Blackpool?

[Inspiremeaholiday]

We’re currently looking at moving from the Uk and we have started to make a list of things we want to see before we leave and top of my list is Blackpool.

For some reason, I’m intrigued. My DP thinks I’m insane, but I think a quick weekend in may might be fun? We’d take the train up from London with DC and DDog find somewhere to stay by the coast and then train it down.

He is not that keen (I’ve said I’ll go just with DC and DDog) but he thinks it might be nicer to go in the campervan but I think that’ll be a 5 hour drive? It’s an old van and goes 55 miles an hour at most (with a wind behind it). I was thinking June but we have a tendency to be away in the van and then early July we catch the ferry to Spain - not sure when we’ll return but could be around mid August?

Would may be too cold? Should we try and push to August or September?

And what do we need to do there?

Finally (and be mumsnet honest) will I be disappointed and am I being deluded?

You’ll probably be horrified rather than disappointed! It’s a dump. But if you embrace that it’s a run down British holiday resort and throw yourself into things like the pleasure beach and tram rides and activities in the tower and go swimming at the big indoor place (sandcastle??) then there’s enough to keep you busy for a couple of days. I’d take the kids but not the dog.

I took my DC last year for the first time at 12 and 13 and they LOVED it.
it’s rough round the edges for sure but I honestly think it still has a unique charm and it’s so reasonable to do stuff there compared to other places in the uk and there’s quite a bit to do.
we did the dungeons and Madame Tussaud’s which are a less polished version but imo totally worth it. Depending on the age of your kids they also have Peter rabbit works and an aquarium which look worth a go.
food isn’t fantastic so just keep it simple and look for a good chippy.
we stayed at the Hilton at the end of the pier which was a few minutes walk to Madame Tussaud’s and the pier with shops and arcades, it’s was less than a hundred for the three of us including breakfast and is a really nice clean hotel, breakfast was good.
i wouldn’t worry about the weather, just make sure you have warm clothes as it’s windy on the pier.
id definitely recommend you go, you’ll just need to relax and expect the place and the people to be authentically ‘Blackpool’

Around this time last year I got a good deal on the Big Blue hotel which included Pleasure Beach entry. We also went to the water park and then walked along the prom to the Tower. (We didn’t go in although we have done before)

The town is a dump but there are plenty of things to do. Ripley’s is good too. We had a great time. It was more for the DC though.

It is what it is, just go with your expectations set accordingly.

I would stay in Lytham personally, then pop into Blackpool for the day if you want to. Go to the pleasure beach, do some arcades, get hot doughnuts on the pier etc. Maybe go up the tower too!

Thanks all, it’s making me feel like I’m not as insane as DP is making me feel 😂

I’ll check out the Hilton @Sugarsugarcane but not sure it’s dog friendly. I might leave the dog.

@EdinaTheConfessor was there a site you got the deal off?

@Ellebellie no real budget but would happily spend 1-2k? It doesn’t have to be on a budget. DC finished school 4 July so maybe we head off before all the schools are out.

I don’t think I’ll have a car as I wanted to train it specifically. Can you easily get to Blackpool from Latham?

Yes! Lytham has a train station with trains that run to Blackpool, or you could hop on the bus. I’d double check train times before you book and make sure they work for
you. A taxi would also be an option!

Lytham is lovely and has some great little shops + restaurants, St Anne’s just between Lytham and Blackpool has some little seaside bits too.

If you go beyond the sea front the town is very run down, lots of drugs etc however sounds like you’ve never (or not for a long time) been, so there is enough on the sea front to occupy you for a few days.

Id leave the dog at home, you won’t be able to do a lot of the indoor stuff if the weathers bad with the dog in tow. It’s also often a noisy busy place. Not ideal for dogs.

Definitely go to Pizza Grazie on a backstreet midway between the Tower and the Pleasure Beach. Amazing pizzas and all profits to the associated Soup Kitchen. There’s even a pay it forward option for a fiver.

The Village Hotel is 10 minute taxi ride out of town and has an indoor and outdoor swimming pool. Next to a golf course and Stanley Park.

A budget of 1.5-2k for a weekend and you’re thinking of spanking it on a weekend to Blackpool?

Why has my reply been hidden I only posted a link to the hotel 🤔

We live about 50 miles away and have been in October half term for a few hours to see the illuminations and enjoy the rides etc. it’s fine for a few hours but I would never stay over or travel a long way.

if you’re very determined then stay in Lytham and visit for the day. The beach at Blackpool is actually pretty decent if that’s your thing (never been in high summer)

My thoughts exactly. Go to bloody Paris instead.

Stay in Lytham and travel in, Blackpool is good fun, but also a dump!
I go for Lytham festival every year and do the opposite, stay in Blackpool and go over to Lytham but that's because it's cheaper and Blackpool has more to do during the day.

Or stay at home
or pour it down the drain!

Ha ha. Re: budget I basically don’t have one but if the consensus is I should spend a bit of cash on it to make it cool I will. I go to Paris a fair amount so it won’t be on the list (though my guess is we’ll be there at least twice before we leave)

I totally acknowledge its weird but after living here for so long it’s a place I’ve never been and I want experience it.

Happy to add to the list if anyone has any other suggestion that we need to see before we leave. We’ve travelled (and do travel) more than a fair bit and like a range of experiences.

@AnOldCynic will check it out. Thank you

So bizarre that someone without a budget would consider Blackpool 🤔

Maybe upgrade the camper van to something a little better?

@Thattimenow you’re making me even more interest as so many people are saying it’s a shit hole!

I went there over 20 years ago and it was rough then. I did enjoy the rides on the pleasure beach though.
It can be done in a day imo.

Invest the money in a better camping van
and explore a different part of the Uk

that’s my advice

I honestly don't think you're weird, if you want to go to Blackpool you should go.
I really would stay in Lytham though, but Madame Tussaudes, The Pleasure Beach, Tower, Sandcastle are all great, as are the arcades with a cup full of 2ps, and the beach itself is lovely if you get the weather.
The first week in July is known as Glasgow week, as we all come down as soon as our schools break up.