Blackpool is the UK’s original seaside resort. Since the Blackpool Tower was built and the first fairground attraction was opened (the Gigantic Wheel) in the 1890’s, the town’s popularity has soared, and by 1914 the town was receiving over 4 million visitors, desperate for a slice of the exciting holiday action. Each year, new entertainment businesses were opened along with hotels to accommodate Blackpool’s growing popularity.
Ever since, Blackpool has been a haven for the working class holiday maker. The mile-long strip (from the Pleasure Beach to the Tower) hosts many activities, and looking over the sandy beaches gives visitors the best of both worlds. Blackpool Pleasure Beach is a theme park not for the faint hearted- the Pepsi Max Big One is situated here, which in itself brings thousands of tourists to Blackpool, being one of the most famous roller coasters in the world. Just across the road there is the Sandcastle Water World, an indoor water park with several slides and a fantastic artificial wave simulation. Further down the road there is the legendary Louis Tussauds wax works as well as several amusement arcades, fortune tellers, and then finally the world famous Blackpool Tower. It is easy to see why this resort attracts so many visitors each year; its versatility and energy is second to none.
Blackpool’s versatility means that the city not only attracts families, but also groups of adults. Over recent years, there has been a craze which has dominated Blackpool’s nightlife- stag and hen parties. As well as the other attractions, Blackpool also boasts hundreds of pubs and clubs, making it the perfect spot for adults to let their hair down. More and more of the Blackpool hotel trade is coming from stag and hen parties, much to the dismay of families, whose idyllic portrayal of this family resort is being ruined by the site of hundreds of drunken parties. It has been said that the numbers of families visiting Blackpool has dropped 17% in the past year because of the increasing popularity of its nightlife. This is a shame to many as Blackpool has been family orientated for over 100 years, and in such a short space of time it has changed to being the stag and hen capital of the UK. Even though this point is prominent in Blackpool’s modern culture, stag and hen parties tend to be kept until the weekend. Of course, the town will be hit with these parties during the week, but the numbers significantly drop Monday-Friday. If you want to visit, the calmer time would be during the week, where the family atmosphere is still very much apparent.
One of the wonders of Blackpool is the choice of accommodation to choose from, with prices starting at just £15 for a night, Blackpool hotels are notoriously good value for money. To find the best deals and accommodation suitable for you, search online for cheap hotels in Blackpool, as you are likely to come across some fantastic deals. Hotels in Blackpool are plentiful, so make sure you shop around to find the perfect one for you.