To not want to go on holiday to blackpool

[opheliacat]

I think dh has lost his mind.

He reckons the dcs will love it?

It isn’t all bad. Lytham and st Anne’s are lovely for a evening out

It's so nice that you are suggesting that people spend the evening out elsewhere?

I'm not buying it.

I was out in Blackpool on Friday evening a few days ago.

It was like a war zone.

My parents took me and my siblings as children sometime in the 90s I believe. I remember it all very fondly. I was fascinated by the tower and thought the Pleasure Beach was the best thing ever. It was my first time on proper roller coasters! I think the children would love it. I have no memory of seeing anything shocking or inappropriate?

Then again I don't live too far from Barry Island so make of it what you will.

Lytham St Anne's is near enough. Same for Fleetwood, even more so with the tram into Blackpool proper.

We went in the summer - not my cup of tea but the kids LOVED it - pleasure beach, Madame Tussaud's, sandcastle, tower. It is what you make of it.

I would never take my children to Blackpool simply because when I lived in Lancashire and worked for social services I became aware just how many convicted sex offenders were housed there.
Yes I know they're everywhere but Blackpool has a massively above average amount.
(Failing seaside resort, old b&bs lease to council emergency housing and probation service to make ends meet, even the chains do it).

I was out in Blackpool on Friday evening a few days ago.

It was like a war zone.
To be fair i think that the same can be said about any town centre across Britain on a friday or saturday night.

I went once for a day trip. That was more than enough. There are a bajillion (approximately) nicer places in England to visit if you fancy a couple of days by the seaside.

To be fair i think that the same can be said about any town centre across Britain on a friday or saturday night.

Not in my city.

And this "war zone" was 8pm at a family firework event on the promenade

YADNBU!!!

& I say that as the teen/20 something with a younger sibling & we both still butch about our DM forcing us into days out there - god forbid a whole holiday

Is Scarborough not a similarly old school seaside resort but with less of Blackpool's grimness and griminess?

We spent a few days in Blackpool this summer, I bloody loved it! I am a big fan of tacky seaside resorts tho - this is going to sound super wanky, but I really love the aesthetic, the combination of the tackiness and the beautiful beaches. It reminded me a lot of Romeo + Juliet (the film) for some reason. You can take some awesome photos. And yes, the kids loved the slotties, the world's biggest indoor pool complex (apparently) and the trams. There are actual donkeys! Princess carriages with actual ponies you can ride up the beach and back!! So much good stuff, it's like the other seaside resorts (which are also great) but turned up to 11.

Are you a fan of Martin Parr's Blackpool photos lucy?

Ooh I've not seen those squoosh! Are there any online?

Is the Sandcastle worth a 4 hour drive?? DSS is crazy about water slides so we were thinking of going to Blackpool for a weekend purely for the Sandcastle (he is 13 btw).

Went there for a week as a kid in the 80s, it was horrendous even then

A big up for the Sandcastle is that it's very disabled-friendly, with excellent Changing Places toilet facilities (adult-sized changing table, hoist, shower etc) - open to all, not just paying customers - & one night a month it holds an accessible session.

www.disabledholidayinfo.org.uk/search/searchdetail.cfm?EstID=381
www.sandcastle-waterpark.co.uk/accessible-venue/

Blackpool is my closest town.
whilst it is full of drunks etc
you're unlikely to find many of them in the town centre in the middle of the day. the club's don't open until night time.
if the illuminations are why you're going, then you avoid all the club's anyway as they're not on the promenade.

it's a shit town. but it's not as horrific as some people are making out. there's shit areas everywhere just stay away from the outskirts surrounding the town centre. (central drive, cookson st, Talbot road, the bit near the trainstation where funny girls is) and you'll be fine.

it's tacky yes but kids love it.
I wouldn't stay in a hotel here though. try Lytham St Anne's or Cleveleys. neighbouring towns 10 minutes drive away. much nicer. then you can spend your time in those towns instead and nip in and out of Blackpool whenever you please. best of both worlds.

We go to the Aiming Higher sessions at the Sandcastle, Lapdance. I love driving to Blackpool, having tea at The Beach House, then walking down the prom to the Sandcastle at dusk. They're great evenings for our family and I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity for DD to lark about in the water and on the slides with all her school friends, without getting sideward glances from folk who don't understand the magic of being special!

Poptart he will love the slides but be aware you have to pay extra for them. My children are littler and not so comfortable in the water but they loved the fact that you could have lunch in your swimming costume and then go back in the pool :)

Amounderness. Felt it is time to say something in defence of Blackpool. Today the sun is shining on our blue flag beach and it looks great. The new Hilton hotel is on its way and contract awarded for a new 5 star hotel near the tower. Lots of money has been spent on the prom. Merlin entertainments now operate the Tower, Sea life , Dungeons and Madame Tussauds so lots of discounts to be had.
For eating out lots of chain restaurants plus individual restaurants like the Beach House and Sapori. Two theatres plus shows on the piers and in venues such as Viva and Sands.
It is worth remembering that the stags and hens who behave so badly are not Blackpool residents but tourists who do not know behave on holiday. They also drop litter everywhere despite there being hundreds of bins. Who thinks it is acceptable to leave a dirty nappy at the roadside!
With no extra funding our police and NHS deal with thousands of visitors every year.
Of course there are some unpleasant areas as in most towns but like most seaside towns we are classed as a deprived area due to lack of employment and investment.
Please think before you label Blackpool a shithole especially if you have not visited for years.
As an afterthought. The frackers are here so we are going to be richer than Saudi Arabia???

One of my fondest memories is sitting playing in infant school when my Mum and Dad appeared at the classroom door on my birthday. I was bundled into our Ford Cortina wrapped up tight and taken to Blackpool. I have such wonderful memories of being on a horse and cart on the prom, eating ice cream whilst freezing and generally being loved.

It's my birthday next week, DH offered brochures on Budapest, Dublin, Berlin. His face when I said I wanted to go to the illuminations was a picture. Mum died very suddenly earlier this year and I guess I'm still a little fragile. I've been thinking about that memory a lot.
I went to Blackpool briefly with DD back in May for a convention and I thought it was greatly improved, clean and quite lovely. I was surprised.

I can't wait next week to walk from the pleasure beach up to North Shore, wrapped up, freezing and generally feeling happy to be somewhere that holds such a lovely memory for me.

I went on honeymoon to Blackpool! Only stayed 4 days and it really wasn't long enough to do everything we wanted! We're considering going back for again for the illuminations if we can get some time off

Sisters that sounds absolutely lovely and I hope you have a fantastic time.
I have a similar fond memory of being whisked from school to Blackpool on a Friday night to to see the 'lights', my brother and I poking our heads out of the sunroof and being amazed by the lit-up trams and the tower. The smell of chips and candy floss in the (freezing cold) air. Happy times.

Ooh yes @leccybill the days where you wouldn't be told off for no seat belt. Something about the smell I agree. I suspect I might shed a tear as I walk up the prom though.