I visited UK's 'most famous' seaside town and it's so much better than haters claim

Blackpool's golden era is a thing of the past, at least that's according to the locals. They've described it as "derelict" and an "urban hell". But one first-timer seems to disagree.

Apparently indifferent at first, Christopher Megrath is a city boy with "roots firmly planted in Ireland". However, he concludes the coastal town is "nowhere near as unappealing as its loudest critics make it out to be. He even fancies coming back for a "proper fish and chips and a sunny day on the beach."

It's surprising given that the town hasn't exactly had the most favourable light shining upon it recently, and was even ranked a disappointing number 34 in the Which? Survey of the "UK's worst seaside destinations for 2025"

In 2023, The Telegraph had even described Blackpool's pavements as "being littered with tales of hedonism and high jinks, as much as poverty and neglect". Just recently, The Sun reported that the seaside town "has become so blighted by crime that residents say they fear walking the streets at night due to 'drug-taking zombies"'.

Writing for The Liverpool Echo, Christopher wasn't exactly naive to its declining reputation. And his primary reference to the town was just as "a metaphor for electricity use"

Setting out to see for himself if the formerly bustling Lancashire resort deserves its recent reputation, and claiming he had "no nostalgic ties to the town", by the end of the trip, he's left wanting more.

Setting off with some basic knowledge of the key spots, he first hits up the famous illuminations display.

Recently, the lights have been criticised for simply being an "art vanity project" and not being as "fun, scintillating and exciting" as they once were. Yet, Christopher reports that his "first impression of the light was positive".

Describing the "fairly picturesque" drive along beneath them just as the sun is setting, his only criticism is that he thinks "there should be more lights".

Simply wanting to get a good photo and acknowledging that people travel for miles every year just to see the lights, his only gripe is that it's not "obnoxious" enough.

Once he's done critiquing the famous light display, he sets off to check out the South Pier. On TripAdvisor, one user wrote they couldn't believe "how much this place has gone downhill", claiming it's "understaffed" with "extortionate prices".

But for Christopher, despite refusing to go on any of the rides (he claims it's simply because they are empty and he's 30 years old), he's clearly mesmerised by the "electrifying arcade, drenched in neon lights, colours and noise" - so much so that his pockets are emptied having "spent a fair few pounds" on all the classics, including "claw machines, shoot 'em ups, and penny drops".

After grabbing a quick and satisfying bite at a loaded potatoes vendor, another iconic location awaits. Along with his partner, he ventures into Pleasure Beach Resort.

The amusement park claims to offer "thrilling rollercoasters" and "memories that last a lifetime". For Christopher, his visit certainly left an impression - he reports his "first visit to the park was both unforgettable and utterly dreadful" and of one particular area he says "I never want to set foot again".

But it's only because the writer who claims he's "someone so easily scared" decided to seek out the park's scariest attractions, including the Journey to Hell Halloween takeover and the notorious Pasaje del Terror experience. He reports that the Pleasure Beach is indeed "filled with wondering horror characters, from clowns and witches to chainsaw-wielding maniacs and 10 food werewolves riding motorbikes".

It looks like Christopher isn't the only one who has something positive to say about Blackpool. In response to one nostalgic poster on Reddit who asked, "Is Blackpool really as bad as they say nowadays?", one claims that "it's better than it was in 2007" while another comments that while "it's rough around the edges for sure, you can still have great fun and a great time in Blackpool. Nearly everyone is just there for a good time, and there's still a great atmosphere."

Another who only visited for four days reports that the promenade was "quiet but beautiful" even urging not to "believe all the bad reports". They suspect "it's locals putting bad reports so people don't move there".

Another even adds "a lot of work is being done to try and bring more cultural things" and one who moved there from New York reckons "it's not horrible" and while claiming the "center is definitely littered with some sketchy people", they feel safer in the rural town than their home city.