When you travel by train to Blackpool, you’re retracing the path of history. A once sleepy seaside town on the north-west coast, Blackpool first became a spa resort for wealthy 18th-century travellers to take in some sea air. But when the railway arrived in the middle of the 19th-century, followed by affordable holidays for British workers in the twentieth, it made Blackpool the tourism destination it is today. In 1894, alongside the holidaymakers in deckchairs and hanky sun hats, the tower went up and became the tallest structure not just in Britain, but in the British Empire. Two years later the Pleasure Beach was opened, and it has been a major attraction ever since.

The town has completely transformed over the years, but the spirit of Blackpool remains constant – it’s a town of laughter, exhilaration and somewhere you can let your hair down. And don’t forget the whole reason it became a resort – the beach. The seven miles of golden sand often get overlooked, so if you like the sand between your toes alongside thrill rides and entertainment, you can’t go wrong with a town that combines fresh air and fun.