‟ I think the best thing about Blackpool is being so close to the sea. As Blackpool is pretty small you're never too far away from it and there is also plenty of things to do and see nearby, so you can always enjoy the beautiful view of the horizon. ”



Shop

Besides the more commercial shopping centre in town, Hounds Hill, there is a great indoor market nearby called Abingdon Street Market [16-20 Abingdon St]. It's locally run with plenty of stalls selling all types of wares, from fresh produce to books.

There is also The Regent [181-189 Church St] Antiques Centre which has many stalls selling antiques, vintage clothing and of course hand made crafts! There is also a tearoom inside the building where you can enjoy homemade cakes and food.

There are a couple stores in Blackpool where you can get craft supplies. The first place is Blacks [17 New St, Lancaster LA1 1EG, UK], which is located in the town centre so is quite convenient to get to, it's tucked away a little but it's very easy to find and only a short walk from Abingdon Street Market [16-20 Abingdon St]. They mainly sell materials like fabric, wool, patterns and sewing supplies - however they still do sell a range of other crafty goods.

A smaller place is B Crafty [1 Stamford Ave] it's outside of the town centre but it sells a large range of craft supplies and is also locally run.

There are occasionally craft fairs where people can set up their own stalls. Although they are irregular throughout the year, the majority take place at the Winter Gardens [97 Church St], so it's good to check their website in advance and contacting the organisers if you're interested in setting up a stall!



Eat & Drink

A great place to have lunch and dinner in Blackpool is the West Coast Rock Cafe [7 Abingdon St], a local favourite, which serves tex-mex food. It's a family run business that has been around for years now and has a very cosy and humble vibe.

One of the best places for ice-cream is Notarianni's [9 Waterloo Rd] - it's a family run ice-cream parlour which serves only one flavour: vanilla! Of course you can get it with other toppings, in sundaes and milkshakes, but their ice-cream is an original secret recipe.



Craft

One of the best places to sit and craft is Stanley Park [W Park Dr] which is especially beautiful during summer. I like to visit the park to take photographs and go on walks, it's a very large area so there is plenty to see. There are a couple different gardens within the park, with my favourite being the rose gardens. There is also a lake in the park where you can go boating and take in the beautiful surroundings.



See Something Special

On the promenade there is an art installation that looks like 3 giant spoons, they're actually meant to be blades of grass, but they're 30m tall and wave around in the wind!

Blackpool is famous for its rock, so make sure you pick some up before you go! There's also a shop called Rock Candy Kingdom [19 Chapel St] where you can watch the rock being made right in front of you.



Inspiration

As I mentioned before, one of the best things about Blackpool is the beach and it's also a great source of inspiration, especially to visit at sunset. There are also quite a few art installations alongside the beach which you can see as you walk along the promenade. If you don't want to walk - taking the tram is also a great alternative. It's a smooth and steady ride with a view of the sea throughout.

The Grundy Art Gallery [Queen St] is also worth a visit, they have various exhibitions throughout the year and entry is free.

If you're also here during September-November, Blackpool's famous illuminations are on during this period and it's a lot of fun to see with the family. Although be wary that the traffic can be pretty bad when they first switch on - sometimes it's best to walk or take a tram.

Another attraction is Blackpool's iconic tower [Promenade] where you can overlook the entire town. At the tower you can also visit the circus which is on regularly, the Tower Ballroom [24 Norbreck Rd] (where you can have afternoon tea) and also the Tower Dungeons [The] which are a lot of fun if you're wanting something a little more exciting.

You can't leave Blackpool without taking a picture with The Blackpool Tower [Promenade]! Another great place to take photos is on the piers - Blackpool has 3 of them, so there's plenty to choose from.