Holiday rentals in Blackpool

Cheerfully flamboyant, Blackpool is a town whose greatest wish is to entertain you. Developed as a seaside resort for holidaymakers in the 19th century, it’s a joyously kitschy mix of ornate Victorian architecture and modern attractions, including one of the UK’s most famous fairgrounds and theme parks at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. The seafront and its three piers are crammed with entertainment, and famed for the light festivals that have enlivened it every September for 140 years. Old-school glamor lingers on in the magnificent Winter Gardens pavilion, with its Opera House, Pavilion Theatre, and sumptuous interiors. Music and dance remain a major draw here: the Blackpool Tower Ballroom is considered the spiritual home of ballroom dancing in the UK.

When staying in one of Blackpool’s apartments you’ll be treated to beautiful sunsets overlooking the Irish Sea on summer evenings, but you’ll also be greeted by some fairly brisk winds whatever time of year you visit. July is the warmest month, with average temperatures of 67 degrees Fahrenheit, and May and June the sunniest. Lancashire is known for being a rather rainy county, and winters in Blackpool are particularly wet and average around 40 degrees. Layers and a hooded raincoat are essential, more so than an umbrella, which can be more trouble than it’s worth on windy days.

Blackpool Tower

Inspired by the Eiffel Tower, this 518-foot construction was the tallest man-made structure in the UK when it opened in 1894. When visibility is good, it can be seen from as far away as Wales. More than a mere viewing platform, it’s also home to a renowned architect’s famous ballroom, and even has its own resident circus.

Stanley Park

Pleasure gardens have always been part of the town’s charm, and none can beat this 390-acre landscape to the east of central Blackpool. Designed in 1926, it incorporates formal Italian gardens, woodland, a boating lake, and a number of historic buildings, including a gorgeous Art Deco café. It’s also home to Blackpool Model Village.

North Shore

While the South Shore—which runs from the Central Pier to the South Pier — is busier and brassier, the section of beach that extends from the North Pier all the way to Bispham is like walking through a bygone age. Its promenade includes long curved colonnades, and is dotted with ornately roofed shelters, benches, and lampposts. The clifftop walk once you reach Bispham is a great place to watch the waves of the Irish Sea come crashing ashore.