When it comes to seaside destinations, Blackpool is definitely among the country’s favourites. It has everything you could want in a seaside resort: piers (three to be exact), a world-famous tower, huge beaches, arcades… the list goes on.
A train ticket from Manchester to Blackpool can cost around £14 for an adult single; This is soon added to when a few of you travel for a day. But there is a cheaper way to visit Blackpool that takes the same amount of time.
National Express offers bus tickets from Manchester to Blackpool for as little as £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 leaves you just a few minutes away from the tower.
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The basic ‘restricted’ fare is the cheapest; £4, but this means you can’t make any changes to your ticket. For an extra £10 you can get a ‘standard’ ticket which offers some flexibility (for example you can make changes to your booking) and if you pay £10 you can get a fully flexible ticket (there is a full refund option). up to 24 hours before travel).
The downside is that there is a booking fee of £1.50, but this still means an overall fare of £5.50, which is cheaper than the train. Another disadvantage of the bus is that there are fewer services throughout the day, so you need to be a little more specific about the time you travel – so I caught the 7.40am National Express service to Blackpool. sunny weekday morning.
My journey started at Manchester Bus Station on Chorlton Street, which was pleasantly clean and quiet; It was quite quiet compared to the hustle and bustle of Piccadilly Station (although I imagine it gets crowded on weekends).
I boarded the bus to Blackpool with my fellow passengers and we all settled in for the 80-minute journey to the coast. I must admit, I’m more used to traveling by train than by bus, but I was quite impressed with what the bus had to offer.
The leather seats were comfortable and had useful footrests (why can’t we use these on trains?) and I was especially impressed by a small TV screen above the windshield that showed live views from the front of the bus. He made his way through the streets of the city. It’s not exactly in-flight entertainment, but it was fun to look at from time to time.
One advantage of traveling so early was how quiet the bus was. There were only three of us on the ship, so we pretty much had the place to ourselves. Pair this with the fact that the bus doesn’t stop anywhere along the route and you’re in for a pretty relaxing experience.
We soon left the urban sprawl of Greater Manchester and zoomed along the M61. One of the things that bothered me throughout the trip was the height of the windows, which started from shoulder level, so I couldn’t comfortably look out and watch the view. Oh, you can’t have it all.
Soon the fields gave way to buildings. We arrived in the outer suburbs of Blackpool and I started to see Blackpool’s iconic tower in the distance. We were 15 minutes late due to traffic, but the bus dropped us off at the Central Bus station, right in the heart of the action, just behind the Coral Island Arcade.
It was only 9.15am and as the day grew longer ahead of me I decided to check out some of Blackpool’s ‘hidden gems’. Here’s what I discovered.
Have breakfast at one of Blackpool’s top-rated cafes
I was hungry after my early start and a hearty breakfast was exactly what I wanted. Because I wanted to learn full English, I went to the Compass Café on Birley Street, just behind the front.
Its fries have earned it an average Google rating of 4.8 out of five, with customers raving about its breakfast menu. The cafe is known for serving breakfast in a skillet; However, I chose the more modest classic breakfast instead.
Service was incredibly fast and you can easily change anything you don’t like – I had hash browns instead of beans. Breakfast was delicious and satisfying, although keep that in mind this is a traditional breakfast spot rather than an upscale brunch establishment. But it did the job and I felt full and energized for my adventures.
Visit an old cinema transformed into Aladdin’s grotto of antiques
Blackpool has gems away from the beach too. One of these is the Regent Cinema, located on the corner of Regent Road and Church Street, just a short walk from the beach. This is a former cinema from the 1920s that has been converted into an antique store which is an absolute treasure trove of delight.
Inside is a rabbit warren 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; The attic is full of second-hand items.
The best part is that it is still a working cinema, with a large screen on the wall above the stalls and the original seating still in place in the ‘clothes circle’ overlooking the antique stalls below. Offering a unique cinema experience, films are shown on select Friday nights. Even though there were no showings during my visit, it was still fun to browse second-hand items, you could easily spend hours there bargaining.
Stroll through one of the UK’s most popular parks
Blackpool may be famous for its beaches, walks and tower, but it’s also home to one of the UK’s best parks. Stanley Park was named the UK’s best park in 2019, and was named the UK’s most loved park in 2022.
Covering 390 acres, Stanley Park features beautiful Italianate gardens, a boating lake, and a gorgeous Art Deco cafe. Although it may seem counterintuitive to go to the park when you’re by the sea, it’s a great alternative to the crowds on the beach on a sunny day and, in my case, a great escape from the cool April winds blowing off the Irish sea. It’s about a 30-minute walk or short bus ride from the front and definitely worth the effort to get there if possible.
Wander through the chocolate box village
In the corner of Stanley Park, behind a rather ominous wall covered in barbed wire, lies another of Blackpool’s hidden gems: a model village. Dubbed ‘Lancashire’s greatest hamlet’, this stunning 2.5-acre landscaped garden is filled with idyllic scenes of daily life, from a wedding in the church to people browsing the shops, all brought to life in miniature.
It’s an absolute pleasure to explore. When you arrive you will be given a test that will take you around the village while you fill out the answers. There are also some surprises like a magnificent castle, a village prison, fairy valley, waterfall and even a UFO.
Tickets cost £10.50 for adults and £8.50 for children; This may seem expensive but it is definitely worth it and you can explore the village at your leisure. Then grab an ice cream from Anita’s Ice Cream Parlor located at the entrance.
Lose yourself in the magical ballroom
Back on the seaside, I couldn’t help but visit one of Blackpool’s main attractions. Blackpool Tower is home to many attractions but the Ballroom is probably the most surprising of them all. Nothing can prepare you for the breathtaking beauty of the ornate room when you step through the double doors.
The dance floor is lined with tables and chairs where you can sit with a drink and watch the dancers take the stage while the famous Wurlitzer organ plays. You can even spin yourself on the sprung dance floor.
I decided to leave it to the regulars and watched the couples dance to Abba’s Money Money Money on the dance floor, which was quite a surreal experience. Being inside the 19th-century ballroom truly felt like a world away from the noisy arcades outside; The ballroom is a bubble of old-fashioned glamour, transporting you to a different world. There’s an option to book afternoon tea, but if you want to keep prices more affordable, you can pay the £11.50 entry ticket and buy a drink from the bar when you arrive (or go without if you prefer).
Ditch the fish and chips for a £1 burger
When I felt hungry, it was time to have a bite to eat. Of course, when you’re by the sea the first thing that comes to mind is fish and chips, but when it comes to cheap and quick eats, Blackpool has more exciting things to offer. A stone’s throw from the Central Pier on Dale Street is Higgitt’s Las Vegas Arcade and the £1 Burger Bar, where you can get a burger for – you guessed it – 100 British pence.
The spot has gained legendary status over the years, with owner Chris Higgit appearing in clips on YouTube, so I had to check it out. Since it was a weekday afternoon, there was no queue, so I quickly went up, ordered my burger, and handed over my pound (cash only). £1 buys you a patty with onions, tucked into a soft bun and a sauce of your choice. You can get a slice of cheese for 50p extra.
Obviously this isn’t a gourmet experience, but it’s cheap, cheerful and fills a void. It’s also four quid less than what a burger on the pier would cost you, which is nothing to sniff at.
Sip the sunset over the sea
After wandering around the Central Pier, having some fun in the arcades and taking in the view of Blackpool Tower in the afternoon sun, I walked across the sand towards the North Pier. Built in the 1860s, this pier is the longest and oldest of all piers; It is also the quietest, has no toys and only a few arcades.
At the end of the pier, there is the Joe Longthorne Theater on the right and the Bloom Bar on the left. Boasting a huge beer garden sheltered from the cool sea breeze, Bloom Bar is the perfect spot for a drink or two after your day in Blackpool. On a sunny evening, with umbrellas and sea views, you really feel like you’re on holiday; What more could you want from a day by the sea?
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