I love the seaside. Whether watching the waves roll in, eating chips on the beach or playing the 2p arcade machines, there's nothing quite like escaping the hustle and bustle of London for some frivolous fun. As a frequent visitor to Brighton, I jumped at the chance to go a little further afield in search of some nautical adventures and Blackpool with it's world famous illuminations seemed like the perfect destination.
Now, some people might say that we were crazy to head up North to go to the seaside mid November. But armed with warm clothes and waterproof boots, that's exactly what Lord Dicely and I did. Brilliantly, I managed to pick the weekend after most of the illuminations were switched off, and when the UK was being battered by Storm Abigail but it's a testament to how good Blackpool is that we still found plenty of fun things to do.
We arrived into Blackpool late Friday night, where we went straight to the
Blackpool South Shore branch of
Travelodge. The hotel was modern and cosy, with everything you could need to make you feel at home. Wifi was available with 30 minutes free per day, or just £3 for 24 hours if you needed it. There was also a TV, tea and coffee services and the comfiest bed I've ever slept in.
After being rained on whilst getting there, it was such a lovely surprise to discover that our room had a bath, so a soak with a cup of tea and a book was the perfect way to kick start my holiday brain,
Saturday came with more rain and strong winds, so we decided to visit a few attractions where we could stay undercover. Walking past the beach, it was actually closed off anyway as the tide had come right in and the sea was incredibly choppy.
We started with the
Blackpool Sealife Centre which played host to all manner of sharks, seahorses, jellyfish and more. An underwater walk through and interactive rock pool made for a fun and fully immersive experience.
Our next destination was the beautiful
Blackpool Tower. Because of the high winds, the "Blackpool Eye" was closed but thankfully the stunning ballroom was still open to the public. The ballroom was what I had really had my heart on experiencing, and it was even better than I had anticipated.
Stepping into the ballroom was like going back in time, with a stunning Wurlitzer organ playing music for people to dance across the unique, spring dance floor to. Afternoon tea is on offer on the ground floor, but if you just want a curious peek, for just £2.95 you can go and sit on the balcony and admire the view and the dancing.
Our final destination of the day was the terrifying
Blackpool Tower Dungeons. I didn't really know what to expect, as we had decided to visit only because the Blackpool Eye was closed. I'm so glad we did though, as it was great fun! The actors who unfolded the story of Lancashire's history took us through tales of plague, witchcraft and war. There was lots of interaction, scares and jumps as nervous terror turned to laughter throughout the experience.
It was dark by 4pm in Blackpool, so we decided to walk back towards our hotel via the seafront. Whilst most of the illuminations were switched off as they move over to their Christmas lights, the few which were lit really gave a sense of how incredible it must be to see it in full bloom.
Our Sunday morning was spent wandering through the shopping areas of Blackpool, where we found some vintage bargains on route to the train station. It was also the perfect excuse to warm up with some hot chocolate and say one last goodbye to the seafront.
It was a lovely weekend, even with the weather being a spoil sport and I'd love to return in the Summer and see it when it's at it's best. The ballroom was definitely my favourite experience by far, and if I do ever return, you can bet it'll be in full sequins!
Until next time,
(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)
Awww this is such positive and beautiful post. :) Blackpool seems like a really fun place to go and despite the weather you had fun. I love that cape you're wearing. Where is it from? I'm looking for a good cape. :) You look gorgeous as always <3 xxx
ReplyDeleteHello darling, it's from ASOS Curve. :) Here's a link to my post about it, and it's got the link to asos in it. xox
Deletehttp://blog.fashionlovesphotos.com/2015/09/asos-curve-brushed-wool-cape.html