I WALK past souvenir shops lining the streets selling plastic trinkets, sticks of rock and cheeky postcards – all the signs of an iconic seaside town.
Believe it or not, Blackpool used to be one of the most successful and visited tourism spots in the world.
Blackpool is probably the most stereotyped seaside town in the UK, and say the name to a Brit and you’ll immediately get a reaction.
It usually conjures up one of two images: wild hen and stag dos or nostalgic memories of years gone by.
Though with both, the basis of the image is the same: a fading seaside resort that has seen better days.
In the 1920s, Blackpool was actually known as the capital of working-class entertainment.
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By the 1930s, 10million people were visiting each year.
Following the Second World War, the town reached its golden era with around 17million annual visitors.
During this time, the image a lot of people still associate with Blackpool was created – packed ballrooms, shows and a beach full of deck chairs.
So when did it all go downhill?
In the late 1960s and 1970s, cheap flights to Spain started booming, with some overseas trips the same price – or even cheaper – than a week in Blackpool.
The town’s tourism relied on Northern England‘s industrial workers too, so as factories shut down in the 1980s, the target market moved away.
Soon, its image as a budget ‘Vegas of the North’ emerged, attracting partygoers looking for cheap, boozy nights out.
Having visited this weekend, I can’t talk about being nostalgic as I’m a 25-year-old Gen Zer who has never visited the seaside town before.
But as someone who grew up on the south coast visiting numerous seaside spots every summer, I can talk about how Blackpool compares.
Having recently been named one of the worst seaside towns by Which?, my expectations were already low.
Spoiler alert: they needn’t have been.
Turning the corner from the town centre to the promenade onboard the tram, there it was in all its glory: the beach, the Pleasure Beach, the tower and not one, not two, but three piers.
Admittedly, parts are rough around the edges.
Some hotels and B&Bs definitely need of some TLC and there are a number of boarded up shops waiting for new owners.
But honestly, it is hard to name a British seaside town that doesn’t have a bit of that nowadays.
And I must admit, the beach with the sun making the water glisten, did look a dream.
The fun and upbeat vibe is really evident in the north of the town.
The promenade was busy but not crowded and everyone had a smile on their face as the sun beat down.
In this part of Blackpool, you’ll find one of the piers alongside the iconic Blackpool Tower.
I headed up in a lift that travelled through the centre of the red steel structure to a viewing point 120 metres above the ground.
The panoramic views are spectacular, and the only spot in Blackpool where you can take in the full length of the beach.
At the base of the tower, you’ll also find Blackpool Tower Dungeon, a similar experience to the London Dungeon but slightly shorter.
All along the promenade, I wandered past souvenir shops, donut stalls and cheap chippies – I mean seriously cheap chippies, with portions for just a couple of quid.
On a mission for a cool pint, I stumbled across Tommy Cutler’s along a road set back from the main promenade.
A refreshing pint is exactly what I got, but what made it even better is that it only cost me £1.75 – making it the cheapest pint in the UK.
The only place you’ll get one cheaper is some Wetherspoons pubs.
The pub has a generous outdoor decking for soaking up the sunshine and the latest hits blare from giant speakers.
Head a minute down the road to The Ardwick for a more traditional pub vibe, with a pool table and darts boards and you can also pick up a pint here for £1.90 – or even cheaper on a Thursday, at £1.69 a pint.
At the south end of the town, you’ll find South Pier, along with Sandcastle Waterpark – the biggest indoor waterpark in the UK – and Blackpool’s most famous attraction, Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort.
Heated to a tropical 29C, Sandcastle Waterpark boasts 18 slides and water coasters.
Little ones can be lulled by gentle waves or make a splash in a dedicated water play area, but for adults without kids like myself, you can head to the spa.
Jumping between the salt inhalation room, steam rooms and a sauna, I felt adequately relaxed with the blur of screams behind me from people dropping down the numerous slides.
For dry fun, on the other hand, it doesn’t get much better than Pleasure Beach Resort. Gripping onto the handrails every time, I rolled around on the historic wooden rollercoasters and flipped upside down on the more modern thrill rides.
The resort perfectly blends traditional seaside charm and modern fun to create a day out that pleases the entire family.
The star of the show though? The newly upgraded Wallace & Gromit’s Thrill-O-Matic dark ride which takes you around different sets seen in the films.
To get the best of Blackpool’s attractions, make sure to purchase The Ultimate Ticket, which Blackpool Tourism launched earlier this year.
The ticket includes entry to The Blackpool Tower Top, Sandcastle Waterpark, Pleasure Beach Resort, Madame Tussauds Blackpool, The Blackpool Tower Dungeon and The Blackpool Tower Circus usually costing £65, but thanks to the Government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme, the price is £56.88 until 1 September.
Also make sure to spend one evening of your stay in Blackpool at the Hot Ice show, which takes place in the park’s arena.
Featuring 30 Olympic and professional ice skaters, it’s a marvel for the eyes that feels like a West End on ice.
If you thought you could only stay in a run down B&B, I would think again – Blackpool even boasts a five-star hotel.
The Boulevard Hotel sits at the south end of Pleasure Beach Resort and inside you can expect sleek silver interiors, with a swish restaurant and bar.
There is a wide variety with an adults only floor and family rooms available, or you can either get a room overlooking the ocean like mine – and even one that looks at the rolling rollercoasters whizzing by.
Rooms cost from just £85 per night, including breakfast – which, might I add, was a great selection of cooked items, cereals, fruit and even pancakes.
The added perk is that if you stay Friday to Sunday you’ll get tickets to Pleasure Beach for free, which you can then access from a private entrance right outside the front of the hotel.
But if you are on even more of a tight budget, I did also check into a cheap £23 a night B&B – which I will be doing a full review on soon.