Blackpool is more than just a seaside town – it’s a British institution. You can’t claim to really have seen what the UK has to offer until you’ve had an ice cream on Blackpool Pleasure Beach. If you’re looking for where to go to enjoy the summer weather, book a room in one of our Blackpool hotels and take family or friends there for a long weekend. Here’s what to do when you get there:
Culture
Blackpool’s history is fascinating, as it is one of the UK’s original seaside resorts. Learn about the grizzly side of things in the celebrated Blackpool Tower Dungeon or see some more of the serious side of things at Grundy Art Gallery. But whatever you do, book tickets to the famous Legends show. You’ll learn more about the history of the place by watching the fantastic impersonators there, than you would anywhere else.
Sight-Seeing
The Pleasure Beach, the Blackpool Illuminations and the Blackpool Tower are the three sites you must visit first. But Blackpool is also home to the only surviving first-generation tramway, and riding it is a great way to see some of the town’s sites. Don’t forget to make a stop off at Stanley Park, too, which is both listed and Green Flag Award winning.
Family Fun
Blackpool is a town built entirely around the idea of having fun. You’ll be so swamped with ways to get your adrenaline pumping and your smile muscles working, it’s hard to know where to begin. After you’ve had your fill of the rides on the Pleasure Beach, head to the Blackpool Zoo, or Sandcastle Waterpark, which is the UK’s largest indoor waterpark. There’s a new Madame Tussauds and a great Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! so the kids probably won’t let you sit still for a minute.
The kids will also love a visit to see all the fascinating marine life too! From the shoreline to the depths of the ocean there is a whole underwater world to discover at SEA LIFE Blackpool! Come face to fin with life under the sea, from the colourful to the curious, the majestic to the mystical, get ready to be amazed as you discover the stories of the ocean’s most fascinating inhabitants, showcasing over 2,500 spectacular aquatic creatures including tropical sharks, sea turtles, colourful reef fish, rays, and sea horses; SEA LIFE Blackpool is a turtle-y great day out for all the family! For more info visit https://www.visitsealife.com/blackpool/. Travelodge guests enjoy an exclusive 40% discount for up to five people! Simply present your current Travelodge booking confirmation at the welcome desk.
Nightlife
Blackpool is a partier’s heaven, so don’t even think about staying in once the sun’s gone down. Head to Club Sanuk, near the North Pier, if you want the real clubbing vibe, or visit Flares if a 70s disco is more your thing. Watching the cabaret show put on by the drag queens of Funny Girls is an excellent way to spend an evening too.
Food
Blackpool has never had a reputation for high cuisine. It’s best known for ice cream, battered cod and candy-floss. But sometimes, simple is best, as the range of cafes in the town serving quality, wholesome food shows. Here’s where to eat at any time of the day:
Breakfast: Quiligan’s is everything a good old English caf’ ought to be, with a great, fresh menu, friendly service and reasonable prices. The all day breakfast is excellent, and you can have your fry up any way you want with all the trimmings you could imagine.
Lunch: The soup at Ma Baker’s is worth a visit in its own right, but the rest of the menu won’t disappoint either. If toasties are your thing, you’ll love the selection here and you can’t leave without following up lunch with a hunk of homemade cake.
Tea: The Lemon Top Tea Room charms everyone who visits it. It’s a simple little place, but the owners are always cheery, the food is great, particularly the cakes, and the atmosphere is very comfortable.
Dinner: You can’t leave Blackpool without having some seriously good fish and chips, and you’ll find the best on offer at The Cottage in Marton, on the edge of the town. The chippy’s been around for nearly 100 years, and it’s become an institution famous for its homemade sauces.
