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.

@MyPatronusIsACat

Haha, being from an urban city already, I’m 99 percent certain my kids have already smelt weed.
Welcome to 21st century Britain. Mumsnet not included 🤣.

[quote Treblebass]@MyPatronusIsACat

Haha, being from an urban city already, I’m 99 percent certain my kids have already smelt weed.
Welcome to 21st century Britain. Mumsnet not included 🤣.[/quote]
LOL! I know right. The assumption that only (supposedly) big grotty towns will have people smoking weed, and mums screaming at kids, is farcical!

I lived in a suburb of a small-ish middle-class town until about 10 years ago, and we could smell weed at least 2 or 3 or times a week (Usually on a weekend.)

And in the rural village I live in now - also quite a middle class demographic - I hear mums (and dads) yelling at their kids when I am walking around the village.

I use to live in St Anne's. There are trains to the Pleasure Beach Station or Blackpool south and buses so I wouldn't rule it out if you can't get accommodation in Blackpool itself.

Definitely stay in Blackpool.
I think The Big Blue is one of the more 'refined' Blackpool hotels.
Blackpool is a great escape for a few days of fun and personally I'd go just for the zoo which is fabulous.
The illuminations were lovely and the atmosphere was great. Just keep your dc close so they don't get swept up in the crowd.
Didn't enjoy Sandcastle personally. Didn't like the vibe. Something felt a bit off about it ( probably just me).
Enjoyed Tussauds and loved the Sealife.

I now live just outside Blackpool over the border in Wyre and although it is deprived it’s no worse than most places and I moved up from what’s considered a rough area. (So maybe I’m just used to it )

Before I moved I stayed at the Hampton by Hilton for work and that was a nice hotel.

You can get the tram up to Fleetwood if shopping is your thing as there is a decent shopping outlet there.

You obviously know its not going to be a glamourous 5* holiday yes it maybe tacky but the children will love it and its cheap and cheerful fun. Just a few days of messing about and exploring, everyone needs to experience Blackpool at least once especially as a child.

I would advise weekdays rather than a weekend, it gets very busy and very popular for loud brashy hens and stags. Just ensure you read reviews for where you stay as you get for what you pay so very cheap places may also be very dirty or riddled with loud partygoers!

We not long got bk from Blackpool we stayed on a caravan site which was nice and clean. we done the zoo,sandcastles,Tower circus and a bus tour through the lights we had a great time.

I'm from Lancashire and I always say you haven't lived until you've seen Blackpool Illuminations.

Please don’t give the sandcastle your money. They have a nude swimming session that they let children and single men attend. It’s always got known paedophiles in there getting their kicks perfectly freely. Poor kids

@ssd

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

Exactly!!!

@Thehop

Jesus that’s grim, what parent in their right mind would allow their kids into that session? 😷

@Thehop

Please don’t give the sandcastle your money. They have a nude swimming session that they let children and single men attend. It’s always got known paedophiles in there getting their kicks perfectly freely. Poor kids

Well that's put a dampener on the thread!

Why on EARTH would any parent take their children to a swimming session where there are naked men? (And women?) And even worse, let their children be naked too?

What fresh hell is this?

Yeah, sorry to spoil the tone. It’s happened a few times, and makes me feel ill every year. I loved Blackpool and i hope it stops happening.

The naturist club that host the swim say non members can’t go in but their website sells tickets for visitors on the day at a higher cost and the live feeds showed known child sex offenders going in on their own last year aswell as families with children.

I can’t get my head around it at all. But the sandcastle won’t get a penny off me again until these naturist swims stop or become over 18s only.

There are a few Blackpool attractions on the Lotto deal at the moment MORE INFO Hope you have a great time - I'm over Wyre too now so away from the hustle and bustle but still enjoy the holiday atmosphere if I go to Blackpool :)

@MyPatronusIsACat of course I bloody go out but not to places that stink of weed and have shouting, swearing parents. If that’s your idea of a great day out then great but it’s not mine and the OP should know the reality of what Blackpool is like before deciding for herself whether she wants to go there or not.

I live in Blackpool, and I love it. It's a great place to bring up my kid. If you do decide to go and you stay in the Big Blue, I can recommend a couple of lovely Bistro/restaurants nearby (in South Shore) so you can eat some lovely food and it will only take you 10 mins to walk there.

Oh by the way, I work for a Global IT company, there are people here who have normal, proper jobs believe it or not!!!

@LadyCatStark

I think you’re catastrophising Blackpool.

I can’t wait. Me and my family are well travelled, but it won’t stop us having fun for the night. It’s not like I’ll be taking them to the local stag bar at 1am. .

The local chippy maybe!

The Eating Inn @itstheyearzero?

@reddA

No, I was thinking of Topo and Italio on Highfield Rd

Ah, 2 different ones to add to my list

I loved Blackpool when my son was young.Used to go twice a year for long weekends.Its definitely perfect for children.The tower circus is fab also the jungle gym soft play in the tower.They have cleaned up a lot of the streets and the beach and are continuing to re-generate.Never seen any rowdiness or bad behaviour but was never out late at night.Just check the hotel has kids entertainment because an awful lot of them just have bingo.

I took my kids when they were 10 and 6 . We stayed at the Premier Inn in Blackpool. The weather was awful but we had a fantastic time - went up the tower, on the beach, saw the illuminations. All the things that make a place grotty for adults seem to be overlooked by kids!

I live in Blackpool! I love it! I've always felt safe! And I live in a nice house in a nice area near Stanley park so it really irritates me when people say Blackpool is a shit hole! My house is not a shit hole!? There's a good & bad everywhere!!
& also I have a normal office job not related to rock production or any tourist attraction for that matter

I quite fancy it after reading this. Are the illuminations every night or best at weekends?

Because most of MN would rather die than be that close to poor people.

That's unfair. I enjoy working with people from all walks of life, and the rich ones are no better than the poor ones. I'd still rather stay at home than go on holiday to Blackpool.