When it comes to seaside destinations, Blackpool certainly holds the title of one of the country's most popular destinations. It has everything you could want from a seaside resort: piers (three to be exact), a world famous tower, huge beaches, arcades... the list goes on.
A train ticket to Blackpool from Manchester can cost around £14 for a single adult, which quickly adds up if there are a few of you traveling for a day out. But there is a cheaper way to visit Blackpool that takes just as much time.
National Express offers coach tickets from Manchester to Blackpool from just £4 one way. With an average journey time of one hour and twenty minutes, it's no longer than the train (depending on traffic) and drops you off just minutes away from the tower itself.
READ MORE: We went glamping in North Wales and it felt more like a luxury hotelA basic limited fare is the cheapest at £4, although this means you cannot make any changes to your ticket. For an extra pound you can buy a 'standard' ticket which offers some flexibility (for example you can make changes to your booking) and if you pay £10 you can secure a fully flexible ticket (with the option of a full refund up to 24 hours before your trip).
The downside is that there is a £1.50 booking fee, but this still means a total fare of £5.50, cheaper than the train. Another downside to the bus is that there are fewer services during the day, so you have to be a bit more open to when you're going to travel - which is how I ended up on the 7.40am National Express service to Blackpool. sunny weekday morning.
My journey started at Manchester Coach Station on Chorlton Street, which was pleasantly clean and quiet; it felt quite quiet compared to the hustle and bustle of Piccadilly Station (although I imagine it would be rammed on weekends).
I stepped off the Blackpool bus with my fellow passengers and we all settled in for the 80 minute drive to the coast. I admit that I'm more used to traveling by train than traveling by bus, but I was quite impressed with what the bus had to offer.
The leather seats were comfortable with practical footrests (why oh why don't we have these on trains?) and I particularly liked a small TV screen above the windscreen, which showed live footage of the front of the bus as it made its way make their way through the city streets. It's not exactly entertainment on board, but it was fun to watch at times.
One benefit of traveling so early was how quiet the bus was. There were three of us on board, so we practically had the place to ourselves. Combine this with the fact that the bus doesn't stop anywhere along the way and you have a rather relaxing experience.
We soon left the urban sprawl of Greater Manchester and zoomed along the M61. One thing that bothered me the entire trip was the height of the windows - which started around my shoulder - which prevented me from comfortably staring out and looking at the scenery. Oh well, you can't have everything.
It wasn't long before the fields gave way to buildings. We had arrived on the outskirts of Blackpool and I started to catch glimpses of Blackpool's iconic tower in the distance. We arrived 15 minutes late due to traffic, but the bus dropped us off at the Central Coach station, right behind the Coral Island Arcade, in the heart of the action.
It was only 9.15am and with the day ahead of me I decided to check out some of Blackpool's 'hidden gems'. This is what I discovered.
Have breakfast in one of Blackpool's top-rated cafes
After my early start I was famished and a hearty breakfast was exactly what I wanted. Feeling like a full English, I went to Compass Café in Birley Street, just behind the front.
The chip shop has earned it an average Google rating of 4.8 out of five stars, with customers raving about the breakfast menu. The cafe is famous for serving breakfast in a frying pan, although I opted for the more modest classic breakfast instead.
The service was incredibly fast and you can easily swap out anything you don't like - I had a hash brown instead of beans. Breakfast was tasty and satisfying, although it is more of a traditional breakfast spot than a fancy brunch spot, so keep that in mind. But it did its job and I felt full and charged for my adventures.
Visit an old cinema converted into an Aladdin's cave of antiques
Blackpool has its fair share of gems beyond the beach. One of these is Regent Cinema, located on the corner of Regent Road and Church Street, just a short walk from the beach. It's an old cinema from the 1920s that has been transformed into an antique shop with an absolute treasure trove of treats.
Inside is a warren of stalls selling vintage clothing, pop culture memorabilia, furniture, books, glassware and more. There are three floors to explore, with a small tea room on the first floor, while the attic space is full of second-hand items.
The best part is that it is still a working cinema, with a huge screen on the wall above the stalls and the original seats still in place in the 'dress circle', which overlooks the antique stalls below. Films are shown on select Friday evenings, providing a unique cinematic experience. Although there were no displays during my visit it was still fun browsing through all the second hand stuff, you could easily spend hours picking up a bargain.
Walk around one of Britain's most popular parks
Blackpool may be famous for its beaches, promenade and tower, but it's also home to one of Britain's best parks. In 2019, Stanley Park was voted Britain's best park, while in 2022 it was voted England's favorite park.
Stanley Park covers an area of 390 hectares and features beautiful Italian gardens, a boating lake and a beautiful Art Deco café. While it may seem counterintuitive to go to a park when you're by the seaside, it's a wonderful alternative to the seaside crowds on a sunny day, and in my case a respite from the cold April wind blowing off the Irish Sea blowing. It's about a 30 minute walk from the front, or a short bus ride, and it's definitely worth getting there if you can.
Wander through a village of chocolate boxes
In the corner of Stanley Park, behind a rather foreboding barbed-wire wall, lies another of Blackpool's hidden gems: a model village. Called 'the biggest little village in Lancashire', it is a charming landscaped garden of 2.5 hectares full of idyllic scenes of everyday life, from a wedding in a church to people browsing the shops, all played out in miniature.
It is an absolute pleasure to discover. On arrival you will be given a quiz that will guide you through the village as you fill in the answers. There are also some surprises, including a spectacular castle, a village prison, a fairytale valley, a waterfall and even a UFO.
Tickets cost £10.50 for adults and £8.50 for children, which may seem high, but it's totally worth it and you can explore the village at your leisure. Then get an ice cream at Anita's Ice Cream Parlor, located at the entrance.
Lose yourself in the magical ballroom
As I headed back to the coast I couldn't stop at one of Blackpool's main attractions. Blackpool Tower is home to several attractions, but the Ballroom is probably the most surprising of them all. Nothing can prepare you for the breathtaking beauty of the ornate room as you step through the double doors.
The dance floor is lined with tables and chairs where you can sit with a refreshment and watch dancers take to the floor as the famous Wurlitzer organ plays. You can even take a spin on the springy dance floor yourself.
I decided to leave it to the regulars and saw couples twirling around on the dance floor to the likes of Abba's Money Money Money, which was quite a surreal experience. It really felt like a world away from the noisy arcades outside; the ballroom is a bubble of old-world glamor that transports you to another world. There is an option to book afternoon tea, but if you want to keep it affordable you can just pay the £11.50 entry ticket and buy a drink at the bar on arrival (or without if you prefer).
Ditch fish and chips for a £1 burger
Feeling hungry it was time for a snack. When you're by the seaside, the first thing that comes to mind is fish and chips, but Blackpool has something more exciting to offer when it comes to cheap and quick dishes. Just a stone's throw from Central Pier on Dale Street is Higgitt's Las Vegas Arcade and £1 Burger Bar, where you can get a burger from - you guessed it - 100 pence.
The spot has achieved legendary status over the years, with owner Chris Higgit starring in clips on YouTube, so I definitely had to check it out. As it was a weekday afternoon there was no queue, so I walked up and ordered my burger, handing over my pound coin (it's cash only). For €1 you can buy a patty with onions, sandwiched in a soft bun and a sauce of your choice. For an extra 50p you get a slice of cheese.
Obviously this isn't a gourmet experience, but it's cheap, cheerful and fills a gap. It's also four quid less than a burger on the pier would cost, which is something not to be sniffed at.
Enjoy a sundowner over the sea
After walking along Central Pier, hanging out in the arcades and taking in the views of Blackpool Tower in the afternoon sun, I walked across the sand to the North Pier. Built in the 1860s, it is the longest and oldest of all the piers; it is also the quietest, with no rides and only a few arcades.
At the end of the pier, the Joe Longthorne Theater is on the right and the Bloom Bar is on the left. With a huge beer garden, sheltered from the chilly sea breeze, Bloom Bar is an excellent place for a drink or two after a day in Blackpool. With parasols and sea views, it really feels like you're on holiday on a sunny evening - and what more could you want from a day out at the seaside?
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