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?

Honestly. None of you would want to be where I am then if you think blackpools rough all the same stuff going on only it's not hidden away in the back streets. For crying out loud, there was a drug dealer growing weed literally across the road from the police station. That's how blatant they are here

Why not make your own mind up, instead of listening to other people...

Yeah some can be crap but what if you're missing out on a nice few days.

Well you could always try going for a nice few days to somwhere that most people dont think is crap instead. It's probably a bit less of a risk.

There are a lot of great things for kids and families to do in Blackpool, so it's definitely worth a visit, but I wouldn't stay there. I'd either stay at Lytham or further out in some of the gorgeous hills a bit further out.

But you aren't suggesting someone comes to your house as a tourist, Fatty

Hey! I never said it was my house! My house is nice. The rest of its a shit hole. And I have told people to come here before. And we've had a laugh and taken the dc to play areas, the parks etc.

I think people are being very dramatic or snobby . I have been to Blackpool as a child, as a young adult on a hen do and as a parent with DD. All 3 have been enjoyable experiences. The tower and pleasure beach etc are expensive but no more expensive than similar places elsewhere in the country. They are worth a visit in my opinion. There are stag and hen dos, usually on Saturdays but, not everyone that enjoys a boozy night away is an awful person who will shout, swear and fight. some I then are MNers that have been dragged there as they didnt know to say no

Winter gardens has some good shows on and the zoo is ok DD loved it. There's also ripleys believe it ir not which is cheap and a nice way to spend an hour or 2.

Do not stay in the hilton at Blackpool. Now that is a rip off and a bit of a shithole I thought. Would rather have stayed in a premier inn.

I'd stay in Lytham, but would still do Blackpool for a day. There's a great park in Lytham as well, if you're looking for free things to do as well.

Blackpool is what it is. Embrace the cheese

Also, whilst the news this past couple of weeks has been talking of how miserable the weather is, up here it's been glorious.

It is loud, brash and a lot of it is run down but it is very popular with local children and teenagers for days out( we live close enough for that). It does look rough but I've been to worse, Skegness for example. Nothing like Cornwall seaside towns.

If I talked about "undeserving poor" and "drug addict chavs" on any other thread on this site I'd be ripped to pieces (quite rightly ) but not when I talk about Blackpool, it seems. Blackpool has a lot of serious social problems. I grew up there. I left as soon as I could. I have family and friends who live and work there (teacher/social services). However, as a place to come in the daytime, keeping to the front or visiting the zoo/Stanley Park/model village, it is great fun. I've visited plenty of nothern seaside towns on both coasts.They are just as expensive, don't have as great a beach, have loads of social problems and are not a patch on the fab day out you can have in Blackpool. Yes I would love to go to a dahling unspoilt quaint little Cornish fishing village but it would take me an age to get there and would no doubt be pricey too.

I think people are being very dramatic or snobby.

Totally agree. Especially the 'i went there once twenty years ago' and the even less relevant 'i haven't heard anything i like about blackpool on tv' type comments.

Op, if a day trip is to far for you there is a Premier Inn at Junction 32 of the M6- top of M55 which is the motorway to Blackpool. You can have fun in Blackpool for a day or two and visit all the naice Lancashire places like Clitheroe or wherever with ease as well.

Yes Clitheroe is nice. And it has a castle.

There is also Brockholes nature reserve, which is just off J31. Our kids love playing there.

This thread has made me want to take a trip to Blackpool and empty our 2p jar.

Not been to Brockholes yet - heard good things. I'll put it on the list.

Brockholes is great. I'm within walking distance so we spend a lot of time there.

The cheesey is why we went for all those years cheap and cheerful yes im up for that but not what i felt like last time I went as i said go for the tower pleasure beach blah blah but it isnt a pleasant place to wander about ime

I went last year and took my 9 year old. We had an absolute blast!! She loved it and I was happy seeing her happy!! It wasn't the nicest place I've stayed or been to but was a lot of fun. There were definitely some things that were not good ( getting accousted outside greggs by a slightly out of it man demanding I buy him a cake ) but the tower complex was fab and we were the only people in madam Tussades so had lots of fun being silly

Think Jeremy Kyle

To be fair that Julie that's been on JK about a million times is from Blackpool

But you have people like that no matter where you are. There's always going to be poor or uneducated people, or druggies, or homeless. They are everywhere, not just in Blackpool.

that julie .

Well I don't know her surname, and there could be loads of Julie's living in Blackpool so I had to say "that julie"

I know we are, but you can't say "don't go there because scum lives there" when there's "scum" everywhere.