To go to Blackpool October half term?

[fat13]

Looking for somewhere good for kids. Dh has never seen the illuminations so thought this would be nice. Zoo, sandcastle, beach - but is it really horrific? Wales is the other possibility but doesn’t seem as much on.

The Big Blue hotel is at the North end of Blackpool on the way to Lytham anyway! You'll be fine!

The Big Blue Hotel is in the south of Blackpool, on the way to St Annes and Lytham. The north end of Blackpool is at Bispham where the illuminations start/end (the part where you can walk some of the tableaux illuminations).

Agree that there is huge snobishness around Lytham and St Annes. They are nicer than Blackpool, I absolutely agree, but there is no need whatsoever to stay there. Plenty of good quality accommodation in Blackpool itself. You can do a day out in Lytham and St Annes if you fancy something a bit more upmarket but the stuff for children is all in Blackpool. For the main attractions, the tram/bus is enough but if you want to go out to the zoo and model village, you would need a car or you can take a bus to the front door (or you used to be able to anyway, been a while). There is parking at the zoo and model village - both are close to the park (which is lovely) so you could have a day or two 'inland' rather than along the front on that basis.

Blackpool can be really tacky but kids love it and will have a good time! We stay in the village hotel it’s next to the zoo in acres of ground and it’s really lovely. Kids love the Nickelodeon land at the Pleasure beach. A holiday is what you make it. I’d go I love seeing the kids faces with all the lights and tacky-ness!

@Getawaywithit

The Big Blue hotel is at the North end of Blackpool on the way to Lytham anyway! You'll be fine!

The Big Blue Hotel is in the south of Blackpool, on the way to St Annes and Lytham. The north end of Blackpool is at Bispham where the illuminations start/end (the part where you can walk some of the tableaux illuminations).

Agree that there is huge snobishness around Lytham and St Annes. They are nicer than Blackpool, I absolutely agree, but there is no need whatsoever to stay there. Plenty of good quality accommodation in Blackpool itself. You can do a day out in Lytham and St Annes if you fancy something a bit more upmarket but the stuff for children is all in Blackpool. For the main attractions, the tram/bus is enough but if you want to go out to the zoo and model village, you would need a car or you can take a bus to the front door (or you used to be able to anyway, been a while). There is parking at the zoo and model village - both are close to the park (which is lovely) so you could have a day or two 'inland' rather than along the front on that basis.

Agree with all this and if your going to Blackpool, just stay in Blackpool.

It can definitely get busy in half term though.

I also believe slimefest is back on this year. Not sure how old your DCs are but mine love it.

The circus is usually good, the tower itself is very old and grotty, needs lots of work but there is still usually plenty to see and do.

If you want a good night out check out Viva and see what shows they have on.

Don't drive through the illuminations. Find someone to park out of the way and walk. It can take you over an hour to get to the start in half term.
Walk one way and get a tram back.

It is what it is, kids will love it and having a hotel near the tram line is fab. My 5 year old just loved popping on and off it. The tower, peirs etc. Kids love it. If you go with the right mindset, you will too.

The PremierInn at Blackpool airport is also a good shout for accommodation with young children (and probably cheaper than The Big Blue?). We did that a few times (had family in the area at the time) and it's a short walk down to Starr Gate tram stop, from where you can get the tram to the Pleasure Beach, the tower - or (as we did once on a rainy day) just did the entire round trip to Fleetwood and back!

DSs are older now, but still sometimes yearn to go back to the Pleasure Beach because they (and me) loved the rollercoasters. You'll get shaken to bits on the Grand National, but it's definitely an experience like no other! And - in our experience - queues were always short enough for the popular rides to be able to ride a combination of the best ones 20-30 times in total in a day. And it's a short walk between rides too (many have been built to twist and turn through others, just to fit them in!) whereas somewhere like Alton Towers is lots of walking between rides, longer queues, and far fewer rides in total you can get on in a day.

Anyway, that's my two-penneth worth of ideas for the OP!

Please don’t go to the sandcastle.

They have naked swimming days and allow children and single men in at the same time. It’s basically a pardophile gathering for children to be eyed up.

Have a google for details.

It's super-naff but good fun. Something everyone should experience once!

@Thehop

Please don’t go to the sandcastle.

They have naked swimming days and allow children and single men in at the same time. It’s basically a pardophile gathering for children to be eyed up.

Have a google for details.

We went in October half term a few years ago. Stayed at a B&B very close to the tower.

We had Merlin passes but you can get deals for the dungeons, madam Tussauds, Tower etc. One of the piers has rides if you don't want to pay entry for the pleasure beach. The tram and illuminations are good too.

Yes a lot of it is a bit tacky but we gad a great time !

Lythams great if your kids are 65 and enjoy golf. Otherwise go to Blackpool.

Mine loved the sandcastle but we missed the naked men..?!?

It’s a shithole but kids absolutely love it. I used to love the illuminations as a kid and keep meaning to take my DC just for pure nostalgia although I’ve read terrible reviews online so worried I’d be disappointed.

OP, The Big Blue is a lovely hotel, but I would personally recommend Camelot Seafront Hotel, it's the next block down from the big blue, and run by a lovely guy called Andy. We stayed there when we couldn't get in at Big Blue a few years ago and now we wouldn't stay anywhere else. It's a proper Blackpool B&B - great value but well maintained with an absolute fantastic breakfast.

@Thehop

Please don’t go to the sandcastle.

They have naked swimming days and allow children and single men in at the same time. It’s basically a pardophile gathering for children to be eyed up.

Have a google for details.

They have been banned www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/business/blackpools-sandcastle-waterpark-bans-naturists-hosting-nude-swim-events-children-2989720 Nothing wrong with the Sandcastle

I would just stay in Blackpool. If that’s where you want your holiday there’s no point paying extra to stay in Lytham then trekking to and fro. Honestly I live nearby and it’s just a town it isn’t some kind of terrifying trash planet.

The promenade is nice and the sandcastle. Up by the zoo there is Stanley park which is nice for kids.

I was suprised to hear about the naked swimmimg, and googled as advised. It was a one off event organised by the Naturist Society. I come from Blackpool and although it can get very raucous, with the stag and hen parties, we usually keep our knickers on in public. Although I took my son and his friends to the Sand Castle about 40 years ago, and realised I was the only woman there with no tattoos.

Actually 30 years ago!

My dc loved the zoo and Sandcastle.
We went a couple of years ago in October.
Yes, it's trashy but it's fun and it's a lovely experience for the dc seeing the illuminations.
We took a horse carriage ride along the front one night and my dc thought it was magical.

I'm from Blackpool. It's shitsville.

Big Blue I think is a good choice.

I will concur with staying in St Anne’s or Lytham- trust me the kids will thank you! Drop into Blackpool if you have to and drive through the illuminations…. If you can, last time we tried someone had been stabbed so we sat in them for 3 hours. I think people are politely trying to tell you it’s a dump and to not bother.

Lythams great if your kids are 65 and enjoy golf. Otherwise go to Blackpool

We are literally crying at this. Absolutely true.

I think people are politely trying to tell you it’s a dump and to not bother

Blackpool, the surrounding areas and residents have been massively hit by covid before you even begin consider the impact cheap foreign travel has had on seaside towns the country over. It is a fabulous place for children. No worse than any other seaside town in my experience but with way more to do. The OP can decide for herself if it was worth it or not. Let our seaside towns have even a small chance of recovering from covid, please.

We've been many times and love it , yes its tacky but its fun, we stayed at the BIg Blue, did the Pleasure Beach, the tower, the waxworks etc, it's a fun place !

I don’t think the kids would thank her for staying in St Anne’s/Lytham? It’s a nice enough place but honestly there isn’t much to do there. Adults might see the pier/arcades/prom as tacky but in my experience kids enjoy it. Unless you have kids who enjoy a tasteful cup of tea and scone at a very nice cafe followed by a stroll around the charity shops Blackpool trumps Lytham for children.