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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Blackpool Illuminations

25 replies

houseofstark · 03/10/2021 22:07

So I really fancy a trip to Blackpool in half term to see the Illuminations. Has anyone been recently? Is it worth doing?

I’m not sure we’d need more than a day or two there, so any suggestions on other places we could visit as part of the trip.

I have two DS, aged 6 and 11. Thx

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 03/10/2021 22:13

DD is there now. I will get an update and let you know.

jesusmaryjosephandtheweedonkey · 03/10/2021 22:34

The illuminations are ok. The tower is worth a visit as well .
If you are planning on staying over, I suggest Lytham or st Anne's as Blackpool lost its seaside charm, many, many years ago

Nanananani · 03/10/2021 22:35

It’s pretty miserable to be honest. Overcrowded, dirty, tired. I was very pleased to leave

Thehogfatherstolemycurry · 03/10/2021 22:38

We're going at half term, staying over in Fleetwood though, less manic. We'll get the tram into Blackpool late afternoon and back later, you can get a 24 hour family ticket.

Estara · 03/10/2021 22:51

You could time your trip for one of the international firework tournaments. See the lights and the fireworks.

Original poster
houseofstark · 03/10/2021 23:00

Thanks everyone, great suggestions and exactly the kind of points I was hoping for.

OP posts:
userxx · 03/10/2021 23:03

I used to go as a child, went back a couple of years ago as I had fond memories. Stayed for 3 hours and that was more than enough.

RampantIvy · 04/10/2021 12:27

Reporting back. DD said the lights were very pretty.

Original poster
houseofstark · 09/10/2021 13:52

Thanks! 😁

OP posts:
Bluerasperry · 09/10/2021 14:01

Ah, the good old MN snobbery about Blackpool. Can't beat it, can you.

We went in the Summer holidays OP, it is fine. I don't know what everyone complains about TBH. It's Blackpool, not Monte Carlo. You know you're signing up for burgers, hot dogs, ice cream and rock. If you stay in a hotel chain you've actually heard of (they have a Hilton BTW) rather than a B&B that costs £25 a night you'll be fine.

Papergirl1968 · 09/10/2021 14:15

Can recommend the Big Blue Hotel, although it was a few years ago.

Knitwit101 · 09/10/2021 14:16

We were there a few weeks ago. Stayed in the Grand

Papergirl1968 · 09/10/2021 14:17

The Pleasure Beach has Halloween shows and activities as well as great rides, the Tower is a must, Sandcastle water park is good and kids will enjoy riding the trams up and down the front.

Knitwit101 · 09/10/2021 14:25

@Knitwit101

We were there a few weeks ago. Stayed in the Grand
Bit more info..... We stayed at the Grand Hotel which has a swimming pool which was nice. Enjoyed the tower and loved the circus. Slightly overwhelmed by the noise and lights in the amusement arcades. Slightly underwhelmed by the illuminations. Paid £4 for 2 minutes on a donkey.

But it is what it is, its Blackpool.

We liked the playground in Stanley Park and the cafe there was nice.

We arrived on a Saturday and thought we could just head out and find somewhere to eat. We were wrong. It was full of stag and hen parties. So plan ahead for evenings.

userxx · 09/10/2021 14:50

Paid £4 for 2 minutes on a donkey

Well let's hope those ones are better treated than the previous ones which were abused by their owners. Bastards.

ChorleyFMcominginyourears · 09/10/2021 14:55

Just got back from Blackpool, the illuminations have been better but were still lovely, it was dead during the week too, presume because of the fuel problems, its very crowded on a weekend though due to stags and hens and weekend trippers so we did everything during the week and stayed out of Blackpool on the weekend but had a great time.

foreverchangingmyname · 09/10/2021 14:59

We make a point of going with all the kids in the family around Halloween each year. It's a cheap and cheerful day out that hopefully they'll remember fondly.
We also do Sandcastles water park, the adults enjoy it as much as the kids!

insancerre · 09/10/2021 15:05

As well as the fireworks there is the light pool festival
Lots of light installations across the town for 2 weeks

insancerre · 09/10/2021 15:07

m.facebook.com/EverythingBlackpool/

Papergirl1968 · 09/10/2021 22:01

Yes, just to echo what Knitwhit said, we also struggled to find somewhere decent to eat in the evenings so it was Maccies one night, room service the next. If I went again I think I'd drive out a couple of miles and look for a Harvester, Marston's, whatever chain.

AnneShirleysNewDress · 09/10/2021 22:06

Go to the West Coast Rock Cafe for food.

MrsDThomas · 10/10/2021 08:31

Big blue hotel is a great place to stay.

And that’s all i have to say.

lazylinguist · 10/10/2021 08:36

Ah, the good old MN snobbery about Blackpool. Can't beat it, can you.

Not liking a place isn't snobbery. Blackpool is pretty grim imo. There are so many nice places to go instead, where burgers, hotdogs and ice cream and rock are also available.

insancerre · 10/10/2021 08:53

There are lots of places to eat
m.facebook.com/lafontanarestaurant/
m.facebook.com/pastelsfood/

m.facebook.com/WestCoastRockCafe/

Funf · 11/10/2021 06:23

Nothing like it everyone should go at least once.
Kids will love it

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