Blackpool: Aug 30 - Nov 10 - Tripping the Lights Fantastic Once Again!
Aug 16th, 2013, 12:11 PM
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Blackpool: Aug 30 - Nov 10 - Tripping the Lights Fantastic Once Again!
http://www.blackpool-illuminations.net/
The immensely popular with Brits Blackpool Illuminations are set to start off with pomp and circumstance and a few loud booms perhaps on August 30 and run in 2013 through Nov 10 - so if in England during this period and you want to see one of the most famous events traditionally in all of Britain trip the lights fantastic in Blackpool! You'll have zillions of average ordinary Brits there, who flock here from miles around at night, but IME very very few foreign tourists as this is a quintessentially British thing that many foreign tourists may never have heard of!
The immensely popular with Brits Blackpool Illuminations are set to start off with pomp and circumstance and a few loud booms perhaps on August 30 and run in 2013 through Nov 10 - so if in England during this period and you want to see one of the most famous events traditionally in all of Britain trip the lights fantastic in Blackpool! You'll have zillions of average ordinary Brits there, who flock here from miles around at night, but IME very very few foreign tourists as this is a quintessentially British thing that many foreign tourists may never have heard of!
Aug 17th, 2013, 05:10 AM
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No, no, no. Blackpool is a dirty, sleazy dive full of drunks and vomit. The only Brits it is popular with are stag and hen parties and Northern chavs. This is not an image of England we want tourists to take home with them.
Aug 17th, 2013, 05:25 AM
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when I was last in Blackpool for the Lights the parade of cars going up and down the seafront was mainly families - anice I guess has never ever been to the Lights - a real family draw - at other times of the year her/his take may be more right on IME though Blackp[ool has always been a family draw too - not so much now that Spain is a cheap short plane ride but stil Blackpool's Pleasure Beach is said to be the most visited paid place outside of London - it's an amusement park with high roller coasters that few of the stag and hen parties would come to.
Blackpool has two sides - the drunken hen and stags but also a family place - I must say I love Blackpool, warts and all - I think tjhome1 has summed it all up very well in post above.
I doubt if anice has ever been to Blackpool.
Blackpool has two sides - the drunken hen and stags but also a family place - I must say I love Blackpool, warts and all - I think tjhome1 has summed it all up very well in post above.
I doubt if anice has ever been to Blackpool.
Aug 17th, 2013, 05:38 AM
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<<I doubt if anice has ever been to Blackpool.>>
Like Jamikins, I had wanted to go for years, thinking it would be a northern version of Great Yarmouth (for which I have a certain fondnesss). I stayed for 3 nights in a hotel on the seafront. I won't be going back.
Like Jamikins, I had wanted to go for years, thinking it would be a northern version of Great Yarmouth (for which I have a certain fondnesss). I stayed for 3 nights in a hotel on the seafront. I won't be going back.
Aug 17th, 2013, 05:40 AM
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Here here, PalenQ.
Cut out the middle bit as both ends of Blackpool are a delight: South Shore, St Annes and beyond; or North Shore, the Cliffs and beyond - great walking, great atmosphere especially during cold frosty days.
Or steel yourself and dare to visit the Golden Mile. The Tower Lounge is still sticky underfoot, you have to wipe your feet when you come out. But straight outside is the comedy pavement, great one liners from many Northern comedians who have spent summer seasons there ie "A Blackpool couple have just been jailed for locking their child in a coal bunker for 12 months - how can anyone be so cruel as to bring a child up in such a filthy, dirty place as Blackpool".
If that doesnt make you smile try the fish and chips:
http://www.seniorsfishandchips.co.uk...hip-awards.php
I love the plaice
Cut out the middle bit as both ends of Blackpool are a delight: South Shore, St Annes and beyond; or North Shore, the Cliffs and beyond - great walking, great atmosphere especially during cold frosty days.
Or steel yourself and dare to visit the Golden Mile. The Tower Lounge is still sticky underfoot, you have to wipe your feet when you come out. But straight outside is the comedy pavement, great one liners from many Northern comedians who have spent summer seasons there ie "A Blackpool couple have just been jailed for locking their child in a coal bunker for 12 months - how can anyone be so cruel as to bring a child up in such a filthy, dirty place as Blackpool".
If that doesnt make you smile try the fish and chips:
http://www.seniorsfishandchips.co.uk...hip-awards.php
I love the plaice
Aug 17th, 2013, 05:50 AM
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To be honest, I am sickly fascinated by it. My dad has such fond memories, but my image having never been is of a place even more horrible than Brighton which I found so tacky and full of hen and stag dos...I picture Blackpool as even worse, but want to go to embrace its tackiness haha...
Aug 17th, 2013, 08:35 AM
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stevelyon - thanks for the 'Best Fish and Chips' awarded place - will hit it next trip to Blackpool!
That Blackpool ain't everyone's cup of tea is fine and understandable but again do not throw the baby out with the bathwater - like Steve says the areas north and south of the yes really tacky center part is really nice and not at all tacky but at least in St Anne's very upscale - indeed the British Open is held there periodically and of course political parties often chose Blackpool for their annual conventions - less now I think than before.
That Blackpool ain't everyone's cup of tea is fine and understandable but again do not throw the baby out with the bathwater - like Steve says the areas north and south of the yes really tacky center part is really nice and not at all tacky but at least in St Anne's very upscale - indeed the British Open is held there periodically and of course political parties often chose Blackpool for their annual conventions - less now I think than before.
Aug 17th, 2013, 09:12 AM
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yceBTuCqBos
great viedo of it all, including a drive through like many Brits do in their vehicles at night!
great viedo of it all, including a drive through like many Brits do in their vehicles at night!
Aug 19th, 2013, 04:17 AM
#14
Born in Manchester, stayed in Blackpool as a kid for holidays, been on many, many days out when DD was young, last saw the lights some 10 years ago. Go to Blackpool on business fairly regularly.
"The immensely popular with Brits " No it isn't.
"zillions of average ordinary Brits there" No there aren't
The town is dirty, full of drug addicts, drunks and benefit tourists and I have watched it deteriorate over the years.
"The immensely popular with Brits " No it isn't.
"zillions of average ordinary Brits there" No there aren't
The town is dirty, full of drug addicts, drunks and benefit tourists and I have watched it deteriorate over the years.
Aug 19th, 2013, 05:24 AM
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I also used to live in the North West in the 1970's/80's and used to visit Blackpool - including the lights - quite often. Back in those days, it was tacky and unashamedly working-class but had a cheerful, family-friendly atmosphere. Rubicund's description of Blackpool today is spot on. There was a recent "fly-on-the-wall" TV documentary shown in the UK which illustrated this very well:- http://www.channel4.com/info/press/p...your-emergency.
As one of the local women police offices put it (though not as politely): the gift shops she knew as a child selling sticks of rock now cater for gangs of drunken stag/hen party-goers and sell cheap booze and lurid sex aids. I just feel sorry for the local residents who have to put up with the vomit, noise and obscenities.
As one of the local women police offices put it (though not as politely): the gift shops she knew as a child selling sticks of rock now cater for gangs of drunken stag/hen party-goers and sell cheap booze and lurid sex aids. I just feel sorry for the local residents who have to put up with the vomit, noise and obscenities.
Aug 19th, 2013, 11:52 AM
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"The immensely popular with Brits " No it isn't.
"zillions of average ordinary Brits there" No there aren't>
so since no ferriners go there who does flock there - I understand many thousands still do the Lights - where are these folks coming from if they are not Brits?
French?
Polish plummers?
Irish who don't know better?
Dazed and confused Americans?
"zillions of average ordinary Brits there" No there aren't>
so since no ferriners go there who does flock there - I understand many thousands still do the Lights - where are these folks coming from if they are not Brits?
French?
Polish plummers?
Irish who don't know better?
Dazed and confused Americans?
