Blackpool day trip?

[MochiPie]

Is Blackpool doable as a day trip from London? Has anyone done this? Is it worth it or too long?

@Zov op asked if it was worth it! Lots are saying no, find somewhere better and nearer. It’s not difficulty unless you really want what Blackpool offers. But there’s much better sandy beaches and lovely places to visit with a shorter journey and a quick bus ride or a steam train. If dc likes trains, how much nicer is this?

No passports so sadly not an option

*Why do some posters keep banging on about multiple other places for the OP to visit?! She asked about Blackpool. She wants to go to Blackpool! Can people not be arsed to listen or something?

Or do they think that their (alternative) opinion - that the place they are suggesting will be 'better' - is so important and superior?! 🙄

Just get a cheap Travelodge room @MochiPie No way will it be enjoyable doing it in one day. Ignore the people bashing Blackpool. Most people bashing it have never been. Yes it's not glamourous, and you need to avoid the backstreets a bit (especially after 7pm) but there is loads to do there, a big beach, 3 piers, the tower, the waxworks, the sea life centre, the funfair and pleasure beach, loads of arcades, pubs, and restaurants, and 100s of shops. AND the illuminations if you go after 29th August.

Book it, you'll enjoy it. Ignore the haters and naysayers.

BUT I wouldn't try and do it in one day. It will be so exhausting! Book a cheap room, and you can enjoy it properly, enjoy the day, and go out on the night, and see the illuminations, go to a pub or a restaurant, and go back to the hotel late, knowing you haven't got to drive home, or get a train home. If you try and do it in one day, you will have to get the train back at 7.30pm! (Gets into London at half ten.) There's one an hour later but it doesn't get into London til half past one in the morning!

Book it tomorrow! have fun.*

Thanks I've looked at some
Pictures online and it doesnt look as bad as people are saying it is

Yes! Good one. I hope you enjoy it.

@TizerorFizz

No, you're wrong. The OP did not say 'is it worth going to Blackpool?' She said 'is it worth going for the DAY to Blackpool - from London? or is it better staying overnight?'

She said she wants to go, yet half the posters here have been banging on about places THEY think are 'better.' Like their view - and the place they are suggesting is so important and superior that the OP will change her mind. Indeed she SHOULD change her mind. 🙄

Such a snobby and arrogant attitude when someone suggests something they want to do and people say 'don't do that, do THIS instead!'

I love Blackpool, the Pleasure Beach is great, packed with rides and not miles to walk between them like most theme parks. Even if you can make it work in a day, it’s not expensive to stay over in a family bnb and that’d be less hurried. There’s grim bits so check reviews and avoid stag/hen night venues and the like after dark, but you could do a 24hr trip and enjoy it more than a rushed day trip.

I’m going there with DH and two teen DC for a day/night next week in fact - going from London but as part of a week up north in various spots. A couple of days in the Lakes followed by a blast of Blackpool is ideal imho! Hope you have a great time.

There's a direct train from London to Blackpool once per day. It's not everyone's idea of a holiday but for a day trip you can have a great time and the kids love it.

There are direct trains. I get them and work on them, quite often.

See attached pic for the 9.39am tomorrow (well technically today!) morning. Direct!

Thanks just doubled checked and it looks like there are indeed direct trains so not sure what pp was talking about?!

Ok consider me educated!
As far as going to Blackpool, we are also not far away and we enjoy going. We usually go to the Sandcastle water park, but the Illuminations are great on the tram, and the Big Blue was lovely 20 years ago and reviews still seem good!

Only on Mumsnet can you be called snobby and arrogant for suggesting Great Yarmouth. 😂

Looking at it from a teenagers point of view, do it. It would be much better to stay over one night and you could do much more. Village hotel there nice and may have offers on and family rooms.
Not a place I would choose for myself but for kids of any age they love it. Enjoy.

@Zov To answer the question then - yes Blackpool for the day isn’t a good idea. For all the reasons us well travelled and discerning people think. All opinions are valid and you are welcome to yours. In the meantime I’m happy to swerve Blackpool. Nothing there for me. You are welcome to it.

I'd go to Bournemouth

OP just book it and go, what's the worst that can happen! It's ticked off the list and you don't ever have to go back!

We have a soft spot for Blackpool as my DDs are ballroom dancers. We are there A LOT! Unfortunately we don't get to do the touristy things. It's very runs down which is sad. There are many homeless and I suspect drunk and druggies around. We've never had any issues with anyone though. Everyone is really friendly.

You can see many signs of it's once hey day. Some of the old buildings look very elegant and it's quite depressing to see the state they are in now.
My DDS love the big Primark 🙄

I'd you are in to strictly - go in the tower ballroom just for a look. It really is beautiful (and bloody dark). Also winter gardens empress ballroom (which is much bigger and lighter). I don't know why they don't film strictly in there!
We are actually up there again in a week or so. Full on glam event. We love it!

So bloody rude 😂

I am “well travelled and discerning” and even I can see the value of the OP taking a direct train for less than 3 hours to spend a day in Blackpool.

Personally I would always stay overnight, but the OP and her kids enjoy train travel so why shouldn’t they?

The seafront and comedy carpet are lovely, the tower, piers and coral island lots of fun for kids.

If you’re on a budget OP, wait until there is a £10 off code for Buy a Gift and get the Harry Ramsdens afternoon tea voucher. It’ll cost you £15 and will feed the 3 off you. It is in the tower so that’s fun and you can just walk into the ballroom and watch the dancers

As an alternative, you could go in the autumn to see the illuminations and stay overnight - not necessarily in Blackpool itself, you could combine with a city break in Manchester or Chester, for example.

A city break combining Blackpool / Manchester. That’s my idea of the worst city break ever.. All subjective of course!

I think it sounds fun. Love a long train journey there and back in a day. Have done both Liverpool and Hull from London in a day. However my favourite is the Isle of Wight. You get a proper train then a ferry then an ex underground train. You could either get a bus to various places or get the train to Shanklin walk through the chine have fish and chips then come home. You can get a lot done in a day.

Yeah, but the OP isn’t asking you to go with her is she?

My travel budget is fucking humongous compared to many, we have had some epic trips, but my kids still managed to enjoy Christmas by the sea in Blackpool, a wander through the illuminations and trying to win on the camel derby!

Go for it OP. Christmas is fun, if you can stay over then why not time it for the Santa dash? It’s quite the spectacle and you could join in too.

😂🤷‍♀️

Blackpool - kids smaller kids yes, they have fun. Teenagers .. nah

Yeah, teenagers famously hate rollercoasters, course they won't have fun there.

😂😂 fair enough. They might love the manky old big dipper and grand national. With a side of grease and grime.