To think Blackpool might be best left in my memories?

[Lovethissweater]

About 20 years ago I went to Blackpool as a teenager.

We spent a few days there and did the Sandcastle waterpark, the Tower and circus, the Pleasure beach, Madame Tussaud's, we rode the trams and went in the arcades. It was tacky but fun and I don't remember it being that rough or run down, but I probably wouldn't have noticed as a teenager.

Every now and then I think "I bet my kids would love Blackpool", they'd love the tower and the waterpark, then I google the place and read how everyone says it's an utter dive and run down, really rough and full of drinks and addicts and I think perhaps it's better I leave Blackpool as a nice memory in the past!

Went last year for 3 nights. Staying in a hotel on the North pier. Kids loved it. Went to the Sealife, Madame Tussauds, Sandcastle and the Zoo. The zoo is fantastic.
We spent a lot and came home with a lot of tat.
Illuminations were great but I did worry about keeping my DC safe amongst the throng of drunks spilling out of the pubs and arcades.
The pier with the wheel was very shabby and quite unsafe imo. Young kids climbing up on the seats to look in the sea etc.No safety measures in place.
I'd go again for the day and spend majority of time at the zoo.

Kids love it. I went recently but all the shops and street markets seem to be run by rogues. I was nearly the victim of two scam attempts with people short changing me! Not nearly as friendly and jolly as I remember it being 20 years ago.

Vomit on the pavements at all times of the day. I'm never going back.

Last time I went was 2017 spontaneous overnight stay with a 1 year old and 4 year old. It was brilliant! We spent a day on the beach/arcades/pier and had fish and chips for tea, then went to the Pleasure Beach the next day. It was brilliant value so many rides and the queues were totally manageable, compared to a day at legoland when we only managed about 4 rides because the queues were horrific!
We went back to our b&b probably by about 7pm and didn't see anything worrying. I would happily go back it was such a good laugh!

I went there circa 1980 . It was filthy, kids and adults pissing in the streets and dog shit everywhere. Never been since.

Blackpool is grim
It's an absolute shithole

We visited twice in the past 5 years with our young son, prior to which I hadn't been for a couple of decades.

It's full of smutt. dirty, rip off...I can't think of a single nice thing to say about it.
For us the worst was the tacky smutty gift shops with sex toys displayed at child level. I don't see why a 7yr old boy needs to see mugs in the shape of tits, dildos, hats with sleazy messages.

It's shit

I go every couple of years. Last year I went with my two year old granddaughter. We did, the beach, Stanley Park, Sealife and she enjoyed going to see the horses and watching them. We went for the lights.

You can avoid the rougher pubs were the worst drinking is. I didn't see sex stuff at child height along the North front.

I'm going in July with a five and a three year old. We will add in the zoo.

The police respond to any trouble quickly and have a no nonsense approach.

I live one easy train ride, 1.5 hours away, so it's ideal if I want an outstanding beach.

I'm careful to pick 'family accommodation' again it tends to be grouped.

For what's available and the offers on free child places on cerial boxes etc, I can't see a cause for complaint.

"Vomit on the pavements at all times of the day. I'm never going back."

I've never seen that in the main areas that you'd go with children. The council is strict with B&B owners about taking responsibility for their guests and I've always seen plenty of wardens/police support about.

They've got £100 million to spend over the next two years (it started last year).

So give it ago OP

I live in north West
Would suggest staying in local area and visiting for day
Stay north and use trams to avoid parking
Or stay in Lytham or st Anne’s and bus in

Blackpool is lovely, born and bred there. Everywhere has it’s rough parts. If I lived in an inland town I’d love to come to Blackpool for a holiday. So much to do, beautiful promenade, Pleasure beach, three piers, the beautiful Winter Gardens, Blackpool Tower and of course St Anne’s and Lytham just up the road. It’s got everything.

The front is actually much less grotty than when I was a child, and the council does seem to be working hard to improve the town. Trams are nicer and easier to use too (one of my parents is from Blackpool and I spent a lot of time there pre-marriage).

I've always found the people really friendly too. I wasn't sure about going this year, but I think I probably will. It's the closest thing I've ever had to a home town and I really miss it!

I think it's going from the cheese to sleaze factor, unfortunately.

I’d just like to add, I go up town most days and very rarely have I seen dog shit and vomit on pavements. The town center is no dirtier than any other. The promenade (in the season) often suffers from day trippers rubbish, but that’s down to thoughtless ignorant litter louts who come to Blackpool and leave all their garbage for others to clean up.

I think you should take your kids if you think they will enjoy it.

I'd love to go to Blackpool, I will one day. We live on the south coast so it's a bit of a trek and DH isn't particularly keen.

I adore old fashioned seaside resorts, can't get enough of them and I think they are seriously underrated.

Have a lovely trip to Blackpool and ignore the naysayers.

Yes the new trams are wonderful, kids especially love them. You can go from Star Gate all the way to Fleetwood, a fantastic journey.

The Zoo is amazing, definitely worth a visit. Once youre inside the attractions all is fine. Its not much different from any other UK cities with homeless people sitting out and the smell of weed in the air. There are so many things to do there, and you can't shield your kids from the reality of their country forever.

I don't visit often at all, but for a weekend every few years its a great break.

I went to the Pleasure Beach for the first time in about 30 years last year and I thought it had improved greatly. I think because you now have to pay to get in, there aren't masses of people/gangs of youths just milling around like there used to be. The rides were very good, it was clean and well organised and it was good value.

We saw the illuminations (not much change there), kept away from the town centre and stayed in Lytham.

Whenever Blackpool gets mentioned on here you will always get the people telling you it’s the worst place on Earth, however, I’ve lived in Blackpool for the last 15 years although I wasn’t born and brought up here. In those 15 years I’ve never seen a single fight, anyone vomiting/pissing in the street, anyone naked in public or pretty much most of the things Blackpool is being accused of on here. I’ve never been pickpocketed and I’ve never felt unsafe. The only place I’ve ever seen the above or felt unsafe was in London. Blackpool is far from perfect but it’s no worse than most towns. Being honest, before I moved here (through work necessity rather than choice) I thought it was a shithole because that’s what I had been told, but it’s not. It’s not my idea of a holiday destination but if Merlin attractions, funfairs, arcades etc are what you want then it fits the bill.

We went on a road trip to Scotland. I was upset the illuminations s weren't on in the kids summer holidays. It was a dump. I dont think the kids cared or noticed much - but we did stay out of town overnight. I did feel a bit on edge in the streets off the main drag and I grew up in a right dump of a area

Has it really got that bad? We are meant to be going for 5 days in July. Have air b and b booked. Coming from Northern Ireland

@mummyof2boys30, no it isn't bad at all. The kids will have a great time.

The streets off the main drag, away from the holiday accommodation look a bid moody. The beggers etc aren't around were you'd be with children. I travel as a lone woman either with my DD with SN or my under 5 years old granddaughters.

There used to be a few people selling 'lucky heather' etc but they've been clamped down on.

The beach is clean and you can paddle in the sea. There's a Primark right by the tower if you forget anything.

Everyone says it's an utter dive and run down, really rough and full of drinks and addicts

It was like that 20 years ago. You will notice (as your parents probably did when you went). The children won't.

Thanks for that. We went about 5 years ago and thought it was OK but kids loved it. Worried it had changed a lot from then. We have air B&B about 10mins walk from centre. It gets good reviews so hopefully ok

In Blackpool Town centre stick to the front, so the sandcastle, pleasurebeach and the other end for madame tussauds attractions. We still haven't found a decent place to eat with kids except for Bella Italia. For beach Blackpool is nice or for a pleasure seafront go to Lytham, at Annes (fab for smaller kids) and then there is blackpool zoo, Stanley Park and model Village. Avoid evening in Blackpool too imo, but there plenty of towns to stay in nearby either driving or train. Sorry if I sound like blackpool tourist board, but I love most things about Blackpool

I must live near you @NoWordForFluffy and I work bear to Blackpool. We too DS for the firework championships in Sept and he announced “this place is disgusting” on arrival (he’s normally very polite!). BIL used to work in Blackpool as a policeman and he likes to point out all the places he’s found dead junkies and keeps his children very close when we’ve been before! 🤢