Blackpool sometimes has a bad rap with people, but I’ve lived here all my life and I love it. It’s like being on holiday all the time, with so many visitors to keep the local pubs and clubs interesting. I’ve met some great people who have come here on their holidays and who come back again and again. Blackpool is on the North West coast and was considered for many years to be the number one working class family holiday destination, probably due to it being the end of the train line for many Lancastrians looking to get away from it all after a hard day working at the mill during the 19th century and the early 20th century.

If you love rollercoasters, then the Pleasure Beach is definitely a highlight. There are some excellent rollercoasters, including the brutal Pepsi Max Big One, which is still one of the best and most terrifying rollercoasters I have ever been on.

There is a thriving music scene here in Blackpool too, which is highlighted with the Rebellion festival in August. That weekend the town fills with punks, from hardcore 24/7 guys with foot tall mohawks to weekend punks who seem to sprout safety pins before presumably slinking off back to their office jobs somewhere down south after the mayhem is over. This year saw some of the most famous punk bands of all time take to the stage, with amazing appearances from Sham 69, the Buzzcocks, Jello Biafra and an astounding set from the Misfits. Next year promises to be even better with appearances from NOFX, Spizz Energi and Random Hand already confirmed. One of the best things about the festival being in sunny Blackpool is that the drinks are cheap and the natives are really friendly, which means that you can guarantee that you are going to have a great time. It’s also really cheap to get to Blackpool, with easy to find flights to Blackpool available here.

Blackpool has undergone much investment of late, despite the economic downturn. There’s a really positive vibe in the town and you can find, under the bright lights of the Blackpool illuminations, some really good people and some really fascinating conversations. For a good night out, I would highly recommend that you visit Uncle Tom’s Cabin. It has got a great atmosphere and often puts on really good gigs. You might even end up in the middle of a prog rock festival or a hair metal night.