Blackpool

Blackpool's hotel scene is one of the most varied of any UK seaside town, ranging from grand Victorian seafront landmarks to simple family-run guesthouses tucked a few streets back from the promenade. Staying near the Tower or Pleasure Beach puts you within walking distance of the main attractions and the Illuminations, though it can be noisy and busy in peak season. For a quieter stay, North Shore and areas towards Bispham offer sea views without the fairground crowds, while still being a short tram ride from the action. Budget-friendly options are plentiful, and many hotels offer entertainment packages that include shows at the Winter Gardens or discounted Pleasure Beach tickets. Booking ahead is strongly advised for the Illuminations season and school holiday weeks, when the town's bed stock fills up quickly.

From white-knuckle rides to old-fashioned variety theatre, Blackpool packs an unusual amount of entertainment into a small stretch of coastline.

• Blackpool Tower — climb (or take the lift) to the Tower Eye viewing deck 380 feet up, complete with a glass floor over the promenade, then explore the Tower Ballroom below with its sprung dancefloor and Wurlitzer organ.
• Blackpool Pleasure Beach — one of Britain's oldest amusement parks, open since 1896, home to the Big One rollercoaster and Icon, plus a steadily growing roster of newer thrill rides.
• Blackpool Illuminations — six miles of lights, tableaux and animated displays strung along the promenade each year from late summer into the New Year, a tradition dating back to 1879.
• North Pier, Central Pier and South Pier — three surviving Victorian piers, each with its own character, from North Pier's traditional theatre programme to Central Pier's big wheel and South Pier's rides.
• Blackpool Winter Gardens — a vast Victorian entertainment complex hosting touring shows, conferences and the Opera House, one of the largest theatres outside London's West End.
• SEA LIFE Blackpool — an aquarium on the seafront with sharks, rays and an underwater tunnel, a reliable option on a wet afternoon.
• Blackpool Zoo — inland from the centre, home to elephants, orangutans and a large collection of big cats across 32 acres of parkland.

No visit is complete without fish and chips on the seafront, and Harry Ramsden's and the Cottage on Newton Drive are long-standing local favourites. For a classic slice of Blackpool, the rock shops along the Golden Mile still hand-pull and stripe rock the traditional way, and afternoon tea at the Tower Ballroom or the Grand Metropole is a proper old-school treat. Beyond the fairground food, the town has a growing number of independent cafes and restaurants around the Foxhall and Talbot Road areas, alongside traditional pubs serving Lancashire ales close to the seafront.

Wild camping is not legally permitted in England without the landowner's explicit permission, so anyone wanting to camp near Blackpool needs to book a proper site or seek permission directly, unlike the more flexible access rules in Scotland. The good news is that Lancashire's Fylde coast has a solid spread of caravan parks and campsites, particularly around Blackpool's outskirts, Fleetwood, and inland towards the Wyre countryside, many aimed squarely at families wanting an affordable base close to the resort's attractions. The terrain here is flat coastal plain rather than dramatic countryside, so sites tend to prioritise on-site entertainment, swimming pools and proximity to the tram line over scenic seclusion.

Camping and touring caravan pitches are generally available from Easter through to the end of October, with the Illuminations period in September and October being a particularly popular time to combine a coastal camping trip with the lights. Coastal weather here can be breezy and changeable even in summer, so a well-pegged tent or a static caravan with some shelter from the wind is a sensible choice. For those who want the outdoors experience without the hassle of their own kit, glamping options including pre-erected bell tents, pods and static caravans are increasingly available at sites around Blackpool and along the Fylde coast, offering a comfortable middle ground between a hotel stay and a full camping trip. Many of these sites also welcome dogs, making them a popular choice for families holidaying with pets.