Blackpool is one of Britain's most popular holiday destinations. It is

a town full of roller-coasters, clubs, and even the biggest mirror ball

in the world. Add this to the world-class shows, cosmopolitan

restaurants, vibrant nightlife, an active sports scene and

breathtakingly beautiful scenery on Blackpool's doorstep you begin to

understand why Blackpool is so popular. If you feel you really need to

get away from it all, have a leisurely stroll through the leafy Stanley

Park, Blackpool's award-winning horticultural and wildlife treasure.

Spot the cute, inquisitive, squirrels and take in the showpiece Italian

Gardens or hire a boat and float away lazy summer afternoons beside the

swans on Stanley Park's boating lake.

Places of interest:

A vast range of exciting attractions awaits you in Blackpool. Fill your

days with adrenalin pumping thrills at Pleasure Beach Blackpool, or

while away the hours at the water's edge in the subtropical Sandcastle

Waterworld. Take a trip up to the top of the famous Blackpool Tower, or

visit the menagerie of residents at Blackpool Zoo, come face to face

with sharks at SeaLife Centre or hold audience with the Queen at Louis

Tussaud's Waxworks.

Blackpool Tower contains the UK's best circus, the world famous

Tower Ballroom, children's entertainment plus Jungle Jim's Playground,

Tower Top Ride and Undersea World.

Blackpool Zoo, set amid 32 acres of maturing parkland and lakes, is

home to over 1500 beautiful, rare and exotic animals from all around

the world. With elephants, lions, otters, zebras, sea lions, tigers,

kangaroos, many types of monkeys, plus all your animal favourites. With

play areas, crafts, miniature railway, shops, picnic areas, it's an

excellent value family day out.

The Grundy Art Gallery hosts an annual programme of temporary

exhibitions including traditional, modern and contemporary art and

works from the Gallery's permanent collection.

Sea Life Centre on Blackpool's famous Golden Mile houses one of

Europe's largest marine collections with the 'Lost City of Atlantis'

shark feature as the dramatic centrepiece.

Louis Tussaud's Waxworks has an all-new CelebCity, where you can

mingle with the stars and get closer to the A-list. Once you've walked

the red carpet, you'll be immersed in a world of celebrity, rubbing

shoulders with Hollywood's A List and the tabloid's favourites.

Things to do:

Blackpool is not just about the seaside and the associated funfairs,

rides and sideshows. There is another side, as a base for adventure,

experiences, shopping and outdoor pursuits. It is only an hour away

from the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District and close to the

historic city of Lancaster and the shopping experiences of Manchester

and Liverpool.

The Blackpool Countryside Experience is a series of nature walks

from Stanley Park through the Woodland Gardens, and linking to Marton

Mere Nature Reserve. There is a wide variety of walks of differing

lengths, ranging from a short stroll around Stanley Park, to a more

challenging ramble.

Comed Flight Training based at Blackpool airport gives you the

opportunity to control an aeroplane and see the local area. You can

take your friends with you, control the aeroplane as much or as little

as you like and go where you want.

Blackpool Illuminations - sum up with town with their sheer autumn

magic. Blackpool's most electrifying night is when the Lights are

switched on and the ceremony, a real razzmatazz showcase, has been

performed by all the biggest names. You can enjoy a grandstand seat

aboard a cleverly disguised tram - such as a Wild West Train or Space

Rocket - where you actually become part of the display as you travel

along the Promenade.

Stanley Park is where you will find stone statues star with formal

borders and frothing fountains in the show piece Italian Gardens. There

are pathways galore leading to quiet corners, while bridges carry you

across the lake, home to a variety of hire boats and bobbing birds.

There is a playground for the children and all the family can enjoy the

likes of pitch & putt, tennis.

Food & Drink:

Whether it is a pre-show meal or dinner, or fish and chips, fast food

or traditional seafood that you want it is all in Blackpool to complete

a culinary experience that's second to none. In Blackpool you can enjoy

fine food from around the world with scores of restaurants offering

everything from Caribbean to Mandarin, Indian to Italian. And of

course, Blackpool has more than 30 clubs and fun-pubs alongside

countless welcoming inns ensuring everyone has a great night out.

Autumn Leaves Restaurant serves consistently high quality freshly

prepared food, with a wonderfully varied A La Carte menu. The weekly

changing specials board always boasts an impressive array of fresh fish

and steak specialities. Vegan and vegetarians are well catered for by

an imaginative selection of dishes, all coupled with a friendly

atmosphere

Cafe Ambience is a friendly Mediterranean style restaurant

specialising in Anglo-European cuisine with all meals cooked from fresh

ingredients. Parties are catered for in a professional and comfortable

environment. There is a full restaurant license with a large wine list

and beers on draught

Seniors NW LTD is a cutting edge traditional Fish & Chip Shop

specialising in increasing fish variety, including turbot and Dover

sole, for your enjoyment.

Alabama Showboat is within the Libertys Hotel, this venue featuring

an outrageous host. A full floor show with the Kristie Speed dancers

and some of UK's top vocalists appear there most weeknights.

Jaggy Thistle is a goodtime fun bar with a distinctly Scottish

flavour. Traditionally a home from home for Scottish visitors to

Blackpool, the Jaggy Thistle extends a warm welcome to everyone who

enjoys a friendly drink during the day or a fun packed night out.

Mitre Public House is a traditional town centre public house &

doubles bar. It is probably the smallest town centre pub though it has

a big atmosphere.

Blackpool Hotels & Accommodation:

Blackpool offers a variety of types of accommodation for the discerning

tourist including - from four-star luxury to homely bed and breakfasts,

flats and apartment, caravan and camping - whether you're planning a

relaxing weekend getaway or an action packed family holiday, Blackpool

can offer you the perfect 'short break' or holiday by the sea. The

resort has 120,000 holiday beds, which is more than the whole of

Portugal. With over 16.8 million visitors to Blackpool each year, there

are now 3500 hotels, guest houses and self-catering units in the resort.

The Danescourt Hotel ( PLEASURE BEACH)

The Carlee

Warwick House Hotel

Warwick Hotel

The Wescoe

Norwood Hotel

Lynmar

Albert Hotel

Claremont Hotel

Ooty Bar Restaurant & Hotel

Arandora Star Hotel

Marlow Lodge (Blackpool) Hotel

Shepperton Hotel

Royal Carlton Hotel

Hurstmere Hotel

Viking Hotel

Leverdale Hotel

The New Guilderoy Hotel

The Mallory Hotel

The Brayton

The Norbreck Castle Hotel

Middleton Hotel

Chequers Plaza Hotel

The Merecliff Hotel

Glenshee Hotel & Leisure

Cliffs Hotel

The Dudley Hotel

Vidella Hotel

The Woodley Hotel

Chelston Hotel

Daniel Hotel

Rutland Hotel

The Imperial Hotel

Homecliffe Hotel

Ingledene Hotel

Brooklyn Hotel

Kingsway Hotel

The Wilton hotel

De Vere Herons' Reach

Best Western Carlton Hotel

The Big Blue Hotel - Blackpool Pleasure Beach

The Savoy Hotel

Minotel Lucena

Grand Metropole

Carousel Hotel

Clifton Hotel

Staymor Hotel

The Palms Hotel & Apartments

Courtneys of Gynn Square

Revills Hotel

Sherwood Hotel

The New Hertford Hotel

Feng Shui Hotel

Entertainment:

Blackpool has a wide selection of shows, night clubs and pubs available

providing a broad range of entertainment to suit most tastes. But don't

think the younger generation has all the fun. Remember, the famous

Tower Ballroom has been the perfect partner for more traditional

dancing steps for a century.

The Grand Theatre continued success is based on conserving the

integrity of the irreplaceable Grade II* Listed Victorian theatre, and

welcoming theatregoers by presenting a discerning programme of popular,

thought-provoking and progressive theatre for Blackpool and the North

West.

Blackpool's Winter Gardens gilded exuberance makes it one of the

most amazing buildings in the world. As if being Britain's biggest

theatre was not enough, it is crammed with bits and pieces from dream

palaces of a dozen ages and cultures. The Winter Gardens is partly

Tudor England, partly Strauss's Vienna, partly Seville in its golden

age, partly ancient Rome. This four acre site also houses the Empress

Ballroom and Opera House

Blackpool Pleasure Beach has something for everyone. There are over

145 rides and attractions plus spectacular shows, including the world

renowned Hot Ice at the Arena, the famous Mystique cabaret of magic and

illusion at the Horseshoe, and the internationally acclaimed Eclipse at

the Globe Theatre.

Blackpool is not just a seaside resort; it offers something for all

ages. There is always something going on whether you prefer to do or

watch. A perfect place to stay, as a base for touring the North West of

England or, as a final destination to enjoy all that Blackpool has to

offer.

Biography

Name: Maria Williams

Website: http://www.sleepuk.com

Biography: Maria writes for Sleep UK - providers of hotels in Blackpool.