Blackpool

Britain’s biggest, brashest and most famous resort manages to be both saucy and sophisticated – and offers one heck of a surprise for first-time and regular visitors alike. Many of the attractions are so well known they hardly need enumerating –­ seven miles of wide sandy beach, an iconic tower to rival Eiffel’s

in Paris, Europe’s best collection of thrill-rides at the Pleasure Beach, a trio of classic Victorian piers and the autumn-night spectacle that is the Illuminations. But Blackpool has more to it than mere resort antics, from chic boutique accommodation to Edwardian dance halls, and fine art to fine dining. Whether it’s a ride on a vintage seafront tram, oysters and champagne under the amusement park’s original Big Dipper or a day with the family in Britain’s largest indoor water park, there’s always something exciting to do. And when night falls, there’s no mistaking the unique Blackpool vibe – raucous and racy, yes indeed, but also fun and flamboyant, as befits the UK’s most boisterous resort.


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