Need some MN opinions/wisdom - getting to Blackpool

[Bumblebee2302]

My options seem to be flying into Liverpool, Manchester or Birmingham and then getting train to BP (on a weekday) and same for return (a Saturday).

Travelling there and back alone and it's a journey I've never done before so just want some opinions as to best/worst and most/least reliable flights and trains, is 1st class worth it etc, prettiest view from train(!!).

No experience of National Rail and how ticketing works - if I buy an advance fare for a certain train and my plane is late, do I then essentially lose that ticket?

Help me please!

Where are you travelling from?

Flying in from Belfast

Blackpool does have an airport but not sure if there are flights to Belfast. Trains are probably best from Manchester, and there's a train station in Manchester airport. Not sure whether it's best to book train ticket or not, if you're not sure what time you'll be getting it. The journey's not particularly scenic

Are you going to see Britney by any chance?

Easiest thing to do is fly into Manchester and get the train in as there is a direct train from Manchester airport. You need to purchase what is called an open train ticket so that you are not stuck if your flight is late. It means you can get any train. There is no benefit to booking first class on that train. Sometimes there isn't one anyway.

Oh, and Blackpool airport shut down ages ago.

Fly into Manchester airport and get the direct train from the airport to Blackpool north train station. The thing you need to be carful though is there have been a lot of train cancellations and rail replacement buses to and from Blackpool this year.

If you need to get to Blackpool south train station instead of Blackpool north, then you would need to change trains at Preston.

*careful not carful

I just googled and you can get flights direct from Belfast to Blackpool pretty cheap and will be a lot easier than messing about on trains.

Sorry, my mistake, it seems those flights are to Liverpool or Manchester, but came up when I searched Blackpool to Belfast. Ignore me

We attend a festival in Blackpool every year. Our friends from Belfast (many friends from different friendship circles) always fly to Manchester and then get the train so I suspect that's the most straightforward option.

I should warn you that, if part of your train journey is on a Saturday, Northern Rail are proposing strikes every Saturday through September.

Brilliant - thanks v much everyone. Sounds like Manchester it is then!

Not seeing Britney I'm afraid - just a family gathering

I appreciate your help xo