Aside from going there once or twice to watch the City, I went to Blackpool a few years ago on a sports tour. It was one of the worst places I've stayed in this country. Run down, boarded up shops...just not a great area with a real sense of desolation about the place. Being kind, I suppose you could say it's not what it was in its heyday, much like a lot of the classic British seaside towns. But personally speaking, I wouldn't return - but probably worth noting I'm 35 and don't have kids.

Having said that, the area around Stanley Park was actually alright, but that's about 2.5 miles away from the seafront. If you want to stay in Blackpool I'd personally avoid staying around the seafront for the reasons I've mentioned above.

I've not been there but as others have said here, from what I understand Lytham St Annes, just down the road, is a far nicer place.