For the first time in over 30 years, last weekend I went to Blackpool - which was a whole new experience for Alexa and Charlotte.

We went up Friday afternoon - by train - and got there just before 3pm, just in time to see all the Stag and Hen weekend outings arrive in town!
Spent a very enjoyable weekend there and returned home on a much less busy Monday afternoon.

Blackpool is a very complex town currently going through a lot of changes (most of which are long overdue) and is slowly being rescued from the tacky image it has had for the past few years. The local council are investing millions (and I do mean millions - lots of them!) in giving the town a complete makeover - and from what I saw, it does look like it's been done just in time.

The actual town part of Blackpool (rather than the tourist areas) is actually really nice - and has been improved a lot, and the Pleasure Beach is - as always - a great place to be, with plenty of money being spent on the latest attractions. Unfortunately, everything else in between has got carried away trying to create a destination for the aforementioned Stag and Hen weekends - and it's hard to see any large space which hasn't been converted into some kind of bar/disco. Because of this, the once great amusement arcades and attractions are all suffering lack of investment due to lack of business - it's a bit of a catch 22 situation for them really, they're not getting the customers so they won't spend the money improving, but they're not getting the customers because they haven't improved.

As always though, luckily there are a few exceptions - the Aquarium is world quality, the Dr Who exhibition is fun to see, and Coral Island provides the one quality amusement arcade (albeit in more of a Vegas style) that remains to provide quality amusements.

At the end of the day, Blackpool looks as if it's starting to pull itself out of the mess it has found itself in, and within a few years it could be back to the way I remember it - assuming the British weather allows!  :-)

Would I go back? Yes I would, and I look forward to seeing how it's improved when I do.