To not want to go on holiday to blackpool

[opheliacat]

I think dh has lost his mind.

He reckons the dcs will love it?

We went last year. I had never been to Blackpool in my life. We stayed at Ribby Hall.

Went to Tussauds, the tower, pleasure beach and used the Ribby Hall facilities. Was a great week.

We found a Chinese where the restaurant looked like a school dinner hall but the food was the best we had ever had. Then went and got the illuminations tram which was a fab way to see the illuminations.

We had a fab time. Would definitely go back. Loved the 10p bingo too for a laugh.

Frilley I was just trying to advise people who are interested that it is breezy and you will find yourself walking miles down the prom. And IME children love the arcades. If it's not your thing that's fine .

I see a PP has already mentioned Ribby Hall, we went recently and it was brilliant, there’s loads of things to do on site and the kids had a ball. We ventured to Blackpool Prom for the SeaLife Centre and made a swift exit afterwards as it was pretty grim. We’ve booked to go back to Ribby Hall next year but we’ll be avoiding Blackpool.

It was my MIL’s dream to go to Blackpool “to see the lights” so we took her. I think it’s a horrible place but my MIL loved it and it was so worth it to see her so happy. I reckon your kids will love it, kids love tat.

I should clarify it was Old Firm day the day we went and I commented to DP if I wanted to see that many pissed up Scots I’d have stayed at home, it was the steaming drunk Scots that made it grim

Go to the Lake District. Beautiful scenery, nice walks, fresh air.

YANBU. Go for a day trip this month, time it so you are there for the afternoon and evening and be prepared to sit in a very long queue of traffic for the lights - check your car has plenty of oil and water and take refreshments for you all.

Blackpool for a holiday would be hell on earth IMO.

Love Madamemax's photo. We used to go to Blackpool every year when we were very young kids for the ' 'luminations ' - just for the day. Walk along the prom, run on the beach, fish and chips for tea, maybe 20p for the penny arcades, and candy floss or a toffee apple. It was brilliant and we loved it. 40 odd years later we were driving from Scotland to Cornwall for a holiday and I suggested to DH we had a night in Blackpool for old time's sake and to break the journey (DH had never been).

During our action packed, fun filled evening we saw a couple shagging in a bus shelter, another couple shagging on the pier (maybe it was a 21st century version of 'What the Butler Saw'), a woman projectile vomiting on the pier, several hen parties with various tasteful accoutrement - giant willys, blow up dolls, oh so funny T-shirts - screaming at each other across the pavement.

DH didn't believe me when I told him it never used to be like that. Never mind - I had a toffee apple and we'll never go again.

I used to go as a child took dds for long weekends in the 90s early 00s for the illuminations. We went 3 years ago it is a total dumps the seafront shops are basically drug paraphenalia and sex shops it is horrible to go out at night it is a shit tip we couldn't wait to leave.

I wouldn't want to go either.

I can't be doing with martyr holiday parents who force themselves to a resort or a type of holiday because of their children. I'm sure my kids would love camping, or cravanning, or Blackpool but it's NOT happening because DH and I wouldn't. So we find a holiday which suits us all.

Blackpool's image is not good and has gone downhill considerably in recent years.

It was maybe a dump when I went before and i hadn't noticed 😕

During our action packed, fun filled evening we saw a couple shagging in a bus shelter, another couple shagging on the pier (maybe it was a 21st century version of 'What the Butler Saw'), a woman projectile vomiting on the pier, several hen parties with various tasteful accoutrement - giant willys, blow up dolls, oh so funny T-shirts - screaming at each other across the pavement.

And people have the nerve to say we're snobby! Fucking hell.

I feel a bit sorry for Blackpool, I grew up nearby and loved it as a kid. But the Prom is just so seedy, overpriced and dirty now. It makes me sad.

It's completely grim but a life experience I suppose. Genuinely one of the most depressing places I have visited.

I feel sad too.

The town has such a depressing feel. Unemployment rates outside the summer are some of the highest anywhere in the UK. The housing is awful,, crumbling buildings, the whole place needs more than a lick of paint.

notreallyarsed It is sad but it is so grim I hear people with young kids saying oh we are going to blackpool i'm thinking oh no are you why

YANBU. I couldn't think of going anywhere worse

If he wants Blackpool and you want Whitby, how about Scarborough?

Best of both worlds.

Ignore all the snobs on here, Blackpool is a fun place to go for a few days. There's the illuminations, the tower, the tower ballroom, the circus, the sealife centre, the pleasure beach, the trams. We stayed at the football ground, very smart hotel with a room overlooking the pitch, they let the DCs go on the pitch and sit in the seats in the morning, they loved it. Go with a positive attitude and you'll have a blast!

I went this year for a family trip. The kids had an amazing time- they thought it was brilliant- the pleasure beach, the actual beach, the waterpark. If you are looking for a holiday they will have a brilliant time at- it’s great. Will you enjoy it for you- not so much! For them, it’s amazing.

I am really not a snob it has gone from cheap and cheerful to cheap and tacky and ended up cheap and seedy, we felt unsafe last time we went

We went a couple of years ago for October half term - we didn't stay in Blackpool we hired a nice caravan on a site about 25 mins drive away towards Lancaster. We had Merlin Passes at the time which included entry to loads of the attractions and we used them well. The kids loved the circus, tower, ballroom, indoor play, madame tussauds and walking around looking at the lights.
It was run down and heaving with people but WE HAD FUN!!!

We used to go every year as a child, we stayed at Pontins when it was ok and cheap. I loved Blackpool, it was always my favourite holiday.
I used to take my DC there (because I always forgot how grim each walk along the prom/Pleasure Beach/fish n chip visit was). Each visit was worse than the last, Sandcastles was a particular low - the DC kept asking when would we be leaving, I felt I had to get my money's worth . I finally stopped going this year after a 'just popping over for fish n chips and a prom walk' visit with my adult DD1. My DC are all grown up and have left home. The fish n chips itself was greasy and expensive, the walk along the front grim and too many very rowdy Hen and Stags out 'early' at 5 pm.
I'm not even 'doing' the Illuminations now.

I've never been. Given the wholesale piling in by MNetters on this thread though, I suspect I would rather enjoy it. It's like Disney, the utter snobbery and distaste aimed towards the Disney parks on here made me really worried and apprehensive about going. It was fantastic, kids and I had the absolute best time. From being rather meh! about all things Disney I am now a total convert. I do think there's a lot of snobbery on MN towards The Popular working class choice.

I think there is a lot of snobbery on this thread!

DH and I both have fond memories of going to Blackpool with our families when we were little.

We have been on holiday there together as adults and it was nostalgic in a way seeing all the things we did as kids with our families as adults.

We only tend to go now for the Pleasure Beach and we stay at the Big Blue Hotel which is really nice. We don't stay longer than a weekend.

It is run down but when we were there last year we did see a lot of changes to the promenade. Fair play to them for trying to improve it.

Luckily because DH and I aren't drinkers we don't tend to go out late so we avoid the hen and stag parties, come to think if it we have been very lucky and never seen anything like that. But the last time we stayed there longer than a weekend the season was about to end so it was dead during the week and the attractions were quiet.