Hotels in Blackpool Ensure Good Times are Guaranteed

If you are one of the millions of people considering heading to the north-west coast to spend a weekend or longer in some of the best rental accommodation UK resorts have to offer, then a fantastic choice is to venture to the Golden Mile and take in some of the many attractions that historic Blackpool has to offer.

Of course, crucial to spending a weekend at the seaside is finding quality accommodation and fortunately, there are many hotels in Blackpool that fit this description quite perfectly and at prices that are highly competitive. There are several 4 star Blackpool hotels, such as the Hilton Hotel Blackpool, De Vere Herons’ Reach, The Beachcomber Hotel and The Big Blue Hotel that offer outstanding levels of accommodation, service and comfort to any visitor spending their leisure time in the town.

Although there are plenty of hotels to choose from, Blackpool’s popularity is not simply down to the volume of luxury or cheap hotels available in the area. The fact remains that Blackpool has long been established as a hugely popular tourist destination and the town retains links to some of the most famous people in world history.

For example, did you know that in 1897, HMS Foudroyant, Lord Nelson’s flagship before he took the helm of HMS Victory, ran aground in Blackpool near the North Pier during a fierce storm? Or that several members of seminal 1960s and 70s rock legends Jethro Tull hailed from the town? Blackpool impressed Adolf Hitler enough during World War II for him to spare the town during the blitz as he had earmarked it to remain a seaside resort following his planned invasion of the UK.

Historically, the town emerged as a seaside resort during the 18th century, chiefly on the back of the growing fondness for sea bathing as a cure for disease, but two key innovations within the next century would lead to Blackpool becoming the most popular seaside resort in the UK. The first was improved transport links to the coast, via a dedicated road and expansion of the railways and the second was the introduction of electric power in the 1870s; with Blackpool becoming the first place in the world to have electric street lighting.

Nowadays, the modern Blackpool still has plenty to inspire the hotel guest visiting for a weekend and the town remains one of the most popular holiday destinations in the UK.

The town hosts the famous Blackpool Dance Festival, a renowned ballroom dance contest as featured in the Jennifer Lopez film Shall We Dance. Blackpool is famous for many of its ‘end of the pier’ comic performers such as Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown, who regularly pack out theatres across town. Lovers of the risqué style of comedy will also enjoy Funny Girls; the hugely popular drag cabaret bar that is quickly becoming one of Blackpool’s must-visit attractions!

There’s plenty more to keep visitors entertained around this vibrant and colourful town. Blackpool Football Club, forever associated with football thanks to the iconic 1953 FA Cup final, when wing wizard Stanley Matthews inspired the club to victory, are now a Premier League team. Manager Ian Holloway’s men have been earning plaudits for their entertaining style of play and with tickets available for most home games, soccer fans would do well to pay Bloomfield Road a visit.

Another famous attraction housed in the town is Blackpool Zoo. The zoo has benefitted from extensive investment, including £1 million spent on a new sea lion pool, and recently the attraction was awarded the Best Visitor Attraction in Lancashire Award for 2010. With 1,500 animals, the zoo offers an outstanding day out for all the family.

An excellent family attraction is Blackpool’s Sandcastle Water Park, the UK’s largest indoor water attraction of its kind. The water park offers a total of 18 slides and attractions catering for a variety of ages, from the youngest tots up to adults. Being indoors means that the water park is an all-round attraction that is not prone to suffering due to Blackpool’s fickle climate. The park is closed over the winter months during the closed season but opens each year around late February or early March and offers superb entertainment for adults and families alike.

Of course, Blackpool contains many iconic buildings and places that have become synonymous with the town over the years and, arguably, the most instantly recognisable of these is the famous Blackpool Tower.

Inspired by the Eiffel’s famous edifice in Paris, Blackpool Tower opened in May 1894 and at 158 metres tall is the most visible of all the town’s attractions. It houses a ballroom, circus ring and will soon host a new Dungeons feature at its base. The tower itself is a grade one listed building and there are several other attractions, including a 4D cinema, a heritage trail and a large indoor children’s adventure playground, all within the tower complex.

Another huge draw for families in particular is the Pleasure Beach, the most popular amusement park in the UK and one of the top 20 in the world. The resort now boasts its own hotel, the four star Big Blue Hotel, and is home to some of the most intense rides available in the UK, including the Pepsi Max Big One rollercoaster, the UK’s tallest roller coaster, Valhalla, Infusion and the world-famous Grand National wooden coaster, which has been in operation since 1935.

Lastly, , the big attraction for many people visiting Blackpool is the yearly illuminations, when from late August to November every year, the seven miles of beachfront, the tower and the town’s famous trams are illuminated with millions of brightly coloured bulbs, culminating in a truly spectacular sight.

With so much to offer the visitor and so many great places to stay, Blackpool is an outstanding destination that will remain hugely popular with visitors, both from the UK and beyond, for many years to come. – Travel Feeder, your ultimate photo travel blog

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.