We all know that Blackpool has a rather divisive reputation. The renowned seaside destination has been drawing holidaymakers for generations – however, many believe it has lost its lustre in recent decades.
The town initially witnessed a tourist surge during the late 19th century and quickly gained fame for its legendary Tower, Pleasure Beach Resort, Tower Ballroom, three magnificent piers, and expansive coastline.
However, the number of visitors has declined over the decades and has led to some businesses shutting up shop.
This decline has prompted some to brand Blackpool the ‘most dreadful seaside destination’ in Britain – but is this judgement actually fair? A TikTok creator called Phil set himself the challenge of discovering the truth.
Phil, who is known for documenting his journeys across Britain, chose to explore Blackpool during summer to witness the reality firsthand.
He qucikly shared his conclusion at the start of the video, where he informed followers that the resort was in need of preservation.
Phil declared: “The Las Vegas of Britain – don’t laugh. Blackpool takes a lot of flak and is in trouble. But any town with a water park and a casino in the same building is surely worth saving.”
He travelled to Blackpool and is attempting to rescue the town by raising awareness to it via his video, as well as sharing suggestions for those wanting to attract more tourists.
The social media personality wrote in the caption of the video: “An Iconic Town with an Iconic Problem. It was the most fun town in the UK and is now the most deprived… but why.”
Phil soon discovered that the town is packed with bustling pubs, three piers, coastal attractions and amusement arcades.
Along the shoreline, he also highlighted the donkey riding experiences, as well as horse-drawn carriage trips that were on offer throughout the streets.
Phil made another observation – the seafront was remarkably deserted given the season. That means no fighting over deckchairs or battling for space on the sand.
He said: “I was too busy being shocked at how quiet the town was. This was August, the middle of the school holidays and the weather was okay. And there was hardly anyone here.”
After speaking with the local beach patrol, he was informed it becomes more crowded during heatwaves. However, on the day he visited, the expansive beach only had a couple dozen people on it despite it being a sunny day.
After being refused access to the iconic Blackpool tower due to the lift being out of service, he instead chose to highlight the visitor attractions on offer.
These included Madame Tussauds, the Gruffalo Clubhouse and the Blackpool Tower Dungeon, which recently came under new management.
He stated: “The only truly busy spot was McDonalds. And here’s the problem, […] Blackpool does attract tourists through the year, but not the right ones; not overseas tourists. They are the ones who really spend money. Talk to Salisbury, York, Stratford, Bath, and the Lake District.”
Phil is of the opinion that Blackpool ‘needs’ the same international tourists from countries such as China and the US to boost its tourism revenue. However, this would likely require a significant investment in international marketing.
Looking ahead, Phil remains hopeful that people will once again see the Lancashire town as a top holiday destination. After all, it has all the “touristy stuff” that beach-goers love.
Reflecting on the area’s decline, Phil added: “This is the same for a lot of seaside towns, but because Blackpool was the biggest and the best, it has fallen the hardest.”
