Blackpool - What do you think

for a family to spend a couple of days at Blackpool as part of a pre-cruise visit to Manchester/Lake District? My kids like rides and the experience will be quite a bit different than the themed resorts in the US. Any suggestions on hotels?

I'm almost ashamed to say that I used to live in Blackpool. Think Vegas but much, much tackier. Pleasure Beach will be fun for the kids, it's one of the UK's premier parks.

Hotel wise, gosh I've never been all that impressed with any of them.

Probably the Metropole would be my first choice, and I have stayed at the Savoy a couple of times. The problem with these two is that they are older hotels in Victorian buildings, so they can come off as a bit shabby (though I understand they've been doing some major refurb on the Metropole recently).

The Hilton should be OK. It's big and modern. And a bit further north on the prom is the Norbrek Castle hotel. I've never stayed there, but have been to many public functions there and it has always seemed OK.

Edit: I see you're also heading to Manchester? I can definitely recommend The Lowry (if you can stretch to it) and the Victoria and Albert, which last time I stayed there was just being branded over to being a Marriott hotel

Sorry to offend locals but I wouldn't go to Blackpool - not nice at all in my opinion.

What about Alton Towers - our biggest theme park. See altontowers.com

Jane

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Hi There,

Black pool with there lights on etc is Ok but if your time is short in UK would not do Blackpool there are much better things to see, Blackpool was once great but has faded a lot in last ten years, maybe it will rise again.

yours Shogun

Sorry to all Blackpool folk, but you know what I mean.

Yes, I do. But come on, give Blackpool a break. After loosing the mega casino, it's a shame to kick 'em when they're down.

Blackpool is supremely tacky and, yes, a bit shabby. And it's heyday came and went 40 years ago when the exodus for cheap holidays on the Costas of Spain began.

But I still think you can have a giggle there if you go without any pretentions. I've been twice in the last 6 years and haven't been dissapointed nor horrified.

Thanks for the advice BigWally! Part of my rationale for going to Blackpool is that I imagined it would be extremely tacky and over the top. Also the nostalgia factor is in play as well. It sounds like we'll have a good time - especially if the weather cooperates.

Too bad Blackpool is a bit shabby these days, but with the rise of the LCC's like Ryanair I would imagine sun breaks to Spain are more accessible and cheaper than ever. We spent a couple of days several years ago at a theme park (Puerto Aventura) down from Barcelona after a cruise and saw the discount holiday crowd from the UK out in full force.

Any additional advice on what to see on a day visit to the Lake District? I would go longer, but my kids will get bored.

Rick Steves has been recommending Blackpool for years. http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/britain/blackp.htm

When I went to have a look at Blackpool I was expecting it to be as described in that article - low-brow, tacky kitsch etc but fun and worth seeing.

What I actually found was that it was filthy and unpleasant - and I'm not a snob. I stopped there on the way home from The Lake District and was surprised how awful it was.

Again, apologies to locals - a good friend of mine comes from there - but do go with options to go elsewhere. I couldn't get out fast enough. I'd be fascinated to find out what you did think.

Jane

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OK, here's a compromise for you. Stay outside Blackpool and then, if you get there and decide that it's just unbearable, you can easily escape.

My two recommendations for this would be to either stay in Lytham St. Annes, which is an upscale area of the Fylde coast known as occasional host of the British Open golf tournament (unfortunately I don't have any personal recommendations there) or to stay further out towards the M6.

My recommendation for the latter would be the Park Hall Hotel near Chorley (roughly half way between Manchester and Blackpool). It's a fantastic hotel and has the bonus of having another small theme park for the kids (Camelot) right next door.

Wherever you end up in the north west, be sure to have some black pudding for me. Hmmmm, black pudding. :)

Any additional advice on what to see on a day visit to the Lake District? I would go longer, but my kids will get bored.

A one-day visit to the Lake District really isn't enough, but here goes:

If you're travelling by train, Windermere will be your best (and perhaps only) destination option. (Change trains at Oxenholme for the Windermere branch line.

(Note: I'm not sure about this, but service to Oxenholme may have been disrupted by the recent derailment in the area. Be sure to check in advance of your trip.)

Windermere is the largest and most touristy town in the Lake District, and therefore isn't really representative of the Lake District as a whole. It's been ages since I last stayed there. What to do there? A cruise on Lake Windermere is a definite attraction. There's also a steamboat museum that might keep the kiddywinks amused. Depending on their ages, they might enjoy the Beatrix Potter centre (The World of Beatrix Potter) across the lake in Bowness.

I generally use the town of Keswick as a base for a several days' visit to the Lake District, but I'm not sure how it would appeal to a family if you're not there for a walking holiday. Remember, the Lake District is almost exclusively an outdoorsy place; the main activity is walking--which, in the case of the Lake District, means hours' long hikes and strenuous (and potentially dangerous) climbs up the sides of steep hills in often foul weather. If you're going to tackle that kind of thing, proper boots and rain gear is necessary.

I've never been to Blackpool, so I'm afraid I can't help you out there. What is it they say--See Blackpool and die?:) (Oh, I think I must have got Blackpool confused with some other place.)

(I once sat behind two women on a bus in Leeds & listened to them debate, in their heavy Yorkshire accents, the relative merits of Blackpool and Scarborough. Most entertaining!)

I think I'll probably rent a car and head to Windermere first, then Blackpool, and finally Chester. This should be a reasonable blend and have something of interest for everyone in the family.

I saw a listing for a modern hotel right across from the Pleasure Beach - Big Blue Hotel. It is kind of expensive for the area, but it is right at the entrance. Has anyone stayed there or know anything about it?

English Jane - did you not feel safe in Blackpool or was it just too dirty for your tastes?

I felt uncomfortable because - it was early evening - there was alot of anti-social behaviour. Apparently drunken groups of youths shouting out to passers by and the like. We also saw a very unpleasant 'domestic' unfolding between a couple walking the same way as us to the car park. The place is also quite dirty - lots of fast food packaging everywhere. There is also the (unfortunate) joke about how I thought I might go for a swim off Blackpool but decided I might just be going through the mothions!

Perhaps I am kicking a place when it's down but this is just my experience - to be honest, many English towns are no longer so pleasant after dark due to anti-social behaviour but in Blackpool this was starting around 5pm.

My daughter (aged 17) has been to the pleasure beach with friends (she likes the scary rides) but she wouldn't go again either - she much prefers other theme parks.

You will ADORE the Lake District - so beautiful.

Jane

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As others have said, Blackpool would not be near the top of my list of places to visit in the north west of England (indeed it would not even make the list). I had to stop there for 2 weeks a couple of years ago when on a course for work nearby - it is grim. The place is dead during the week and full of drunken youths all weekend. I would seriously recommend doing something else.

As far as the Big Blue Hotel goes, I remember passing but I don't know much about it other than, as you state, it is near the "Pleasure" Beach.

If you are having a car for the Lake District Keswick is probably as good a place as any to head for the day, mostly because it is easy to get to on the A66 road and you will pass some great scenery such as Blencathra on the way. But again I'm afraid a day in the Lake District is really a waste of time as you will not have time to do or see anything of value.

I'm sorry to be so negative.

Nick.

I am with English Jane.

I have to go there on business from time to time

Blackpool has not moved with the times and I am sorry to say it is very run down and tacky.

Safety is not the issue, it is just a unattractive place.

Youngsters may find the Pleasure Beach mildly interesting, but is is a million miles away for example, from the Orlando theme parks.

I spent many a year on holiday in Blackpool as teenager but nothing could convince me to spend a night there these days.

Sorry Blackpool

Blackpool is a dump!

Boy, tough crowd!

As far as anti-social behaviour, yes, I think you might see some drink and stupidity related bad behaviour if you're out late enough into the evening. And you'll certainly see evidence of it on the street the next morning, if you're up early enough to beat the street cleaners (mostly in the form of vomit and urine). Both encounters could probably be avoided by retiring to your hotel at a sensible hour and then having a leisurely time in getting out and about the next day.

However, you're likely to find similar behaviour in any large metropolitan UK city these days. Thanks to being far too permissive with youth offenders and not hard enough on poor parenting for way too long, the government has inadvertently incubated and exacerbated the amount of anti-social behaviour prevalent in UK cities to almost epidemic levels. They are now trying to solve the problem with near meaningless punitive orders and, by all accounts, are failing miserably.

So I'm personally still with Rick Steves, go ahead and give it a try. But at that I'm going to have to call it quits on being a cheerleader for Blackpool. After all, I did bail on the place as soon as something better came along. However, that still doesn't keep me from going back periodically and having a bloody good time. :)

I wonder if you have thought about doing an adventure holiday in the Lake District.

Perhaps some rock climbing and white water rafting will give your kids the adrenaline rush they are seeking and still get you out into the beautiful countryside.

Nick.

Thanks to all for their comments! Blackpool is really something I have on the agenda for my kids who love to go on rides. The thought of Blackpool was based largely on the fact that have never seen a traditional seaside resort while they have been to Disney World and their equivalents - e.g., Universal Studios, etc.

I am happy to hear that personal safety is not a big issue. This would be one reason not to go ahead with the visit. I really don't want to have any problems with anti social behavior on the street with my family.

It sounds like a one day trip to the park and a stroll along the promenade is the ticket. My plan was certainly not to be out too late at night when the crowd gets a bit rowdy. I think we'll actually go on a Monday or Tuesday when the town is likely to be a bit quieter.

I think we'll extend the stay in the lake district to 2 days. This is where I really want to go as I have never been able to get there on previous visits to the UK.

Nick - thanks for the tip regarding Keswick. It doesn't seem to be too far off of the M6. I was thinking we could head back via A591 and go through Windemere on the way. Rafting would be a great idea is the weather isn't too cold - both CA wimps when it comes to being cold & wet. They also like rock climbing but have only done it in a controlled environment - e.g., climbing walls like on RCCL ships. Is this what you meant or more just bouldering in rough terrain? Thanks again!

Selectsys, Having been to several cities /pleasure areas in the US I cannot agree that Blackpool is as bad as some people think. Yes it is tatty, full of burger bars ,chip shops, pubs with bouncers outside at night, but HELL live a little you are a visitor. Thats what tourism is all about , not being cossetted in cotton wool and being coralled araound by a guide spouting useless info.It is not as plastic as the Disney land Universal studioa places , its smaller for a start you can get around it on foot. or use the horse drawn carriages or trams.

The Lake District is big, for a day out try Bowness on Windermere, sail on a steam powered ship, it is nature in the raw ,again not a plastic imitation.

We in the UK sometimes go overboard at putting down all of the glories we have in the North West or better still the North East. London- Stratford on Avon is not the beall and end all of England. One visit will make you want to come back.

For the record I have been in 38 of the US states and seen things a lot of US people have not seen in their own country.

Thanks Brian! You actually summarized quite well my attitude towards visiting the area. While Blackpool may be past its prime, my assumption is that the experience is authentic. Thanks also for the stream ship idea. My only regret is that there is way too much to see and experience in and around the Manchester in a week.

While I really like cruising, I never feel like we truly experience any of the ports/areas that we visit because of the time constraints. At best you can walk away with a high level impression. As a result, our family cruises tend just to keep adding to the list of places that I really want to go back and visit/experience more fully.

My only regret is that there is way too much to see and experience in and around the Manchester in a week.

Manchester is going to be one of the great cities of Europe. Some folks are already calling it the London of the north.

It's already well on it's way, but still has a fair way to go. Give it something like 10 years and I think you'll see property prices for mostly dubious areas like Salford be every bit the rival of those in east and south London with similar proximity to the City.

This could be construed as political, sorry.

bigwally, Manchester a big city of Europe????. I doubt it, there is too much that needs cleaning up first and it will take more than 10 years to do it.The Salford -Quays area maybe being developed as is the City centre but the outskirts are still ramshackle and devoid of ambiance. The City centre is like a tip, there is rubbish and litter all over the place,there is no pride in keeping it tidy. Stand in Piccadilly Square for 20 minutes then re evaluate your comments. The council are proposing congestion surcharges for a 5 miles radius, what with awful public transport for non main route residents, it will exacerbate the travel problems . I live approx 10 miles from the centre and only go there under duress maybe twice a year( maybe more in future as I get free tram rides)

So Manchester is just a cut above Blackpool then?

Gawd, the doom and gloom merchants on 'ere I tells you. :p

For crying out loud, at the right time of an evening I could take you to right outside the Savoy Hotel in London and show you piles of litter, bums sleeping, rivers of urine, and probably fresh vomit with identifiable chunks. Would that stop anyone from visiting London? :confused:

No,it seems to attract them.