Retro northern seaside town is now ‘more popular than Benidorm’ – and proving a magnet for Hollywood stars
A SEASIDE town in the north of England is more popular among Brit holidaymakers than Benidorm.
While a trip to the beach may not sound like an ideal winter holiday, one English seaside town has proven otherwise.
Recent research from Trivago revealed that Blackpool is a more popular holiday destination Brit holidaymakers than Benidorm – and it’s easy to see why.
Even before the invention of the Blackpool illuminations, the seaside town had been welcoming holidaymakers for just over one hundred years.
It was first used as a swimming spot in the 1770s, and it soon welcomed other amusements like freak shows, waxworks, small mechanical rides, and other shows.
In 1894, Blackpool Tower was built, while Blackpool Pleasure Beach opened two years later in 1896.
Set on Blackpool’s South Shore, the amusement park is home to several winter attractions, including a Christmas Grotto, a festive pantomime, and an ice show.
There are other winter attractions in the seaside town too, including its world-famous Illuminations.
The light display runs for six miles, and it is often described as the “greatest free light show on Earth.”
In addition to its traditional light displays, there are several new features for 2023, including a Spitfire Island installation on the Gynn Roundabout.
The Spitfire Island installation was a collaboration between the Blackpool Illuminations team and designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.
Other new features for this year, include a brightly lit Blackpool Sign and the Spiro Light Tunnel.
Last week, Christmas by the Sea opened to the public.
There, Brit holidaymakers will find several rides and Christmas activities, as well as festive chalets, simulated snowfalls, and a snow slide.
The Snow Slide, which is a one-of-its-kind attraction, will require visitors to climb up to the top of the slide before heading down the 100ft slope on a rubber ring.
There will also be a free ice skating rink, which is described as the “sparkling centrepiece” of the Christmas village.
The ice skating rink will be open from 12pm until 9pm every day, except for Christmas Day.
There will also be several festive fairground rides designed for children, including the Candy Cane Bungee Trampolines, Santa Claus’ Tea Cups, Santa’s Sleigh, and a magical carousel.
For adrenaline-seekers, Europe’s tallest travelling swing ride, Star Flyer, will also make a return to the Tower Festival Headland too.
Both Blackpool Illuminations and Christmas by the Sea will run until January 1, 2024.
Plenty of A-list celebrities have also been spotted in the northern seaside town, including Robbie Williams and Samuel L Jackson.
Meanwhile, Hollywood megastar Tim Burton has also confessed his love for the northern town.
After Burton first visited Blackpool in 2006 to watch indie rock band The Killers perform, he’s returned to the town on several occasions.
Not only did the Hollywood producer film Miss Peregrine’s School For Peculiar Children in the Blackpool in 2015, he’s also turned on the lights at Blackpool Illuminations.
Last month, the producer visited Blackpool where he rode Journey to Hell at the amusement park, and was treated to a walk-through on the Ghost Train.
Burton told Granada Reports: “I just love the whole vibe. It surprised me because I don’t really know why. Sometimes things are an emotional response.
“I don’t know if it’s because I grew up in California and used to wander alone on these amusement piers.
“It just had a gravity to me; the old and new, the texture of the older buildings. The whole environment was something that really spoke to me.”
In the same interview, Burton even joked that he may one day move to the town.
Meanwhile, acting Legend Lisa Kudrow has also been spotted in Blackpool.
After the Friends Alumni filmed the comedy series Feel Good alongside comedian Mae Martin, she paid a visit to Blackpool.
She told NBC News: “That was my first trip to Blackpool. And yes, they did sell it as Las Vegas, but Las Vegas to me is gambling so I was excited to maybe go to a casino, but I misunderstood the comparison.
“Ultimately, nothing is like Las Vegas. Blackpool seemed like a pretty quiet seaside town when we were there.
“I was happy to get to see a part of England that wasn’t London, honestly.”
Earlier this year, Sun Online Travel visited Blackpool on a summer break.
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