{"id":1446,"date":"2025-04-23T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/?p=1446"},"modified":"2025-04-29T13:06:48","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T13:06:48","slug":"i-adore-this-uk-seaside-town-despite-people-calling-it-a-dump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/23\/i-adore-this-uk-seaside-town-despite-people-calling-it-a-dump\/","title":{"rendered":"I adore this UK seaside town \u2013 despite people calling it a \u2018dump\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"An\t<\/div>
Blackpool\u2019s charm may have faded, but 20 million visitors still flock there every year (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the second installment of Metro Travel<\/a> Hot Takes<\/em>, Jessica Hamilton<\/a> makes the case for Blackpool, a town described as grotty, tacky, and the \u2018land that time forgot\u2019.<\/p>\n

Suggesting a trip to Blackpool<\/a> to people who have never visited is usually met with smug laughter, mild disgust, or just a flat-out \u2018No\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As UK seaside towns<\/a> go, it doesn\u2019t have the greatest reputation. It was, after all, named after a drain. But even so, it wasn\u2019t always that way.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In its prime, during the 1920s to 1960s<\/a>, Blackpool was Britain\u2019s most popular coastal destination.<\/p>\n

Known as the holiday jewel of the North West, it attracted visitors from up and down the country. It was so iconic that the novelist JB Priestley called it \u2018the great, roaring, spangled beast\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, in recent years, its charm has faded. Blackpool has been variously branded a \u2018dump<\/a>\u2019 and \u2018disgusting\u2019. It repeatedly stars in rankings of the UK\u2019s worst seaside towns.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\tSign up to The Getaway newsletter\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n

Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration.\u00a0Sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Local crime statistics certainly don\u2019t help its case. Blackpool has one of the highest crime rates in the country, and the region is one of the most socially deprived in the UK.<\/p>\n

Yet, despite it all, Blackpool still attracts more than 20 million visitors a year. So, maybe this so-called \u2018dump\u2019 deserves more credit than it gets.<\/p>\n

Childhood memories<\/h2>\n

Growing up just 50 minutes away, Blackpool was my nearest seaside destination. <\/p>\n

It might not have the obvious draw of Cornwall\u2019<\/a>s white-sand beaches or Whitby\u2019s historic charm. But, for me, visiting is filled with nostalgia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
It\u2019s not exactly a glamorous getaway (Picture: Jessica Hamilton)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My grandma used to go dancing in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom. My parents took me on rainy day trips to the beach, where I\u2019d eat soggy fish and chips and ride donkeys on the sand. And, as a teenager, my friends and I would find any excuse to go to Pleasure Beach or drive through the famous lights.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not for everyone. The moment you step onto the promenade, your senses are overwhelmed with the smell of deep-fried doughnuts, the ringing of amusement arcades and large crowds jostling for 2p slot machines.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n
Comment now<\/title><span class=\"metro-comment-cta__text\">What\u2019s your opinion on Blackpool? Have your say in the comments below<\/span><\/span><a class=\"metro-comment-cta__button\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\">Comment Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Fortune teller shops are wedged between chippies and rock confectionary stalls, which proudly display celebrity headshots on their windows. Not to mention the drag queens, pantomimes, karaoke bars and rowdy hen and stag parties in garish fancy dress.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s cheap. It\u2019s tacky. It\u2019s loud. But it\u2019s certainly not boring.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Salt of the earth<\/h2>\n<p>Dubbed the \u2018world\u2019s first working-class holiday resort\u2019, Blackpool has long been a place for affordable fun, and it doesn\u2019t take itself too seriously. <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s even been named the <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2024\/03\/16\/most-depressing-place-country-named-uks-friendliest-town-20473789\/\">friendliest town in the UK<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>All three of its piers are still free to enter, and it has remained reasonably priced to visit \u2013 something that can\u2019t be said for southern seaside destinations, such as Margate and <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/brighton\/\">Brighton<\/a>, which are becoming so costly and gentrified, they\u2019re practically London-by-sea.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>And while tickets for Pleasure Beach (one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/theme-parks\/\">UK\u2019s best theme parks<\/a>) haven\u2019t escaped inflation, it\u2019s still full every summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22919569 lazyload\" alt=\"Donkeys on the beach near Central Pier on Blackpool Beach, Blackpool.\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GettyImages-125977483.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>Blackpool\u2019s donkey rides cost \u00a32.50 per person (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blackpooltourismbid.co.uk\/blackpool-tourism\/#:~:text=Blackpool%20is%20a%20true%20British,of%20Britain's%20most%20visited%20destinations.\">local tourism board<\/a> puts it: \u2018Blackpool is a true British icon, the only urban seaside resort with 150 years of heritage, the first working-class holiday resort in the world with an unshakeable vitality.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Yes, it might be rough around the edges. But it\u2019s hard not to admire Blackpool\u2019s kitschy charm and determination to stay alive.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">True grit<\/h2>\n<p>The rise of <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/05\/all-inclusive-holidays-now-cheaper-popular-1950s-22856071\/\">cheap package holidays<\/a> in the 60s and 70s inevitably lured Brits to the balmy beaches of the <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/mediterranean\/\">Mediterranean<\/a>. But this town is yet to surrender to its competition.<\/p>\n<p>The council has pumped millions into revitalising tourism over the past decade, from improving local transport links to investing in free, family-friendly attractions.<\/p>\n<p>In 2023, the iconic illumination switch-on returned to the Promenade for the first time in three years, with <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/sophie-ellis-bextor\/\">Sophie Ellis-Bextor<\/a> flicking the switch.<\/p>\n<p>That same year saw the long-awaited comeback of the beloved Valhalla ride at the Pleasure Beach and the opening of a \u00a31.5million big cat facility at Blackpool Zoo.<\/p>\n<p>In 2024, a \u00a334 million four-star Holiday Inn opened its doors \u2013 a welcome addition to a seafront dotted with dated B&Bs.<\/p>\n<p>And Blackpool\u2019s efforts seem to be paying off. <\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tMetro Travel Hot Takes\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p>Last week, <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/author\/sophiemay-williams\/\">Sophie-May Williams<\/a> recalled her disappointment with Porto, the second city of a country she loves. Read the <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/16\/love-portugal-second-city-left-cold-22913541\/\">full article here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Figures from the annual STEAM report show that the town welcomed 21.5 million visitors in 2023 \u2013 a 6% rise on the previous year.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The value of the town\u2019s tourism industry remains a steady \u00a31.98 billion, accounting for nearly a third of <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/lancashire\/\">Lancashire<\/a>\u2019s total visitor economy.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Data from Blackpool council also showed a spike in footfall along the promenade last summer, and coachloads of tourists continue to pour in, year after year.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The verdict<\/h2>\n<p>It might not be a glamorous getaway, and few will admit to loving it \u2013 but Blackpool is a guilty pleasure (or my not-so-guilty pleasure).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If you give it a chance, you\u2019re more than likely to have a good time. <\/p>\n<p>Frankly, anyone I\u2019ve ever dragged there has.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTop five things to do in Blackpool\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p><strong>Blackpool Tower <\/strong>\u2013 Modelled after the Eiffel Tower (though half the size), Blackpool Tower is one of Britain\u2019s most beloved landmarks and a trip to the seaside town wouldn\u2019t be complete without visiting. It\u2019s completely free to enter, but you\u2019ll have to spend \u00a312 to get to the top.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Visit Coral Island<\/strong> \u2013 Why not take a trip to Blackpool\u2019s pirate-themed amusement arcade? There are rides, slot machines, casinos, and kids eat free all day, every day.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Blackpool Illuminations<\/strong> \u2013 Every year, from the end of August to the beginning of January, Blackpool Promenade is illuminated by over one million lamps. The dazzling installation stretched around six miles.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pleasure Beach Resort<\/strong> \u2013 The iconic theme park first opened in 1896 and is home to iconic rides such as the Valhalla, one of the longest indoor dark rides in the world, and The Big One, the UK\u2019s tallest rollercoaster. A full day ticket starts from \u00a335 for adults.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wander Blackpool\u2019s Piers <\/strong>\u2013 There are three piers in Blackpool to explore. The Central Pier, built in the 19th century, is home to a funfair, the South Pier is full of music, games and adrenaline-filled rides, while the North Pier, the longest and oldest of the three, is home to theatres and bars.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Get in touch by emailing <a href=\"mailto:MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk\">MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Blackpool\u2019s charm may have faded, but 20 million visitors still flock there every year (Picture: Getty Images) In the second installment of Metro Travel Hot Takes, Jessica Hamilton makes the case for Blackpool, a town described as grotty, tacky, and the \u2018land that time forgot\u2019. Suggesting a trip to Blackpool to people who have never […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1448,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1446","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1446"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1446\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1452,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1446\/revisions\/1452"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1448"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1446"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}