Blackpool

[Eve]

I'm hoping to get up there for a change of scene day out and not been for a while and love the sea. Blackpool is pretty quick and easy to get to on the train.

As I'm not up to walking too far or for a long time, I was wondering if there is a better selection of places on the seafront where you can sit with a coffee and watch the sights (and preferably see the sea) and maybe grab something to eat (light lunch), am not a fan of those doughnuts! :)

If I remember right there was quite a large Café on the end of one of the piers.

I've also never tried one of the trams (save when very young) so wondered if it's worth going for a bit of a ride up or down along the route if it's a nice ride in either direction/both directions?

Thanks for any help :)

[anneasquith]

put your thermals on.

[Eve]

I'm hoping it can't be worse than the last time I was there, it was very windy and wet, though we still ended up drinking champagne and eating strawberries on the beach on the rain :)

[factor-fiction]

You may prefer St Annes unless you enjoy watching hen party drinkers wandering past

[anneasquith]

is blackpool the nearest costal town . Its very tacky.IMO.

[Eve]

St Annes is nice but, don't worry, I plan on escaping well before it turns to stag/hen party carnage (well, most of it!).

[factor-fiction]

Last time I went they were wandering from bar to bar at lunch time, all carrying big, oddly shaped balloons and screeching

[anaxcrosswords]

The cafe at the end of Southport pier is far nicer, plus there's a miniature train whatsit to take you there. Been a few years since my last visit but, at the time, alongside the cafe was an amusement arcade consisting entirely of antique machines (to play them you buy old pre-decimal coins) - very interesting to see. The cafe, if I remember right, is almost completely glass fronted so you get excellent views, and the cafe food's not too shabby either.
The Blackpool piers have 'family' pubs woth ropey food, and they're plonked centrally so you don't get sea views.

[ummmm]

I love Blackpool. It's very windy though....

I won't talk about the last time i went :-D

The time before that we done the normal stuff. Then went to a Blackpool has talent show, stopped in a club to watch some really dire act and then to hotel to watch a Neil Diamond tribute act. My son started crying at that point because it was full of old people....

Brilliant :-)

[AliceTickband]

Went there a couple of years ago.......never ever again.......grubby, dirty, boring.......it's not at all like it used to be.

[Eve]

I was trying to think of somewhere easy with good transport links. Southport has quite a walk from the station to the sea (for me) and you can't really see much of the sea anyway. Formby is a faff from the station up through the park and my arthritis doesn't like the deep sand.

To be fair, I've not really been anywhere on a day trip since I have had to walk with a stick (getting serious cabin fever!) whereas I used to go out and about all the time.

There are the trams in Blackpool which is helpful for getting about given how long the prom is and I know my way about round the main bits which is a plus. It is tacky but always plenty of "sights"!

[factor-fiction]

The ballroom in Blackpool Tower is wonderful and it's a good place to go for afternoon tea and people watching if it's not too warm outside

[whiskeryron]

Don't do what I did the year before last. Like you I fancied a day in Blackpool & went ahead & booked my rail day return ( I can't remember what month it was ) but silly me when I got there I got the impression that Blackpool was shut. All the illuminations had finished & none of their Trams were running.
I only stayed for a couple of hours, had some fish & chips & came home again. Disappointing but I enjoyed the train journey ( used my Senior Railcard).

[spudqueen]

If you get the tram to Bispham there is a lovely fish and chip restaurant across the road. I can't remember what it is called but it has a yellow frontage. They have fabulous cakes there aswell!

[berniecuddles]

been there twice should have learned my lesson the 1st time hate it!

[Eve]

It is a bit early in the season though I was hoping for not too busy but dead isn't great either!

I have memories of a mad night out there some years ago, dressed as a bunnygirl for a birthday do (not mine haha!), it was an experience! :)

That sounds nice spudqueen, thanks.

[bhg481]

If you've got one, you can use your Concession bus pass on the trams.

[Eve]

Hi, I do have a disabled one but wasn't sure if I could use it or whether restricted to my local area. I barely saw any trams, just a few later on in the day.

Very glad I made it, it was pretty bracing on the promenade and loads of stuff was closed but it was nice and quiet for a wander to get some fresh air, some fish and chips with a sea view and a potter round the Sea Life Centre.

Was soooo good to get away for the day, paying for it now but it was great to be somewhere different - I surprised myself though did overdo it. Got the weekend to rest up though :)

Will have to try the tram next time.

[mikey4444]

I had the misfortune to have to spend a weekend at a conference in Blackpool in 1995. It was probably the most unpleasant place that I have ever had visit. It was like spending a weekend on a particularly troubling council estate and it was full of horrible vulgar drunk people, who appeared to have had a complete manners-bypass. Tacky doesn't even come close to describing the place. Never will I ever return there again.

The Trams were nice though.

[Eve]

Oh dear! Will definitely try the trams next time and try out the tower. Loads of stuff was closed and being done up for opening for the main seasons though it did make it nice and quiet and no rowdy hen and stag dos or other drunk people wandering about - I didn't go down the end with all the hotels and pleasure beach and bars down there, too far and it was pretty bracing.

It was just nice to get some sea air, see the sea and get away for a day and I do like the Sea Life Centre, I prefer Blue Planet Aquarium but it's a faff to get to if you don't drive.

They do seem to be making some improvements, the prom is much tidier than it was after they've been doing that much and the area around the station has had a big tidy up and there have chains like Starbucks, Nero, Nandos and Pizza Express.

Most of the traffic/crossing lights seemed to be not working though so it was a bit of a pain crossing the road in parts, I remember it used to be difficult getting across when I volunteered and was there with people in wheelchairs though it does look like they are trying to improve things, I hope so as it has fallen into a lot of disrepair and it more tacky stag and hen do than a nice seaside day out.

[ferret69]

Blackpool has been done up a lot recently, ok there are still places that are dirty and empty shops in the back streets but the front is much better, a new prom as been completed along with new barriers and better tram and bus stops, if fact a lot of the trams are new and you will enjoy a trip up to Fleetwood all along the sea front, especially if you have a bus pass. If you go into the Tower which is now free entry for a coffee, near the ballroom is the view you want to "watch the sights and sea" through the viewing windows, don't be put off by all the negative answers just go and enjoy, sit on one of the piers with a candy floss like you use to do, and remember life is to short to sit at home, get out and see for yourself.