Blackpool was the place for a day out when I was growing up. Somewhat 'cooler' than its East Coast counterparts, Blackpool had everything from enormous roller coasters to the kitsch (and currently zeitgeisty, thanks to Strictly Come Dancing) Tower Ballroom.
Today, Blackpool is undergoing an extensive facelift, keen to shed any notions that it's a faded coastal town. New attractions including Nickelodeon Land at the Pleasure Beach, Madame Tussauds and the revamped Tower are sure to see the visitors arriving in droves. Add classic donkey rides, Blackpool's tramway, the iconic piers and ever-popular Illuminations, and you have the ultimate, British seaside experience.
Blackpool has its own international airport and is easily reached by train, with services arriving regularly from Manchester, York and Liverpool. If you're driving, the M55 links Blackpool with the M6.
If you're planning on heading further afield with your brood, don't miss our guides to New York andLas Vagas or if you're keen to stay closer to home, read up on family holidays in Dublin and Liverpool.