The resort that has it all
Okay, so here’s the thing. If I’d known I’d be rubbing shoulders with the Queen today, I’d have dressed for the occasion, but her majesty doesn’t seem to mind. She’s cool, in fact, that I’m hugging her - a hint of a smile gracing her lips as we pose for the camera.
Behind us, Wills and Kate quietly await their turn. I can’t decide what’s more impressive, this or my previous encounter with the mighty Thor. My husband’s face was a picture as he begrudgingly took the snap with a ‘how come you never look up to me like that?’
Because, my sweet, you’re not the God of Thunder. But you have brought us to Madame Tussauds and buzzing, bracing, Blackpool, with its glitzy ballroom, thrilling Pleasure Beach, sparkly Tower and endless illuminated promenade which lasts longer than it takes to eat two bags of candyfloss!
Okay, I confess, I’m on a bit of a sugar rush and it’s not the actual Queen. But as we walk around the lifelike waxworks - the last attraction on our Blackpool Resort Pass Plus, on the last morning of a three-night break – I’m royally impressed with every aspect of Blackpool – it really does have it all!
With two expectant teens in tow, our adventure began on the eve of the grand illuminations switch on. Pulling onto the promenade into a sea of flashing lights amidst a chorus of ‘oohs and aahhs’, my daughter declared it ‘just like Christmas’ as we checked into The Big Blue Hotel on Ocean Boulevard, with direct access to the Pleasure Beach.
With adjoining rooms ideal for families, one twin and one king with a huge, dreamy bed, after a great night’s sleep and full English breakfast we headed out, armed with the Blackpool Resort Pass Plus, our golden ticket to a host of attractions.
Suckers for seahorses and stingrays, first on our list after hopping onto a passing tram with our three-day travel card, was a visit to
Sea Life Blackpool, where we enjoyed an array of underwater delights from interactive rock pools and feeding shows to the spectacular ocean walkthrough tunnel showcasing Giant Green Sea
Turtles, Shovel
Nose Sharks and much more. The perfect way to whet our appetites, we moved from ocean to The Blackpool Tower Dungeon, a theatrical trip into Blackpool’s murky past, packed with special effects, quirky actors and superb staged scenes culminating in a dark drop not for the fainthearted!
Evening brought glitter, excitement and golden circle tickets to the illuminations switch on, with Busted, Nina Nesbit, MTV DJs R3Wire and Varski and Sigma wowing the 22,000-strong crowd before dance legends Diversity lit the stage. Rain couldn’t spoil the fun on Saturday as we immersed ourselves in the thrills and spills of Sandcastle, the UKs largest indoor waterpark, zooming down adrenalinerush slides.
Whilst the girls headed to the Model Village and Pleasure Beach for a white-knuckle extravaganza, we opted for the zoo – less terrifying but just as wild, with everything from elephants and giraffes to lions, tigers and exotic flamingos.
The icing on the cake for us was meeting up at the Tower for a 4D flight of fantasy back through time to bygone Blackpool before heading skywards for a bird’s eye view from the glass platform at the very top. Sadly, the afternoon is whiling away and home is on the horizon. Joining an Abbey Road conga line with The Beatles we unanimously agree that afternoon tea in the ambiance of the Tower Ballroom, with its sequin-studded splendour, was our ultimate visit Blackpool highlight.
n The Blackpool Resort Pass is available from £57.50 per person and allows one visit to six attractions over seven days, including Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Nickelodeon Land, The Blackpool Tower Eye and 4D Experience, Madame Tussauds, Sea Life Blackpool and The Blackpool Tower Dungeon.
n The Blackpool Resort Pass Plus is priced at £85 and includes entry to nine attractions including all of the above, plus Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool Zoo and the Blackpool Model Village and Gardens. Additional attractions can be bolted, please visit www.visitblackpool.com and www.visitblackpool.com/ resort-pass for more information.
n The Big Blue Hotel has a range of offers. To find out more or to make a reservation visit www.bigbluehotel.com