Blackpool is a popular holiday resort town in the North of England, which receives around twelve million visitors each year. The town had its heyday in the first half of the twentieth century when working class families from all over England arrived en-masse to enjoy the novel pleasures of a holiday on the beach and all the amenities that Blackpool offered. Now that holidays abroad can often be cheaper than staying at home, the town has seen a decline in visitors but still remains the most popular tourist attraction in the UK. It’s a mecca for those seeking to relive the simple pleasures of the olden days, with some ballroom-dancing and an “ooooh” and an “aaah” at the unique splendour of the spectacular Blackpool Illuminations. The best time to visit Blackpool is in the summer, when you can enjoy the sunshine on the beach or go for ride after ride at the Pleasure Beach, or in Autumn when the famous Blackpool Illuminations will be sure to amaze you, either by their proud tackiness or the sheer number of lightbulbs involved! Take a look at the accommodation offered by Wimdu, whether that’s a self-catering apartment or a bed and breakfast guest house, and throw yourself into the Blackpool experience!
Fun Facts
- Blackpool Tower was built in 1894 and stands 518 feet 9 inches high
- The world’s first permanent electric street tramway opened in the city in 1885, and still draws tram and train enthusiasts from all over the world today
- Blackpool is home to the world’s largest mirror ball
- The Blackpool Pleasure Beach is one of the UK´s most visited tourist attractions/li>
- More than 11 million coins are put into the slot machines in Blackpool's North Pier arcades each year
Where to Stay in Blackpool - Bed and Breakfast Accommodation and Apartments
Blackpool has nearly 91,000 visitor beds, so you will definitely not be short of accommodation options! Bed and Breakfast is really popular, as are self-catering apartments, so you can tailor your holiday just as you would like. The town is not too large and is easily navigable, but you will probably want to stay fairly central and near the beach to make the most of the unique Blackpool holiday atmosphere. If you are travelling as a group or family, you can search on Wimdu for accommodation with extra bedrooms or en-suite bathrooms, depending on what you need.
Things to See and Do in Blackpool
Blackpool has a great deal of fun seaside activities for its visitors to enjoy, and many great shows playing in the theatres. Below are just some suggestions for how to spend your trip in this lively town.
- If you're looking for thrills and fun, there´s no better place to go than the Pleasure Beach. Probably one of Britain´s largest funfairs, it has 11 roller coasters, with the tallest at 200 feet simply being known, rather terrifyingly, as “The Big One”. Keep your eye open for some of the Art Deco buildings that were some of the park´s first permanent buildings.
- Take a stroll along the North Pier, which is free to access, unlike the other two, and lounge in the sun trap at the end. Feeling hungry? Why not tuck into the most typical of Blackpool fare, a bag of fish n chips, or get yourself a piece of the famous Blackpool rock with your name in it?
- Blackpool has plenty of shows and plenty of pubs and clubs to keep you busy at night. See who is playing at the Winter Gardens, and afterwards pop into the Pump and Truncheon, one of the oldest pubs in town, for a pint of ale in a cosy, old-world atmosphere. Or for something completely different take in a hilarious how at the famous Funny Girls transvestite show bar!
- Still got some energy left? Time to head to one of Blackpool's numerous clubs, be it Sanuk near the North Pier, or the alternative/rock clubTache.
Getting To and Travelling Around Blackpool
You can get to Blackpool easily by car via the M55 from the M6, or by train from Preston, Nelson or many other stations. The main station for the town itself is Blackpool North. If you are taking a daytrip to the Pleasure Beach only, then change at Kirkham and take the Blackpool South line. Long distance buses run from pretty much anywhere in the U.K. When in Blackpool itself, you can take the tram, which runs along the seafront, or buses which have a regular service throughout the town. Blackpool is easy enough to get around on foot however, so as long as your accommodation isn’t too far out (and most bed and breakfast places and self-catering apartments are pretty central) you won’t have any problems.