Noisy, tacky, can end up spending too much money .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
I just went for a dirty weekend. Do you want to know all about it? Read on..everyone should go to Blackpool at least once but you need preparation first..
-Take Comfy Shoes
It’s a long way down the golden mile and those white stilettos will do your feet no good. If you really insist on wearing them, you can always take the tram or the bus down the mile, or even splash out and get a taxi, but then you will have less money for the arcades and booze. So take a pair of trainers, and if you really want to, stick your stilettos in a bag so you can change in the loo.
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“Hiya, where have you come from?”
“Hey, have you won anything yet?”
“Can I just give you this?”
Walking down the mile you will no doubt be bombarded with random blokes (usually with Manchester accents I am sorry to say) approaching you in a very friendly way. Don’t be a fool like my sister who once stood and chatted to them before conned into wasting a fiver on an impossible game. They are trying to con you. Or do you think that people are really that friendly up North that they are genuinely interested in you? Don't be gullible. Walk away.
One of the advantages of going with a boyfriend/hubby, is that you become invisible and the man is always approached. One man even said to my fella “Can I give you and your wife something?” WIFE..I ASK YOU! If he thought he had a chance before that he had blown it then! I was soo offended. I am 19 years old, not someones wife!
On the piers you will also be harassed by the stall workers- “Do you want to win the lady a toy?” Have a go if you want but these annoying people are one of the bad things about Blackpool. You hardly ever win a toy anyway. I am still gutted that my boyfriend was not able to win me a Hello Kitty toy even after 4 attempts.
-Take lots of money
You can have a very cheap weekend in Blackpool. There are B+B’s from £10 a night and pubs where a drink is £1. But all those rides, fruit machines, ice creams and hot dogs all tot up so take enough money. If you want to go to the Pleasure Beach it costs £25 for an unlimited wristband.
*Tacky?*
Yes ok so Blackpool is tacky. However, having read some of the other opinions about Blackpool, I felt I should defend it. It's not for perverts and is suitable for all age groups. There is a friendly atmosphere that you do not get in other places. It was a quiet weekend when we were there but it was very clean and the beach was not at all dirty. The nights at high season can be quite rowdy but no more than any other city at night.
On Sunday there was a fun run which meant cars were not allowed along the sea front. We watched the entrants, which included children, old people and people in wheelchairs. The weather was beautiful and although it was windy it was very enjoyable.
☻ Games and Fun
Whether you are a thrillseeker, a timid granny or a young family, there will be something in Blackpool for you. For big buzzes, go on the Big One in the Pleasure Beach, the tallest rollercoaster in Europe, but don’t blame me if you wail for them to let you off on the ascent (I did). On the South Pier, there is a bungee rocket, a contraption that is like flying and a free fall jump of 80 feet. I only considered any of these options when pissed. These are also expensive, but what an unforgettable experience it must be to fly out over the sea.
For more wimpy types there are masses of ordinary rides like Big Wheels, Waltzers, Dodgems and smaller rollercoasters. Many of these run on a ticket basis, you have to buy tickets from machines then each ride requires a certain number of tickets.
Even if you don’t like rides there is still plenty of fun to be had. All along the front are huge amusement arcades with fruit machines, “penny pushing” games (but don’t bang them in the hope that the money will fall out because that triggers an alarm!) and dancing machines to name just a few. I was really tempted to go on the dancing game (if you have read my opinion you will know I own the home version) and put the other people to shame but it’s a waste of money when I can do it at home for free!
☻ Booze and Grub (bring it on)
Now this is more like it. The sea front is packed with bars and pubs. There is a Bier Keller and a Yates’s to name just two that everyone will have heard of. There are also quite a few strip bars (but no male ones I sadly noted) and lots of karaoke bars. Drinks prices are average but most places have special offers such as 4 shots for a fiver or buy one bottle get one free.
We spent the night on the South Pier in a family pub called the Laughing Donkey. There are lots of pubs which welcome children and the Laughing Donkey had live entertainment which included a quiz (we would have won but the other table cheated) and lots of singing and prizes. We won some lovely wallets after a couple we met were the first to take up a pair of mens socks and a bra (don't ask!).
You will have no trouble finding a pub to drink the night away in. Blackpool is very popular with stag and hen parties so you will more than likely come across at least one group of highly drunk birds or blokes. If you are lucky (or maybe unlucky, depends how you see it) they may even be in a state of undress.
As for food, well if you don’t like junk food I am not sure what you will do in Blackpool. I ate so many chips this weekend that I should have turned into one. As well as about 3 McDonalds and a Pizza Hut, there are literally hundreds of stands and small cafes. We ate in one by the Pleasure beach which was only £3 for fish, chips, peas, bread and butter and a mug of tea. The food is not expensive as you can tell.
☻ Sleeping (what’s that!!?!)
Blackpool is chocka with self catering flats, B + Bs and hotels for every budget. You can get bed and breakfast from as little as £10 or if you are feeling swanky there are a few classy hotels along the sea front which charge around £150 a night. Hmmm, one question though, if you can afford to pay £150 a night, why are you staying in Blackpool?!
We stayed in the Inglewood Hotel along the sea front which was £20 a night for B+B and was lovely. You can book in advance (and would be recommended to do so over bank holidays and the illuminations) but there are so many places that you should be fine just finding a room once you get there. Parking in the town is quite expensive so if you are driving find a hotel with free parking.
☻ You want more?
As long as you have money, you won’t have a chance to get bored in Blackpool. Look at all these:
-The Blackpool Sandcastle (a waterpark type place) which I believe zoe page wrote an opinion on recently.
-The Sea Life Centre. £7 for adults, £4 for children
-Ride a donkey on the beach. You may have a different kind of ride on the beach later in the night but hopefully that would be free.
-Go in a horse and carriage down the mile. Staying along the front we heard a lot of Clip Clopping. At least I think it was the horses.
-Have your photo taken with a snake around your shoulders. I felt a bit sorry for the snakes actually but it would make a great photo.
-Go up the Tower. I think this is for Granny’s personally but hey, you may want to!
-Ice skating in the rink within the Pleasure Beach
-Go and discover the truth about aliens. £3. Hmmmm.
☻ People that go to Blackpool:
Many Northerners (well it’s not far is it?), stag and hen parties, OAPs who go the same week every year and go fishing off the end of Central Pier. Families with little kids. Groups of teenagers, churners, nice people like me.
☻ People that don’t go to Blackpool:
The Queen, people called Jemima or Tarquin, celebrity chefs, wine connoisseurs, people who are offended by a bit of harmless smut, Hyacinth Bucket.
☻ To sum up:
Every time I have been to Blackpool I have had fun. I would not want to go for a whole week but for a few days it’s a good laugh. Ok, so maybe it wasn’t a good idea to go on the Crazy Mouse and the Waltzers right after downing my drinks but it was still fun. Honest. Even though the ride attendant commented that I sounded like I was being murdered.
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