The Lancashire seaside resort has been ranked the UK’s best large town
A town in the North West has been crowned as the finest in the nation.
Liverpool and Manchester usually attract most of the spotlight in the north-western corner of England, and justifiably so. Nevertheless, when evaluating the premier large towns (importantly, not cities) across not just the North West but the whole country, one location emerges supreme.
“The town evolved out of an unplanned sell-off of land by various lords of the manor, and was destined to be chaotic. The Golden Mile and Pleasure Beach are latter-day versions of the free-for-all fête that once took over the strand,” Chris Moss writes about his leading choice.
“As the new Showtown museum reveals, the modern seaside mass-market holiday was invented here, as was much of the light entertainment and comedy that dominated the small screen for decades. You can eat well (the Wok Inn is superb), drink well and party well here but neither the prom in a gale nor the back streets after dark are for the faint-hearted. It’s a UK one-off. An obligatory stop once every decade if you want to know your nation and yourself.”
Do you agree with these rankings? Share your views in the comments section below or email us at webtravel@reachplc.com
Chris’s selection is none other than Blackpool. He gave the legendary Lancashire seaside destination a rating of 9.5/10 in an article exploring potential candidates for the 2028 UK Town of Culture, following Bradford’s successful tenure in 2025.
Blackpool’s rise to the top position comes at the expense of prosperous Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, which claims second place, followed by Ipswich in Suffolk in third, and Rochdale, Greater Manchester in fourth.
For those who live in or cherish Blackpool, or have enjoyed sun-drenched days at this coastal resort, there’s no need for a reminder as to why this town of 141,000 deserves the leading position. However, for those yet to discover the Northern equivalent of Las Vegas, here’s a concise overview of its heritage, present attractions, and why its number one ranking may prove surprising.
The heritage
Until the mid-eighteenth century, Blackpool was a modest, largely overlooked hamlet positioned on the Irish Sea. It only became popular as a fashionable destination later in the 1700s, when visitors began travelling there for sea bathing – an activity not widely regarded as pleasurable until this wellness trend emerged.
A spike in visitor numbers resulted in the creation of several hotels by 1781, before the railway reached the town in 1846. Throughout the nineteenth century, Blackpool grew from a humble town into a major coastal resort, with trainloads of holidaymakers arriving to enjoy the sea air.
Its three piers and numerous existing attractions, such as the Blackpool Tower, were built by the end of the century.
By the mid-twentieth century, Blackpool’s population had grown to 147,000, considerably more than its present count.
What to do
Following the coronavirus pandemic, which witnessed a substantial increase in domestic tourism across the UK, Blackpool has been thriving. Figures for 2023 show the seaside town attracted 21.5m visitors – a 6% rise from 2022’s total of 20.3m.
The annual STEAM report showed that full-time employment within Blackpool’s tourism and hospitality sectors has grown to 23,419 positions – representing a 5.3% increase on the previous year.
The reasons are clear. Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Tower, SEALIFE Blackpool and the Blackpool Illuminations remain major attractions that draw in considerable visitor numbers each year.
The resort is also famous for its evening entertainment and has become an increasingly popular choice for hen and stag parties, thanks to excellent venues such as the Cask and Tap, Rhythm and Brew Room, and Shickers Tavern, plus the fact that getting a decent round of drinks for £20, with change to spare, is still possible.
Something of a surprise
Despite its appeal, Blackpool faces certain challenges. Since the arrival of cheap overseas package holidays in the latter part of the 20th century, the North West jewel has lost some of its shine as it tries to compete with the sunshine and beaches on offer across Europe.
Blackpool grapples with significant, entrenched socioeconomic issues, often ranking among the most deprived local authorities in England. It suffers from high levels of poverty, unemployment, and poor health indicators.
The seaside town also struggles with a seasonal, low-wage economy, subpar housing, and increased crime rates.
The complete list
25. Watford – 0.5/10.
24. Crawley – 0.5/10.
23. Luton – 1/10.
22. Oldham – 1.5/10.
21. Basildon – 2/10.
20. Basingstoke – 2/10.
19. Telford – 2.5/10.
18. Middlesbrough – 2.5/10.
17. Northampton – 3/10.
16. Slough – 3.5/10.
15. Reading – 4/10.
14. Swindon – 4.5/10.
13. Warrington – 5/10.
12. Huddersfield – 5.5/10.
11. Bolton – 6/10.
10. Blackburn – 6/10.
9. Stockport – 6.5/10.
8. Poole – 6.5/10.
7. Bournemouth – 7/10.
6. Worthing – 7/10.
5. Gateshead – 7.5/10.
4. Rochdale – 8/10.
3. Ipswich – 8.5/10.
2. Cheltenham – 9/10.
1. Blackpool – 9.5/10.