Blackpool has been the British seaside resort of choice well over 100 years and is the most popular resort in the UK. Good rail and road networks, as well as its own airport, see Blackpool attracting over 13 million visitors each year. It is true that a holiday in Britain can now cost just as much as taking your family abroad, but you can take a break in Blackpool on a budget and still have lots of fun. With many free, or reasonably priced, activities you really don’t need to dig deep to enjoy yourself.

On hot summer days, many peoples first stop in Blackpool is the beach. With traditional seaside activities, such as donkey rides, crabbing and good old sandcastle building, a family can happily spend a whole day at the beach. There are 100s of reasonably priced cafes and restaurants in the city, or you can dine al fresco with a family picnic on the beach. Whilst at the beach, you can enjoy a walk down one of Blackpool’s 3 piers, with North Pier being a particular highlight. North Pier was constructed in the 1860’s and has traditionally been home to orchestral shows and high class comedy shows. As you stroll along the piers, you can splash out on champagne and oysters or enjoy a traditional portion of fish and chips, whilst sat on one of the benches lining the piers.

Blackpool’s most famous attraction is Blackpool Tower, first opened in 1894. The tower had a new lease of life when it was relaunched in 201, with attractions including a 4D cinema and a stunning sky walk being added. Not far from the tower you will find Comedy Carpet, the largest piece of public art to be commissioned in the UK. The carpet consists of jokes, songs and catchphrases of British best comedians, displayed in a similar way to Hollywood’s Hall of Fame, only funnier! Blackpool is jam packed with activities, but there are plenty of places to enjoy a quiet hour, such as the peaceful Stanley Park, which has been granted a grade 2 listing, due to its importance to the city.

Blackpool really comes alive at night with bars, clubs, restaurants and the brilliant ‘Sound and Light Show’. The sound and light show consists of dancing lights, swirling lasers and great soundtracks and can be found adjacent to the Toast cafe on corporation street. The best thing about the sound and light show is that it is free, which is a great bonus. Much like New York, Blackpool is a city that never sleeps and will keep you entertained day in and day out.