AIBU to think a holiday to Blackpool would be fun?

[Flowersandbirds]

So we have a week in October half term to fill. We don’t want to go abroad as we need a cheapish week.

2DCs aged 2 and 6. I think a few days in Blackpool would be fun - illuminations, funfair etc. DH is being v negative and thinks it will be a bit rubbish - tacky, crappy hotels and sod all to do.

AIBU or would it be a fun holiday in Autumn?

There is loads to do with children. It is tacky but that’s what you’re signing up to.

We stayed overnight in a b&b last year with a 4 and 1 year old. We did beach, pier, fish & chip supper on day 2 and pleasure beach day 2. Pleasure beach was fab, my 4 year old was tall enough for some big rides but there were loads of kids rides too.
Didn't see anything awful, it does have a cheap & cheerful/tacky vibe but nothing too seedy.

How about Ribby Hall? It's close to Blackpool so you could go and see the illuminations etc but would actually be staying in much nicer surroundings.

One of the few places I wouldn’t take my children for a holiday. The drugs the alcohol the stag and hen parties and crime and that’s before you get into how run down and dirty everything is.

Blackpool is full of people that I find quite intimidating, tbh. I wouldn’t stay there.

MadMags I found it intimidating too.

We were there with a group of 16 girls for an event. (12-17)

Every time we walked around as a group we were followed by some very shifty looking men. It happened several times of the weekend.

We all felt very unsafe.

We went in half term last year and it was fine! Just for the day last year but staying at the nearby Village Hotel this year.

It was mainly families during the day, did get fairly busy nearer to the pleasure beach end but not scary at all. Had tea at the Wetherspoons up by the pleasure beach, which of you can get a seat near the window, give you a really good view of the illuminations and the train going past which is all lit up.

During the day we just took a picnic, went on the beach, on the little funfair rides on the pier and the amusements. It is tacky but was still a good day out.

Stay in Lytham St Anne's its much nicer. Watch things like nutrigrain bars and pack of chocolate for deals on all of the Merlin attractions, tower, sea life centre, Madame tusaauds etc you can at least get adults free. If you stay out of Blackpool and just go in for the days/ illumination its much better.

So I’m a Notherner for those that asked and will be in Manchester anyway. I want somewhere up North (live down south and tbh not a massive fan of Brighton anyway though Rye and Margate are on my list).

I’m not snobby at all and I can totally embrace tack and lack of fancy facilities. Then again not so keen on prostitution and drugs esp as I may take the kids solo. I supppse I was hoping for more faded glory than out and out rough. Part of the point was the illuminations so if I’m not doing Blackpool, I probably wouldn’t bother with a beach place.

On the budget point, I don’t mind splashing out a bit on nicer hotels and kids activities. I just don’t want to fly anywhere. Are there any really nice hotels (even if pricey)?

What about Ribby Hall holiday village? It's a couple of miles from Blackpool. We stayed there last November and visited Blackpool Zoo and the Tower. You're close enough to enjoy all Blackpool has to offer but far enough away to leave it behind if you want. You could visit other places nearby too.

@chillpizza have you been to Blackpool? Its not Beirut. Lots of seaside towns in fact lots of towns have drug and alcohol users. London (not seaside) for example would be far worse and more dangerous. But its a cracking place to visit (london that is). Brighton similar. I think people are being unfair based on scant evidence. Blackpool very tatty in places. Ive given plenty of guidance of what to do to have an enjoyable time there.

Im a real snob tbh and got depressed accidently ending up in a hungry horse after dropping a hire car off at Manchester airport and i still find things to enjoy in the Blackpool area.

i would go! i love the tackiness of blackpool. but maybe not for a week. i don’t think it’ll end up a cheap break either, i wouldnt say there’s many free things to do. but kids love it! don’t know why people are talking about the nightlife, seeing piles of sick everywhere etc...i’m assuming you won’t be going in the pubs! you might see groups of hens & stage but that’s about it.

.... it's my home town and I'd agree with chillpizza!

We regularly go back to the area to visit family, there's lots of lovely places which are so much nicer nearby, but Blackpool itself is just depressing.

Tacky central. Wouldn’t recommend it whatsoever.

i’ve been to blackpool so many times and never once felt intimidated, of course there are drunks etc, there is everywhere you go, especially seaside places! i wouldn’t be worried about the crime, you don’t tend to hear about people getting mugged or anything (i don’t think so anyway!)

if you’re going when the illuminations are on in half term then when you’re walking down the front you’ll be with hundreds of other people anyway! it’ll be packed :)

It’s bloody awful and in some parts downright nasty.
Daytime in winter seemed to have junkies all over the place, the resort is faded without charm and the pleasure beach in non sun isn’t that pleasurable
I’d look at but Lina if you’re happy to embrace the tack, it has indoor stuff and little kids love it... drinks are cheap too

BUTLINS not Lina 😂

Just had a quick Google OP and for 2 adults and 2 kids the big blue looks like it's going to be roughly £200 per night.

We live less than an hour away so have visited for lots of days out but not really stayed until this year, I took 8 year old ds for a night in Feb and walked from the centre to hotel near the pleasure beach at 11pm and felt safe. We love the circus, I agree with a pp the lights are better at the bispham end. I think the circus is about £50 for a family of 4.

Do it but stay in St Anne's, then get a bus into Blackpool

I'd highly recommend the St Ives Hotel in St Anne's (I know confusing name), really family friendly and brilliant food - enjoy OP

I live in a town just outside Blackpool and work in Blackpool. I work in the arts and you would be surprised at how much art and culture there is. Yes really.

October half term is also Lightpool Festival time and this year is a big one. We have the bbc philharmonic on 18th with a special light / projection mapping experience and my organisation are bringing a dance / pyrotechnic piece to town for the week after Friday night (Lightpool Festival is 25,26,27th).

It's definitely not all stage and hens.

My DC rated their long weekend in Blackpool on a par with Christmas at the second best hotel in Disneyland Paris!

We went with Merlin passes so spent very little. Upgraded to VIP seats in circus.

We camped and had breakfast at the Premier Inn each day.

Had a nice afternoon tea with a groupon.

I think the good weather helps but we didn’t even have the illuminations!

Go to New Brighton. From Manchester it's M56 then M53. A doddle.
They've spent a lot of money on it and spent it well. It's as nice as anywhere in Spain (any of the costas, seriously).
Try it, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Yes it is tacky and a bit of a dump. But your kids would LOVE it. You can buy passes to the main attractions in bulk which saves a fortune. Some of the restarants have good offers on. It's easy to avoid the stags and hens. Me and my friend asked our DDs where they wanted to go for their birthday and the resounding answer was Blackpool! So we had a long weekend there and stayed in the Big Blue hotel and had a fabulous time. I've also stayed in some B&Bs - some specify families only. I'd say it's a must for kids to experience.

The big blue hotel is a nice hotel, you always get a discount on tickets and get in a hour early through the side entrance before the park opens. And you can have a park view with a roller coaster right outside your window. Tram stop right outside, weather spoons just down the road with the pier, sandcastle and the bus takes you to the other fun places. It’s quiet up that side as well. It’s not cheap, everything is expensive. Just stay out of the center on the nights, it gets very rowdy.