Blackpool - city of lights/Whitby place of Dark...

Over the 30th/31st October, I am off to see the illumination in Blackpool after a hiatus of 15 years or so... I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations regarding accommodation..

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with it

http://www.visitblackpool.com/blackpool-illuminations

And as Whitby is just over the Pennines, will probably pop in to Sherlocks for a quick Bite and a cuppa before a tour round the Abbey (with thermos).

Which leads me to my next question.. is anyone here going

Mmmm, Whitby.

On my list of places to visit whenever I get over your way. With a rucksack of fossil collecting gear...

As opposed to Blackpool
I was born there and did 5 seasons working "On North Shore" as Summer/Christmas jobs while at university.
I've spent the rest of my life trying to keep away from the place.
The "Pleasure Beach" is OK but calling it "The Greatest Free Show on Earth" is a bit of a fib as its free to get in, but you pay (and boy do you pay!) to do anything.

*suffers flashback of last blackpool trip.....* It's like living in a low budget version of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" - still including the pint of raw Ether.....!

There are some good night clubs there (Heaven & Hell proved quite interesting...), but Blackpool doesn't really do anything for me - I guess living next to Newcastle and it's famous nightlife, has left me unimpressed by flashy clubs and pubs. Meh.

SS

And in Whitby you should also go and visit Botham's tea room. Founded in 1865 they're still very much a traditional Victorian tea room...

Of course I'm biased as I used to work with one of the management.

Z.

I've been packing for Whitby for 3 weeks now. Current luggage count: 3 suitcases, 2 valises, 3 hatboxes, 1 holdall for shoes, myriad boxes for boots, hair & make-up chest & 15 handbags. This is before I've decided which fans & gloves to take.

Which rules out catching the train up, we're going to have to hire a car to have a hope in hell of carting this stuff up there.

Steamblast Mary wrote:I've been packing for Whitby for 3 weeks now. Current luggage count: 3 suitcases, 2 valises, 3 hatboxes, 1 holdall for shoes, myriad boxes for boots, hair & make-up chest & 15 handbags. This is before I've decided which fans & gloves to take.

Which rules out catching the train up, we're going to have to hire a car to have a hope in hell of carting this stuff up there.

Possibly some sort of Pantechnicon may be appropriate.

Spoiler:

http://www.amanita-photolibrary.co.uk/photo_library/Transport/Vintage_lorry_5072.htm

I feel I may be taking rather less than that! although the hatbox takes up a bit of space and the Picnic Hamper is quite sizeable; then there's there is the luggage for the Blackpool Leg......

Oh Dear

Hmm, yes... yes, I think so. Instead of packing, it would be just as easy to install clothes rails, shelves, vanity unit etc and have it as a mobile dressing room. Brilliant!

Look out for us if you are able to make it to Whitby. I'll either be in SP get-up, probably involving a spanner, or in goth regalia. Hopefully either ordering or drinking Tia Maria & Coke.

Just checking, is this Whitby in North Yorkshire? Google Maps seems eager to point out there is a Whitby in Ellesmere, Merseyside, too, which is considerably nearer Blackpool so I thought I'd better check.

Whitby, North Yorkshire... Famous for it's "Goth Weekends" as it is one of the settings of Bram Stokers Dracula.

Z.

Ah, well that's me educated, thanks Zwack. I'm thinking, I'm not really into goth at all, I don't suppose the weekend would be worth going to anyway?

Whitby Gothic Weekend and WGW Forum.

Don't let the G-word put you off, it's a splendid weekend, everyone in good spirits and it's the one time in your life you can wander the streets in your most eccentric garb and noone will say anything negative. There are also so many spin-off nights many people don't feel te need to obtain tickets to the main events at the Spa at all.

Although you will get asked to pose for photographs a lot, there's now a contigent of people (photographers, journalists, students, the curious) that come up purely to people-watch and "research" (and nothing to do with girls in corsets at all).

There's the "official" SP meet on Saturday, although given the increasing numbers of Brass Gogglers and others who will be in the vicinity, there's certainly scope for other, impromtu events too.

And of course, this is in Whitby...

I've never been to a Whitby Goth Weekend but I used to live just up the coast and have been there a few times. I like the place.

Z.

Ah it sounds like fun. I'll look into getting there. ^_^

And Finally after hours (literally) of searching I find a room near Whitby right by the the railway line....the one between Whitby and Pickering that is... now to avoid the vampire sheep...