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.

We have been a few times recently and stayed at the Haven site in Fleetwood. I know you want to stay in Blackpool, however there's not much for small kids in Blackpool at night and it can get a bit rowdy. So we jump on the tram it's about 10 mins and the kids love it, we get the best of both worlds Blackpool during the day and the Haven entertainment at night and obviously the Haven facilities such as the pool etc.

Well I wouldn’t go if I won a free holiday there - I hate it despite some very happy memories of Blackpool as a child.
It’s not a snob thing, I just don’t feel safe there generally and a friend in Child Protection tells me the amount of convicted paedophiles housed there is terrifying

We used to stay at the Big Blue quite often a few years back and it was always lovely ( my dh had to go up for business) . Weekends during the illuminations are horrific though , the place is usually heaving with large groups of drunken young men and women which unfortunately ruins the experience for normal families .

Little kids don't have taste and won't care that parts of Blackpool are a bit tired and shabby! Stay somewhere close and convenient to where the attractions are rather than messing about with extra travelling every day. You will have a great time! Enjoy 🙂

@fat13 local here. The Big Blue Hotel is right next to pleasure beach (south end) and gets great reviews. It’s won awards. Perfect for what you want. Yes Blackpool is run down but it’s all about having family fun and certainly has character. If you’re hitting the main attractions then you’ll not be in the worst areas anyway. Book ahead for the Zoo etc as they do get booked up with limited numbers.

If you’re going the illuminations be sure to go far enough north as Gynn Square and head north from there to see the tableaux - they’re the best part. Then when you hit Bispham you can get great chips to walk back with. Make sure you have a little cash on you to buy the kids the light up wands that are sold along the way for a few pounds each. Kids love them.

Stay in Lytham st Anne’s and travel
Into Blackpool. It’s much nicer and The British open (golf) has been held there in the past.

Blackpool is awful, teeming with drunks, druggies, and smells like piss.

The whole town smells like piss? Every street and shop? Honestly people do live there, and even go to work and the cinema and all the things people who live in St Anne’s do. We have a Marks & Spencer’s and everything. I promise it isn’t an apocalypse situation where all us Blackpool people will pounce on you as soon as you step from St Anne’s into Blackpool.

It’s awful. You couldn’t pay me to go there. The sights I saw last time....! Felt like I needed to bleach my eyeballs.

I have no idea why you would actually pay to go on holiday there but each to their own..

Can I also add that the Sandcastle nude swimming events were organised by the British Naturism organisation and The Sandcastle were simply hosting them . I’m not a Naturist but I’m sure that lots of people are and I’m also sure they are not all paedophiles . I’ve not been for a number of years but The Sandcastle was always worth a visit .

@Kanaloa

The whole town smells like piss? Every street and shop? Honestly people do live there, and even go to work and the cinema and all the things people who live in St Anne’s do. We have a Marks & Spencer’s and everything. I promise it isn’t an apocalypse situation where all us Blackpool people will pounce on you as soon as you step from St Anne’s into Blackpool.

I have very happy memories of going to Blackpool as a child with my family (from Scotland). I still take my own kids occasionally and even though we know its pretty tacky, they love it and the Pleasure Beach. I always feel bad for people who are actually from Blackpool when people describe it the way they do. I suppose it is a bit run down (or maybe I just didn't notice that as a child). I always used to wonder if the Blackpool population all worked at the Pleasure Beach or in the amusements or making rock! Do the locals take part in the 'industry' or do they mostly commute and have regular jobs? Most likely. I bet there are some normal family areas most people never see. I hope they do regenerate it, because it was always a great holiday for us as kids when you couldn't afford anything else.

Sorry, but we have just come back..

Honestly?
I was like night of the living dead. Drunk groups of 20 somethings staggering around. The piers were expensive and full of people swearing at their little children, and the rides were staffed by equally disenfranchised individuals who couldn't care less if we rode/played or not.

The main drag was all neon lit bars, dying grass verges, and hoards of youths in groups. It was like jaywick-on-sea only worse. We stayed overnight and then unanimously decided to leave.

I think staying outside the town gives you more options, because from what I could see the main entertainment was drinking.

Most of us have normal jobs. Some people do seasonal work at hotels/b&b/tourist attractions. Most people I know are teachers, work in childcare or construction or retail, because that’s what DH and I have done so we tend to know people who work in similar fields. We’re all very normal people.

Honestly Blackpool is a relatively safe place. We worry about safety when we go into Manchester! I don’t know where everyone on this thread lives and holidays to be acting like Blackpool is terrifying.

Sorry, that was a reply to @justawoman76

Brilliant place to go if you've got little ones - yes it's tacky and parts of it are pretty desperate, but they'll adore the lights and probably ask to go again

No need to stay elsewhere either; just book North Shore (basically anywhere above North Pier). If they're old enough you can walk the "set pieces" get a tram going south for the rest and then another tram back

Oh, and for fish and chips you need Bispham Kitchens on Redbank Road. Look for the huge yellow signs and trust me - you won't be disappointed

a friend in Child Protection tells me the amount of convicted paedophiles housed there is terrifying

The number of convicted paedophiles housed in any area would terrify most people.

I’ve never stayed in Blackpool because it’s close enough for a day trip for me. I go every year with family to the pleasure beach and love it. Haven’t been to the lights since I was a kid though - sitting in a traffic jam for hours just isn’t for me. Definitely recommend walking the lights and getting the tram back instead.

I always used to wonder if the Blackpool population all worked at the Pleasure Beach or in the amusements or making rock! Do the locals take part in the 'industry' or do they mostly commute and have regular jobs? Most likely. I bet there are some normal family areas most people never see

Jesus wept.

Teachers, nurses, doctors, social workers, voluntary sector workers, refuse collectors, builders, plumbers, bus drivers, electricians, cleaners social care workers, nursery nurses, jobs in retail......none of that needed at all in Blackpool

I always used to wonder if the Blackpool population all worked at the Pleasure Beach or in the amusements or making rock! Do the locals take part in the 'industry' or do they mostly commute and have regular jobs? Most likely. I bet there are some normal family areas most people never see.

It's amazing that you've spotted this after all these years. You're right there aren't really any people in Blackpool. All the people you see are fully functional robots that get charged up over the winter by the spare electricity that powers the illuminations.
The houses are just holograms to add to the myth.

🤣🤣🤣

There are a lot of sex offenders in Blackpool but that’s true of any seaside resort tbh. I’m not planning on letting my child loose!

@ssd I laughed!

I appreciate your sentiments but it’s decline started a very, very long time before covid. It’s fine to criticize a place that’s largely dirty, uncared for and full of drunk louts. Not a place I would take children.

How do you think the drunk louts would harm the children?

Blackpool is a great place for a fun day out or a mini break. We moved here because you get more for your money than elsewhere and like all areas there a good bits and bad bits. There are a few new modern hotels popping up at the moment - both central and south shore so give them a nosy OP I wouldn’t drive the illuminations by the way unless you want to be gridlocked.
It’s a lovely walk at that time of year anyways 😁

My DD is going to Blackpool at Oct half term.

We live in Wales and there's plenty to do and see. Can't you do both? Not at the same time obv.

Well, no, it would be a lot of driving and expensive!

@fat13

Well, no, it would be a lot of driving and expensive!

I meant several months apart not on the same holiday 😂