The 'worst' seaside town in the UK has now been named - but there's plenty to like if you love a bargain!
After Blackpool was awarded the title of the UK’s worst-looking area in a Twitter vote, a new poll has seen the resort crowned the coastal area people most want to avoid spending a weekend at. Express.co.uk asked its readers which one deserved to wear the unwanted title, with the majority naming the Lancashire town as their least favourite holiday destination.
Blackpool received over a quarter of the votes, with Rhyl in Wales coming in second place with 15 per cent. Skegness received eight percent, while trendy Brighton and Clacton came in joint with seven per cent. Bognor Regis and Bournemouth received just three per cent of votes, while Newquay had just two.
There are a number of factors for the decision, research shows. The town recorded more violent crimes than any other with 10,849 in 2023 alone. Reviews online even slammed the area as ‘a mess of buildings with no identity’ and ‘aesthetically so dead’. But if you think it's all doom and gloom, then maybe you need to dig a little deeper.
Famous for its iconic tower and illuminations, Blackpool used to welcome around 17 million holidaymakers each year - and many keep coming back. One of the town's pubs, The Ardwick, boasts the UK's cheapest pint. "There is not a cheaper pint in this great nation," said YouTuber Wendall, who documented life in the town to his 57,000 followers. "You can get a pint of cider, a pint of John Smiths, or a pint of Fosters for £1.80."
But many shops have sadly been boarded up in a sad sight reminiscent of many crumbling UK high streets victim to lower footfall and Tory austerity. One shop, which used to be Blackpool's Woolworths, remains empty while the owner and the local council argue about whether it can be knocked down and turned into a car park.
Locals working at Blackpool’s centre for tourism have hit back at claims the town is ‘depressing’. VisitBlackpool, which promotes tourism to the area, refuted the claims and told the Mirror that Blackpool is still a top choice for people who want to enjoy time by the sea. A spokesperson pointed to a new department store, a tramway extension and a new IMAX multiplex cinema as part of a huge new regeneration project worth £1billion.
A spokesperson told the Mirror: “Blackpool remains the UK’s most popular seaside destination with around 19 million visitors a year. We have the biggest range of branded family attractions outside London, six miles of beaches, a world-class events programme and an annual Illuminations display that spans four months, attracting around six million visitors at a time of year when many resorts are winding down.”