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!

Don't. Had many a magical day trip there as a child / teen in the 80's. Went back about 6 years ago for a wedding - it was the most run down, scary, smelly, hell hole ever. Very, very sad what's become of it.

It used to be cheap and cheerful. Now it's just nasty.

The tower lounge has gone? I worked opposite it one summer and fights would break out all the time.
I do have fond memories of Blackpool but I don’t go back very often. The front is looking much better but so much of it is still unloved and shabby.
I took my son to the sea life centre when I was back for a visit and it was so expensive, and very dirty!

SeaLife was dirty when we went too!

You can tell the investment that’s slowly being made in Blackpool over recent months, hopefully it continues and boosts the rest of the place a bit.

I haven’t ever noticed any more weed smell here than most other places - Manchester is the worst for it in the NW in my opinion and there are a similar level of homeless people and people clearly off their faces there - I certainly feel safer in Blackpool than Manchester.

I have to agree with @mollypuss1 that I don’t think it’s particularly seedy, kids are unlikely to notice the penis rock and inflatables any more than having an Ann Summers on a high street makes a town seedy.

Despite having my opinion of the place irreversibly coloured by what I saw teaching there, I take the DC fairly regularly and we walk along the prom, go to Waterstones and the Disney store, play the 2p machines.

My big recommendation to PP would be don’t go to Harry Ramsden’s, there are far better and cheaper chippies! As someone mentioned, Mandarin is amazing if you like Chinese food as is the Wok Inn run by the same people.

I went last year and it was fine. I went Monday to Friday and didn’t see any stags/hens and I stayed at the haven site which is between Blackpool and St annes.

its satan`s armpit!

makes skegg look nice lol

Is there still a needle /sharps bin to deposit used hypodermics in the Tourist Information? That's what caught my eye last time we went...

Used to love going to Blackpool as a kid, seeing the Illuminations.....
Went back with my kids for the first time since I was little the other year.
It was a little bit more run down than I remembered, but still really enjoyed it.
Kids don't notice it, you've got a beach, the Tower, sticks of rock etc
It's what you make of it in my opinion.