'That was a really weird time in each and every person's life. I felt for a while I got stuck in a foreign land. But I did what I could do best “ made Blackpool my home. And it accepted me. People, especially.
Charlie Cairoli, the best known clown of his times, reflected his settling in Blackpool, inadvertent, unfortunate but fateful, in these words. He had to settle quite unexpectedly in Blackpool as the WWII broke out, but ended up loving the city far too much that he had to settle there for his life.
Blackpool can have that effect on people. On the face of it, it is just another ocean city in the UK “ a mid-sized city dotted with picturesque beaches, summer huts and cottages, resorts, restaurants, local markets, farmers' unions and a lone lighthouse to guard the waters.
But dig a little deeper and you would know the true spirit of Blackpool lies in exploration, adventure and discovery. It is a city that has revelled in making the most of presented opportunities. It grabbed the very first chance that came its way to rise from being a cesspool city (quite literally “ a black pool) to a hotspot, high flying tourist destination in the country. Much of its credit should rightfully go to Blackpool residents who have tirelessly worked in hospitality industry to make it happen.
Talking of hospitality industry, hotels in Blackpool deserve a headliner mention, because the city boasts of many “ perhaps, far too many for its size.
If you are planning on visiting Blackpool in near future, this quick write-up will help you get an idea about what it is like to tour and lodge in Blackpool.
Affordable Hotels in Blackpool
Being a resort city, and a city that mainly thrives on tourism “ especially during summer months, Blackpool has a good concentration of hotel establishments that have spread throughout the city, particularly nearby the beach areas that see the most of the footfall that tourists bring about.
Finding cheap hotels may not as difficult an idea as most tourists initially think it to be. Not too far away from Blackpool are two major cities of the north “ Liverpool and Manchester. So, finding cheap hotels here in Blackpool becomes a forgone necessity, as you can always put your base in one of these cities where you have access to better and more hotel rooms.
Cherry Tree House is the first hotel you should be keeping an eye on in this category. Noted by many guests to be a great value for money paid, Cherry Tree House is definitely in the league of reputable luxury hotel establishments, only much cheaper.
Premier Inn Blackpool is the next option that tourists can think of exploring. It's located centrally in downtown Blackpool and offers greater accessibility to buses, trains and local transport.
The Beechfield Hotel and Mardi Gras Guest House are also options worth giving a go, if you want to save big on your hotel expenses.
Lavish Stay in Blackpool
Despite being a city that has taken tourism to its very heart, Blackpool seems to lack on luxury hotel and resort units.
The fact that the number of tourists thronging the streets of Blackpool every summer regularly crosses 1 million mark should, in other cases, have been enough to expect at least two dozen luxury resorts in the area.
Among the present ones, Hilton Blackpool is perhaps the best equipped in terms of style, substance and an overall level of luxury accorded to its patrons.
The Imperial Hotel in Blackpool is a Victorian building that has hosted an illustrious list of guests that features names like Charles Dickens, T.S. Eliot, Lord Mountbatten, Winston Churchill and Edith Wharton.
Other worthy names include Blackpool FC Hotel and Kings Hotel “ both historic properties turned into resorts.
What to See When in Blackpool?
Once you have chose one among many Blackpool hotels, your next concern should be to decide the places that you wish to devote your time to.
Blackpool has been a beach city for a long time, over almost two centuries. It used to be a popular local gateaway for umpteen thousands of mill workers residing in the north of England during the phases of industrial revolution. That label has stuck, and rather to the advantage of the city.
Hence, the first and the foremost thing to see in Blackpool would be to its collection of majestic and clean beaches that shore the Irish Sea.
Blackpool Zoo should be the next entrant in your list of things to do in Blackpool. It is a beautifully maintained zoo that offers the most unlikeliest of animal species for your observation “ from the great lions of African plains to vicious serpents from Java Island.
Central Pier is a fun place to chill out at, with its many food joints and fun rides, including a large ferris wheel. Sandwater Castle Water Park is also a great gateway, located just outside the city limits, featuring over 40 different rides.
Blackpool Tower, an imposing structure that is an identity of Blackpool city, is definitely worth clicking pictures in front of, as well!
Hotels Near Blackpool Airport
Blackpool Int. Airport is a fairly busy airport handling much of its traffic from various cities in the UK, and direct flights to major European cities. It, however, does not host trans-continental flights.
It is located at a distance of 5 km, just outside borough boundaries. Hence, from a convenience point of view, finding good hotels in Blackpool is a better idea, than finding ones near the airport!
Local Transport in Blackpool
Blackpool is not really a sprawling city that is imposingly stretched in boundaries. That's why, getting around locally in Blackpool is not really a difficult task.
A good deal of local buses ably supported by local trams means that you can easily hop around sights around Blackpool. Also, many Blackpool hotels do provide private car rentals, with overhead charges being incurred to you over and top of regular hotel tariff!