After it was named the UK's friendliest seaside town earlier this year, I was desperate to spend some time in Blackpool to see what all the fuss is about. It's certain that Blackpool sometimes gets a bad rep - usually from people who have never visited - but having spent some holidays there as a child creating lots of fond memories, as well as visiting with some of my best friends during my early 20s, I was keen to return to find out whether the places was still as magical as I remembered it, with help from Visit Blackpool. With £2bn worth of investment set to transform the town, including a recently opened Holiday Inn, tramline extension and a brand new tourist attraction, there's something new for tourists - even those like me who have visited many times before.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how best to spend 48 hours in the iconic seaside resort, which is the home of ballroom dancing, as well as boasting one of the UK's "best value" theme parks. Below is a list of some of the best places to eat, drink, and some top tips from experts at Visit Blackpool on the fabulous hidden gems that some people walk past without a second thought. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Blackpool, the new 144-bed hotel and Marco Pierre White New York Italian restaurant which opened its doors on May 1, 2024.
My room had a comfy king-size bed, with incredible views of the Blackpool Tower and the seaside, as well as a nice corner sofa, TV, kettle and Nespresso coffee machine . The hotel is council owne.
