Blackpool is a seaside resort town located in the county of Lancashire, in the North West region of England. This lively coastal town is well-known for its flamboyancy and charisma which come from the bright illuminations, vibrant nightlife, and exciting attractions. The town is very popular with tourists as they can make their way around many fun-filled and action-packed adventures, as well as witness some of the culture and history that lies within. Blackpool has had rapid growth since the 1800s when it developed from a hamlet into a favoured seaside hotspot, due to a British Scientific writer named William Hutton, who popularised the health-giving benefits of seawater. With popularity came extensive amusement, which brought more residents and visitors into the town where it has continued to remain a thriving destination today.
Plenty of entertainment is provided across this buzzing seaside town, where an array of fun attractions are on offer. Residents and tourists can visit the wonderful places of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Tower, Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool Zoo, Central Pier, and Stanley Park, which all provide a great deal of thrilling activities and impressive sights. With the Houndshill Shopping Centre, The Regent, Abingdon Street Market, and Bonny Street Market, shopaholics can explore items from clothes and perfume to homeware and fishing accessories.
Blackpool has been named as the most unsafe town in Lancashire, with a 65% higher crime rate than the North West and 48% higher crime rate than the England, Wales & Northern Ireland overall figure.
With the large amount of 24-hour car parks found across Blackpool, residents and tourists have plenty of opportunities to pay to leave their car parked at hourly fee whilst they head out and explore what the town has to offer. Some of the local options are Queen Street Car Park, Central Car Park, Bonny Street Car Park and Lonsdale Road Car Park, which are all within 10 minutes of the town centre. Paid private parking is also available around Blackpool, with residents having the option to book hourly, daily or monthly spaces via JustPark, Parkopedia, or Yourparkingspace.
A varied selection of nightlife is available within Blackpool, where party-goers can head to restaurants, bars, and clubs. Some of the popular venues include Flamingo, Peek A Booze, Revolution, and Ma Kelly's. Residents can also head to the areas of Blackburn, Manchester, or Liverpool if they fancy a change of scenery.
With a blend of terraced, semi-detached, and detached properties, families are more than likely to find a very reasonable home around Blackpool. Although accommodation may be easily found, there are only 5 schools in the town which have an ‘Outstanding’ rating from Ofsted. This doesn't take away from the fact there are a good number of schools located in the area, with some good options being Layton Primary School, Highfurlong School, and Blackpool St Nicholas CofE Primary School. Higher education is also available at Blackpool and The Fylde College, or further out of the town at Blackburn College, the University of Central Lancashire, and The University of Manchester.
The residents of Blackpool have a number of nearby parks to visit, whether they have a furry friend or are just looking to explore. Some of the best green spaces are found at the idyllic Stanley Park, Kingscote Park, Louie Horrocks Park and Boundary Park, which are all within around 20 minutes of the town centre.
Blackpool North Train Station is the main station that serves Blackpool, where residents can mainly use the Northern service. Good connections are provided in this station, with destinations such as Manchester Picadilly- 1hr 16m, Liverpool Lime Street- 2hrs, Leeds- 2hrs 7m, and London Euston- 3hrs 30m. The nearest airport to Blackpool is Liverpool (LPL) Airport, which residents can in 1hr 13m by car via the M6. Buses also serve the area for local travel.