The most interesting city/town in the UK-in your opinion
May 28th, 2016, 12:40 AM
#43
PalenQ finds it difficult to face the truth about Blackpool, he has this idealised version floating round in his head:
The stag and hen parties don't make it more interesting, they make it more intimidating. Once they've had far too much alcohol, they can be threatening and abusive, dropping litter everywhere from their take out food on top of drink, followed by the inevitable chunder.
Millions of Brits do visit, mainly as a day trip and to drive through the "Lights" and then back home. They don't spend that long in the town, so you have to qualify "visit".
"but the working class of the Midlands." Blackpool is in the North West.
" literally draw zillions - Christmas lights strung up along the whole long promenade". Literally? Zillions? The visitor figures of "millions" include the Illuminations traffic. Again, qualify "visitors".
"A slice of English life"? No it isn't, it's a false version of having a good time. It's dirty, sleazy and for the most part a rip off price wise. It has a big drug problem fed by the hundreds, maybe thousands on benefits that live there. That's why most Brits on this forum detest it. No amount of old pictures of the place will change that.
The stag and hen parties don't make it more interesting, they make it more intimidating. Once they've had far too much alcohol, they can be threatening and abusive, dropping litter everywhere from their take out food on top of drink, followed by the inevitable chunder.
Millions of Brits do visit, mainly as a day trip and to drive through the "Lights" and then back home. They don't spend that long in the town, so you have to qualify "visit".
"but the working class of the Midlands." Blackpool is in the North West.
" literally draw zillions - Christmas lights strung up along the whole long promenade". Literally? Zillions? The visitor figures of "millions" include the Illuminations traffic. Again, qualify "visitors".
"A slice of English life"? No it isn't, it's a false version of having a good time. It's dirty, sleazy and for the most part a rip off price wise. It has a big drug problem fed by the hundreds, maybe thousands on benefits that live there. That's why most Brits on this forum detest it. No amount of old pictures of the place will change that.
May 28th, 2016, 01:06 AM
#44
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Looking at pictures only, Liverpool seems very interesting. How walkable is it?
I much prefer walking to public transport.
How far is the city center from the train station?
Thank you all so much
I much prefer walking to public transport.
How far is the city center from the train station?
Thank you all so much
May 28th, 2016, 07:02 AM
#46
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That's why most Brits on this forum detest it.>
Why do millions go there - can't all be stag and hen affairs and 'interesting city'can mean even such a place that Rubicund describes.
By all criteria Blackpool is one of the most interesting cities in the UK -no one can deny that and that is the point.
Why do millions go there - can't all be stag and hen affairs and 'interesting city'can mean even such a place that Rubicund describes.
By all criteria Blackpool is one of the most interesting cities in the UK -no one can deny that and that is the point.
May 28th, 2016, 08:41 AM
#47
I'm not sure if Oxford is my favorite city, but I always seem to include a short stop there, a night or 2, on my way to other places. Regarding street food, little did I know, but emerging from an evensong service at Christ Church Cathedral 2 Sundays ago, while I was inside food trucks had arrived with some interesting possibilities and numbers of customers waiting.
May 28th, 2016, 09:04 AM
#48
It seems that Blackpool is trying to improve its image, but the visitor numbers are still nowhere near what they were in 70s and 80s.
"Interesting" is itself an interesting word, consider the Chinese curse. Blackpool is certainly not any kind of "interesting" I intend to investigate, although I will be nearby this year (Conwy and Chester).
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-11061823
"Interesting" is itself an interesting word, consider the Chinese curse. Blackpool is certainly not any kind of "interesting" I intend to investigate, although I will be nearby this year (Conwy and Chester).
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-11061823
May 28th, 2016, 10:01 AM
#50
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Blackpool numbers must have been even greater in 50s and 60s. The street food,there, will consist of cheap hotdogs, candyfloss, and burgers ....regardless I love the place .... but not to everyone's liking.
Not sure where else I would direct you to given that you have done York, yet another favourite place of mine. Plymouth?! Great seafood restaurants and other mixed cuisine. Street food no.
A great promenade which oozes atmosphere in summerand lots of history.
Not sure where else I would direct you to given that you have done York, yet another favourite place of mine. Plymouth?! Great seafood restaurants and other mixed cuisine. Street food no.
A great promenade which oozes atmosphere in summerand lots of history.
May 28th, 2016, 10:09 AM
#51
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I think some Brits may want to re-visit today's Blackpool which is about up to the old visitors levels thursdaysd cites and how an overwhelming number of them report being very satisfied with their Blackpool sojourn - there must be something besides stag and hen affairs going on - there is a lot of new stuff bringing in a newer crowd.
From the Blackpool Visitors Association or whatever they call themselves:
<Blackpool has enjoyed one of its best tourism seasons for many years, a visitor research study has confirmed.
After a huge upsurge in visitor numbers and overnight stays during the peak summer season, the latest independent Omnibus research shows that the resort saw further growth in September and October with over 1m adult visits in each of the two months.
It means that, for 2014 as a whole, Blackpool experienced an increase of more than 300,000 adult visits – from 9.8m in 2013 to 10.1m in 2014.
The latest research covering the September to December period confirms the enduring appeal of the Illuminations – with over half of the 3.5m adult visits directly associated with the annual Lights show.
Visitor satisfaction levels in the autumn period rose to a record level of 95% compared to 88% in the same period in 2013.
Cllr Graham Cain, cabinet member for tourism and leisure said: “The latest research confirms that this has been one of the best tourism seasons for many a year.
“Much of that is due to the investment we have made in a high-quality events programme, the summer-long run of Mamma Mia!, the Illuminations and, of course, the Blackpool’s Back destination marketing campaign which has showcased the resort to thousands of new visitors.
“To show overall growth of a third of a million visits across the year as well as a big increase in staying visitors during the peak summer season is hugely encouraging and a major endorsement of the investment we have made in the visitor economy.”
Earlier this month, it was confirmed that Blackpool Council and Merlin Entertainments would be co-funding a repeat of the Blackpool’s Back TV advertising campaign with an overall investment of around £700k. The 2015 Illuminations season will also benefit from a £2.4m investment following a successful bid to the Coastal Communities Fund.>
I think the numbers speak for themselves.
From the Blackpool Visitors Association or whatever they call themselves:
<Blackpool has enjoyed one of its best tourism seasons for many years, a visitor research study has confirmed.
After a huge upsurge in visitor numbers and overnight stays during the peak summer season, the latest independent Omnibus research shows that the resort saw further growth in September and October with over 1m adult visits in each of the two months.
It means that, for 2014 as a whole, Blackpool experienced an increase of more than 300,000 adult visits – from 9.8m in 2013 to 10.1m in 2014.
The latest research covering the September to December period confirms the enduring appeal of the Illuminations – with over half of the 3.5m adult visits directly associated with the annual Lights show.
Visitor satisfaction levels in the autumn period rose to a record level of 95% compared to 88% in the same period in 2013.
Cllr Graham Cain, cabinet member for tourism and leisure said: “The latest research confirms that this has been one of the best tourism seasons for many a year.
“Much of that is due to the investment we have made in a high-quality events programme, the summer-long run of Mamma Mia!, the Illuminations and, of course, the Blackpool’s Back destination marketing campaign which has showcased the resort to thousands of new visitors.
“To show overall growth of a third of a million visits across the year as well as a big increase in staying visitors during the peak summer season is hugely encouraging and a major endorsement of the investment we have made in the visitor economy.”
Earlier this month, it was confirmed that Blackpool Council and Merlin Entertainments would be co-funding a repeat of the Blackpool’s Back TV advertising campaign with an overall investment of around £700k. The 2015 Illuminations season will also benefit from a £2.4m investment following a successful bid to the Coastal Communities Fund.>
I think the numbers speak for themselves.
May 28th, 2016, 11:27 AM
#52
Back in the day Blackpool got 20m visitors a year. And the population was smaller then, so it was a bigger percentage. And a lot of today's visitors are just there for the illuminations.
In any case, just because a lot people like s place doesn't make it "interesting". An awful lot of people like Cancun, but I have no intention of visiting it, either.
In any case, just because a lot people like s place doesn't make it "interesting". An awful lot of people like Cancun, but I have no intention of visiting it, either.
May 29th, 2016, 02:54 AM
#54
"Going to Blackpool is like going to Coney Island." But with more vomit!
PalenQ always pushes Blackpool on here and his annual Illuminations reminder will appear in July, but he hasn't been there for more than 20 years. I was there in the last month, I have no rose tinted glasses.
PalenQ always pushes Blackpool on here and his annual Illuminations reminder will appear in July, but he hasn't been there for more than 20 years. I was there in the last month, I have no rose tinted glasses.
May 29th, 2016, 12:07 PM
#56
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Going to Blackpool is like going to Coney Island.>
Coney Island at its heyday in the 1950s.
again 13-14 million visitors a year and climbing - even Rubicund went there - he glasses give a jaded vision - often spouted by upper crust Brits - there was an episode of Coronation Street where one bloke surprised his wife with a holiday in Blackpool - some locals raised their eyes - others thought it was fun to do.
Not sure why Rubicund continually casts Blackpool as some hell hole - again the ever climbing number of visitors says that that just isn't the case for them - maybe for Rubicund and ilk.
My favorite thing to say to B&B ladies (owners) when they ask the inevitable question "where you off to now" - I always say "Blackpool" even if not true just to see the reaction - "oh" with a puzzled look on their face of why would a tourist waste time there - where we all enjoy different things - Rubicund just can't get his/her head around that and never says a good word about the place that millions of his countrymen flock to - especially during the fabulous Illuminations - Sep 2 thru Nov 6 I believe this year.
Coney Island at its heyday in the 1950s.
again 13-14 million visitors a year and climbing - even Rubicund went there - he glasses give a jaded vision - often spouted by upper crust Brits - there was an episode of Coronation Street where one bloke surprised his wife with a holiday in Blackpool - some locals raised their eyes - others thought it was fun to do.
Not sure why Rubicund continually casts Blackpool as some hell hole - again the ever climbing number of visitors says that that just isn't the case for them - maybe for Rubicund and ilk.
My favorite thing to say to B&B ladies (owners) when they ask the inevitable question "where you off to now" - I always say "Blackpool" even if not true just to see the reaction - "oh" with a puzzled look on their face of why would a tourist waste time there - where we all enjoy different things - Rubicund just can't get his/her head around that and never says a good word about the place that millions of his countrymen flock to - especially during the fabulous Illuminations - Sep 2 thru Nov 6 I believe this year.
May 29th, 2016, 12:18 PM
#57
Anyone who would put Blackpool in the same class as Edinburgh, the OP's so far favorite city, needs his head examined. Do please go to Blackpool, PQ, check into a B&B with no wifi, and stay there. You are providing no information of any use to the OP.
"Why would a tourist waste time there" - exactly.
"Why would a tourist waste time there" - exactly.
May 29th, 2016, 12:57 PM
#59
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thursdaysd should look up the meaning of "interesting" and then suspend judgment of what some find interesting - and yes it's the kitsch factor for sure.
But yes end of discussion - points have been made. Let the OP decide.
But yes end of discussion - points have been made. Let the OP decide.
