of visiting the (amazing) zoo, the piers, arcades, waterpark, pleasure beach, sand dunes, stanley park - shows at the winter gardens, the beach, tower, illuminations, air show, comedy carpet.... etc what's not to like? Yeah, step back and see smack heads down central drive and run down buildings but you get that everywhere - yes the stags/hens/farmers can lower the tone but that's a different issue

Clacton is the place you're least likely ever to bump into Nigel Farage, so that's in its favour

Are you new here @Malasana? Common sense doesn’t really feature here much.

Ice show on the pleasure beach is also good, my daughter loved it when she was tween age. They do cheap matinees.

And they do a variety of stuff from classical concerts to musicals, pop concerts and ballet. The Grand is a self-funding trust so deserves support, too. The Winter Gardens also has a wide range of shoes in its theatre.

The Lake District, beautiful. The Forest of Bowland, beautiful. The Lancashire Fells, beautiful. Nice beaches all down the coast and a variety of resorts e.g. St Anne's if rich and refined, Blackpool if less rich and jolly (but the winter will bring you classical concerts, straight plays, ballet etc as well as musicals, fireworks in September).
Beautiful houses to visit and interesting history - some good churches, too.

Blackpool grand theatre is a beautiful ornate theatre and tickets usually reasonable prices. They are doing kids free at some shows this summer.

Foreign dh really wants to go there to see a proper British institution, haha

City trips to Manchester and Liverpool, Lytham festival with Blackpool.
Why not, I've had a great time.

When I was a child back in the 70's Blackpool was mine and my sisters favourite place for holidays. It was still a nice place to go. Loads to do, great beach, full of families as it was aimed at them.

Now....no I wouldnt go with a gun to my head. Its run down, sleazy and horrible. Took the kids to see the lights one day a few years ago as they had never seen them and was shocked at how gim it was. Groups of hammered people all over the place during the day. Dirty and covered in litter. Just horrible.

Such as shame as some of my favourite childhood memories are from there.

This post reminds me of a neighbour, on benefits, so low income too, but his favourite occupation is to diss cars of other people, when nobody asks him to do that - 'aye, that is shite, this new Jaguar is shite'. Oh, this LandRover discovery is shite, would never buy this'. What is the point?

my mum lives in the north west.

we always do a day trip to Blackpool when visiting - my kids love it, ripley’s believe it or not museum, ice rink, rollercoasters, slot machines and chips for lunch.

It's fun for a weekend and especially when illuminations are on.

My kids liked it when younger , in fact DD1 has taken their own there. Stayed in a caravan at cala gran

No it's not classy or full of naice middle class people but it's fun for a bit.

Agree. It’s boring. 🥱
I’ve been to Blackpool quite a few times, love it! I also go to 5* places. But there’s something about Blackpool. Maybe it’s the candy floss! But I think it’s just so easy to do the ‘let’s slag off Blackpool’ thread.

No need to diss this wonderful area. All I can see from this post is that even low-income people try their best to signal that they are better than plebs somehow.

We would always go to Blackpool when younger (grew up in a town not too far). Absolutely loved it and had great memories, there was so much to do. Took my DD a year ago and I don’t know if it’s just been left to go to crap or it’s always been that way and I remember differently but I won’t be going back again.

I had to go to Clacton at the weekend. It wasn’t as bad as I was expecting. I can see why people go to places like Clacton and Blackpool for a day trip.

Well there’s a lot more to northwest than Blackpool.
But Blackpool itself there are attractions like zoo, pleasure beach, sealife centre, model village, Stanley park, piers and amusement arcades, tower, sandcastle. Illuminations in Autumn. There’s a fireworks championship and air show.
There’s a caravan park Cala gran and while not everyone’s cup of tea you could come for. week and keep the children occupied every day. Lots of families seem to come.
Some is nostalgic if you’ve been to illuminations and had chips as a child you’ll do same with your dc.

Cheap and cheerful, if you like that sort of thing.

We’ve done a two night pleasure beach break a couple of times on the way to The Lakes from Devon. Room with a view in a nice hotel with theme park entry included, amazing value for money. Get the tram to the tower and eat fish and chips next to the comedy pavement. Take kids to the Sandcastle fun pool and the arcades. It’s fine. Wouldn’t want an adults out drinking type weekend there though.

This has been done to death on here. There's always haters and always some who still like it and go there. Look up the myriad old threads if you want to know why. The fact that you forgot to even mention the place doesn't put you in a lofty position from the off. No one's making you go the on holiday. Live and let live.

Is it really that hard to understand that people like different things?

I had to go for work once a few years ago. God it’s dire. Every stereotype is true. I couldn’t leave fast enough.

Yarmouth is indeed a tip now.