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[RonaldMcBurger]

Went to Blackpool yesterday afternoon with a view to staying there a couple of nights with my 13 year old son.

Got there at 2.30. We were back home at 9pm!!!!

Now, if any of you guys live in Blackpool, I apologise in advance. But heck, what happened?

I have never been there before so was under the misconception that it was the life and soul of british holidayville. Having a 13 yo, we headed straight for the pleasure beach with all its magnificent rides. Nearly bought the £29 day ticket online, but decided to have a look first. Glad we did. Pepsi BIG ONE, er closed as were several of the other big rides. In fact, all that was open was the Avalanche and the Iron Bru thing and a few side stalls where you could get 3 goldfish with 3 darts or something, yeah yeah.

So, as the only exciting ride was Avalanche, my lad decided he wanted to go on. 3 tickets. Tickets cost £1 each, making £3. WRONG! 3 tickets @£1 each = £5 in this dump. Minimum spend! What exactly do I do with these two tickets now then? Nothing else open took 2 tickets. Not re-saleable (printed on the back). They will be sent with a suitable letter to the management.

Anyway, enough there. lets see the other parts of holiday heaven.

Blackpool tower! Yay..... er....boooooo. Closed. The piers? Well, open but talk about run down! Cheap tacky stalls selling nasty plastic crap. Slot machines, last seasons video games, and those f***ing machines that grab fluffy toys to get you excited then drop them again. Does anyone ever win?

McDonalds? That was good. But the one in Nottingham is also good. Trams? Not a chance mate. Has nobody realised that the cabin is too small for the stand-up-only drivers who all have a hunch? Donkeys? Er nope. We did consider the horse and carriage along the prom, but this horse gave me a look that said 'you think you back hurts now matey?'.

Never mind, I said. we'll book into the hotel and see what we can do tomorrow. Can we go home was the reply. Good, I thought. My sentiments exactly.

OK, so there were the shows. We did look. There was one with a load of 'STARS' I have never heard of. Another with a lot of rejects from last years X-Factor - alas not the funny entertaining mad ones, just the spoilt brat wannabees who thought they were 'it'. Then the highlight would have been Joe bloody Longthorne impersonating, wait for it....... Shirley Bassey! Well that's new Joe. Only 25 years doing the same act huh?

So, lets sum up this outing. Shabby, second rate, mostly closed and out of date cack.

Home 1, Blackpool Nil!

[nixoro]

Sorry gotta laugh   , I'm sure its alright when its busy.

[TheBoy]

My one and only trip to Blackpool was a similar experience, but I gave it the benefit of doubt as it was February...

[Martin_1962]

Blackpool is good for trams and sports cars, for seaside you need to go to the south west, Devon or preferably Cornwall, however there are some nice places in Wales as well.

[Elite Pete]

Ive not been to Blackpool for a very long time but I think its only stag and hen partys that go there now.

[Martin_1962]

I have been there and I hate the place, my wife used to go there as a child, until her mum said to go somewhere else.

Full of trannies now (not the van)

[Del Boy]

I've been to blackpool and rmcb i totally agree with you

[TheBoy]

For tacky seaside towns, Yarmouth has that horrid, tacky, overdone, British seaside town...

[RonaldMcBurger]

I can feel a POLL coming on....

Personally, I think the WORST seaside tourist type place in Britain has to be HUNSTANTON in norfolk. I would rather spend a month picking a fight with Mike Tyson than spend 5 minutes in that place ever again. We went there once. It was literally closed!

[Big Rod]

A couple of years ago I had to do some work in Blackpool for about four weeks so I stayed in a hotel during the week and commuted on Mondays and Fridays.

I thought it would be great! Don't get me wrong, I know it's a sh*thole, but at least I went kind'a knowing what to expect and at least I'd get a few rides at the pleasure beach, (and go on a couple of roller coasters too!! Baroom-boom!!).

Anyway, I got there and it was shut!  

Absolutely f*ck all to do but sit in the bar of my sea front hotel and gaze out at the pi55ing rain!!!

Very disappointing to say the least!!

And don't get me started about Gt Yarmouth. I'd love to find out who decided to call it 'Great'! It's anything but!!!

[TheBoy]

I specifically left the Great off Yarmouth

I have fond memories of Hunstanton due to going there regularly as a kid.  Disappointed last time I went - nothing had changed since the 70s (and it seemed old and run down then!).

Weston-Shitty-Mere is another I don't like.

Just got back from Bournemouth (my nearest seaside) a fortnight ago. They are doing their best to ruin an already so-so place. Though I have a soft spot from Swanage, though no idea why...

Moving around to Cornwall, Newquay. What an awful place. Everything thats bad about Britsih seaside towns.

Went to Bognor for the first time ever a couple of years back for my birthday (July). It was shut. Couldn't even get fish and chips.

Gonna try Skeggy one day...

[Bo Bo]

Went to Blackpool a few times in my early 20's & enjoyed it. Went again about 5 yrs ago & have to agree with what eveyone says....won't be going again.

[nixoro]

Skegnes when I last went didn't seem too bad the last time I went, job somewhere there granted didn't see much of the town it had alot of caravans though  

[Salty]

blackpool is only up the road from me and I don't like it either, it's full of grumpy tourists with nothing to do

[TheBoy]

blackpool is only up the road from me and I don't like it either, it's full of grumpy tourists with nothing to do

[RonaldMcBurger]

I like that! Made me smile!!!

Skeggy is actually not too bad. Was there last week. Good town centre, Fantasy island is OK and the beach is nice. Fish & chips is pretty good there.

Still doesn't compare with my loveley Durban in sunny south Africa though! Then again, you don't get murdered by the south African police in skeggy. And, before anyone says anything I have a VERY good reason for making that comment and can back it up.!

Yep, skeggy goes to the top of the possible list.

[tunnie]

everyone i have known who's gone there has said the same thing, its a dump.

Nevermind in a few years there might be a 'Super' Casino there, that change the atmostphere there. NoT!

[Auto Addict]

If you think Blackpool is bad, try Weston-super-Mare. Ugh!

[Martin_1962]

I specifically left the Great off Yarmouth

I have fond memories of Hunstanton due to going there regularly as a kid.  Disappointed last time I went - nothing had changed since the 70s (and it seemed old and run down then!).

Weston-Shitty-Mere is another I don't like.

Just got back from Bournemouth (my nearest seaside) a fortnight ago. They are doing their best to ruin an already so-so place. Though I have a soft spot from Swanage, though no idea why...

Moving around to Cornwall, Newquay. What an awful place. Everything thats bad about Britsih seaside towns.

Went to Bognor for the first time ever a couple of years back for my birthday (July). It was shut. Couldn't even get fish and chips.

Gonna try Skeggy one day...

Weston Super Mud - a dump, not far from Brean - another dump - but a huge beach

Newquay is OK, some good beaches not far away but is overrun by young drunks in the evenings. For young people and wrinklies

Bournmouth - rode through it once
Weymouth - harbour is interesting town is unexciting, read about people parking cars on the railway through the harbour being moved before being pushed by a train.

Haven't done any south cost from there to Dawlish - a beach not much else but looks OK for a dig in the sand.

Torbay. Gets intersting Torquay getting wild in evenings, Paignton is OK, last visit got dog mess on a childs coat. Goodrington sands and below are fine.

From there to Plymouth a few places but quiet.

Looe is next, nice little town, not sure if I would last more than a day before getting bored.

A few nice seaside towns and villages until St Austell where they are trying to build a huge housing develoment on the beach.

Some lovely beaches and nice villages on the bit which sticks down with St Mawes & Mevagissey on it.

Lizzard peninsular has some good places. Falmouth is the big town but is nice, quite a few quiet sandy beaches good for playing on, basically hunt the internet for good ones, by the time we get to Polperrow we are then into a holiday area until Penzance, long sandy beaches and holiday villages, statics, chalets, camping, and touring parks.

Not much on Lands End - Mousehole stands out, until St Ives, good beaches, nice town, spoilt by Seagulls and cars in the town.

Now it is holiday land, lots of sandy beaches and surfing, small villages with coves ect until the big "Seaside Rescue"  beach at Perranporth, then Newquay.

Padstow is a pleasant town

Don't know too much anout the coast until Westward Ho! Except that Bude is golf land, ask me this time next year as we will be doing Bude, Boscastle, Tintagel ect.

Westward Ho! is dumpy, big beach & holiday accomodation.

Woolacombe is a nice town with a huge beach - recomended.
Visit Ilfracombe from there

Barnstable is home to a Butlins prison camp.

Some nice beaches to the east, then not much until me reach Brean again.

I will do some of Wales in a later post.

[Martin_1962]

South Wales.

Well first of note is Barry area - my only visit was spent examining a scrapyard.

Porthcawl is South Wales answer to Brean - look on multimap or google earth over 1000 statics!!!!

Port Talbot was the inspiration for Blade Runner

Haven't done the Gower - but supposed to be good

Pendine - fly kites! Nice beach a cafe, a museum with cars in it, good for people with mobile accomodation

Small seaside villages to Saundersfoot - this is a good beach with Harbour and a nice little town.

Tenby - great Monday to Friday before being ruined by the Stag parties, 4 beaches and lots to do.

SOme lovely beaches heading west (whos names I have forgotten)

Newgale Sands - huge nice beach - not many fascilities

Not much from there to Teifi estuary - huge sands here - I will post some pictures later

Mwnt nice beach loads of steps expensive parking

Aberporth - pleasant little village with beach
Tresaith good pub good beach
Llangrannog good pub not quite as good beach
New Quay OK beach lots of Dolphins nice little town good chip shops
Aberaeron nice harbour stoney beach
Aberystwyth - town OK, has a pier - OK for a base, traditional seaside place, like a quiet version of Weston Super Mud.
Borth - holiday land - good beaches with lots of statics ect
Aberdovey to Fairbourne - can't remember much but nice sand at the north end and lovely views on the Talilyn (sp) railway
Barmouth - town with beach - overrun
Until Anglesey not much experience beyond a look around Porthmadoc and Portmerion.

[Martin_1962]

I am not naming too many Cornish beaches as I don't want them overrun

[Markie]

  @ Ronnie

you think blackpool was bad ? wanna try somewhere up here like, adrossan or Portobello~?

[RossPhim]

Jeeez, Martin.
Thats a hell of a list!

[TheBoy]

I guess it depends on what you want from a holiday, and if its just a long weekend, or longer.  For long sandy beaches, Bournemouth, Perranporth are the places. For nightlife, Ibiza. Seriously, Yarmouth, Brighton, probably Blackpool. Sightseeing - Wales, South you have castles etc to visit, up North you have Snowdonian National Park. Weymouth/Portland OK for a day, Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door etc down the road.  North Norfolk coast does have some quite areas - Wells etc.

Usually in UK, if I go for a week, I am bored by end of holiday. Exceptions were North Wales, that Butlins place beginning with P. Developed a fascination of power stations, both hydro and nuclear, here. Slate mines, Snowdonia. A week in Bournemouth is OK, as a good base for that area of coast and the New Forest.

Cornwall, whilst I enjoy immensely (down there again this weekend in a tent), I can only tolerate for a few days - lots of small villages/harbours/coves etc, but all a bit 'samey', and have already recently done Eden etc...

[bob.dent]

Ive not been to Blackpool for a very long time but I think its only stag and hen partys that go there now.

Correct - the last 2 times I've been to Blackpool were both Stag weekends, and most of what we saw in the evenings were groups of Hen and Stag parties. Gotta say we had a good time on both occassions but then what bloke wouldn't when you're away for a weekend on the p*ss with your mates. [smiley=beer.gif]
However,  I'm not so sure I'd go there for a proper holiday though - far to tacky and the weathers usually cr*p:-/

[RonaldMcBurger]

@ Ronnie

you think blackpool was bad ? wanna try somewhere up here like, adrossan or Portobello~?

Mark, you forget I used to live in Largs! I know just HOW bad it can be!!!

[Bo Bo]

I guess it depends on what you want from a holiday, and if its just a long weekend, or longer.  For long sandy beaches, Bournemouth, Perranporth are the places. For nightlife, Ibiza. Seriously, Yarmouth, Brighton, probably Blackpool. Sightseeing - Wales, South you have castles etc to visit, up North you have Snowdonian National Park. Weymouth/Portland OK for a day, Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door etc down the road.  North Norfolk coast does have some quite areas - Wells etc.

Usually in UK, if I go for a week, I am bored by end of holiday. Exceptions were North Wales, that Butlins place beginning with P. Developed a fascination of power stations, both hydro and nuclear, here. Slate mines, Snowdonia. A week in Bournemouth is OK, as a good base for that area of coast and the New Forest.

Cornwall, whilst I enjoy immensely (down there again this weekend in a tent), I can only tolerate for a few days - lots of small villages/harbours/coves etc, but all a bit 'samey', and have already recently done Eden etc...

Have to agree, I like North Wales, love Snowdonia & Port Merrion, not sure about power stations though!
I was best man at my mates wedding a couple of years ago in Plymouth (mostly in the Ho) & didn't really like it. Went back last year & explored the town a bit more & had a great time!

[Goonlord]

I agree with Salty....................Full of Mithering sods from the midlands and the south not to mention the sweaty socks who will take the place over next month

Which ever way you look at it Blackpool is one of the most visited resorts in this Land OK maybe a lot of the pleasure beach was closed but its MONDAY may be is the day they do the routine maintenence and the Big One is dependant on the weather to windy it does'nt work no matter what day it is
 The Trams OK they are old but they are still doing the job they were designed to do and plenty of people enjoy the ride
 Ok it may be dirty and they sell tacky goods but then again so does any Sunday Market

If you really want boring try Morecambe !!!!!!!!!

[TheBoy]

not sure about power stations though!

Odd, I know. Must be my natural interests in engineering/science...

[Varche]

Ha. We too went to Blackpool for "the weekend" a few years ago. Found it a thoroughly depressing place apart from the Pleasure Beach. We went on every ride going including the Big Max which was superb. We had fish and chips at Harry Ramsdens, saw the lights and then we went home. In bed by 2 p.m.

I am not surprised that no one has mentioned Scarborough. I spent the first 18 years of my life freezing to death there!.

No wonder people go abroad.

[Martin_1962]

We manage a 2 week holiday in Cornwall

Lots of beach visits

Then we tour around

Quite a few things to do like Goonhilly Earth Station, Culdrose Naval Air Station, Flambards - all near where we stay.

I'm not interested in night life, but I love waterside pubs

[RossPhim]

I agree with Salty....................Full of Mithering sods from the midlands and the south not to mention the sweaty socks who will take the place over next month

Hey I resemble that comment, I think.

[Big Rod]

Mark, you forget I used to live in Largs! I know just HOW bad it can be!!!

Ah Fin, but if you get it on the right day you need to remember how NICE it can be too! (With the possible exception of Hunterston and the ICI factory, oh and Spango Valley if that's what it's called!!)

[Timbuk]

I take it the omegaowners.com annual blackpool trip is off then

[Andy B]

.....
Not much on Lands End - ........

"Not much" is probably more than is going on and the end of Britain. There's a lot of wind at John O Groats!  :-?

[Taxi_Driver]

I'm not interested in night life, but I love waterside pubs

I'm not that fussy....any pub will do  

I like to goto the Dorset coast.....in fact off there in a couple of weeks  

I like to go walking quite a bit(nice coastline for that)...change from driving!, altho do drive to places to walkabout.
Then evening is meal out and several beers  

I followed a roadsign last year that said BEER......if  you see this sign dont bother following it hoping for free beer.......turns out it was the name of a coastal village with a couple of pubs  

[Martin_1962]

I'm not interested in night life, but I love waterside pubs

I'm not that fussy....any pub will do  

I like to goto the Dorset coast.....in fact off there in a couple of weeks  

I like to go walking quite a bit(nice coastline for that)...change from driving!, altho do drive to places to walkabout.
Then evening is meal out and several beers  

I followed a roadsign last year that said BEER......if  you see this sign dont bother following it hoping for free beer.......turns out it was the name of a coastal village with a couple of pubs  

We have to do Dorset some time.

The pubs I have liked this year are

Ferry Boat, Helford Passage, Cornwall, http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/cornwall/photo286.html
Pandora Inn, Restronguet, Cornwall, http://www.pandorainn.com/
The Ship, Tresaith, Wales, http://www.shiptresaith.co.uk/

[Martin_1962]

.....
Not much on Lands End - ........

"Not much" is probably more than is going on and the end of Britain. There's a lot of wind at John O Groats!  :-?

I meant the peninsula, but Lands End will pass a couple of hours - it has a pub too!

[Andy B]

.....
Not much on Lands End - ........

"Not much" is probably more than is going on and the end of Britain. There's a lot of wind at John O Groats!  :-?

I meant the peninsula, but Lands End will pass a couple of hours - it has a pub too!

So's JOG's .... it's closed down though!   It has a cafe!