Seaside resort with a special charm

Often said to be Britain’s favourite seaside resort, Blackpool is ideal for a weekend hotel stay. Think of the Lancashire town and you’ll probably think of the iconic tower, built in 1984. A £20m revamp means it now has a glass-floored skywalk at 520ft where the floor-to-glass ceiling gives you a view as far as Manchester, the Lake District and the Isle of Man! In the autumn, more than one million bulbs light up Blackpool and the illuminations are the UK’s most popular free tourist attraction. The Good Hotel Guide offers hotels with views over the South Beach Promenade or conveniently close to the Winter Gardens and Promenade.

Take a walk along the town’s three piers, try some rock or indulge with tasty fresh fish and chips. The young-at-heart might even like to try the Pleasure Beach with its fairground rides and attractions, including 12 rollercoasters. A short drive from Blackpool itself is the beautiful National Trust property Rufford Old Hall where William Shakespeare used the Great Hall as a stage before he was famous. The Tudor building is full of Fantastic furniture, arms, armour and tapestries. Enjoy some peace and quiet at the atmospheric Heysham coast – a beautiful headland with an 8th Century chapel and rock-hewn graves in a relaxing green space.