Last updated at 14:23, Friday, 03 July 2009

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NEXT Sunday, Barrow Raiders will be travelling to Blackpool to take on Widnes in one of the biggest rugby league finals of the past two decades.

Over 2,400 Barrow rugby fans will be heading down the motorway on July 12 to see their team take on the mighty Vikings.

But if you want to avoid the traffic, why not book into one of the seaside resort’s many hotels or B&Bs and make a weekend of it?

Blackpool has been a family favourite since Victorian times and is still the country’s most popular beach resort – attracting more than 10 million visitors a year.

For families the resort offers a wealth of attractions – including miles of sandy beaches, the ever-popular Pleasure Beach with Blackpool’s famous ‘Big One’ and scores of family shows and events at the town’s piers and its famous tower.

But these days Blackpool is so much more than just a family destination – it also has a thriving arts and entertainment scene – with both Blackpool Grand Theatre and The Winter Gardens attracting major productions and world famous comedians and artistes.

In recent years a lot of money has also been ploughed into giving the resort a much-needed facelift and if you have visited in the past 12 months you will have seen that the fantastic new seafront is taking shape, including the Spanish Steps leading down onto the beach and the Great Promenade Show of open air, interactive art work on South Beach.

Work is also taking place on the £2.6million revamp of the resort’s Central Gateway project – continuing to improve the welcoming experience for visitors driving into the town.

While St John’s Square – a vibrant piazza with cafes and markets – is set to be unveiled later this year in September 2009.

The changing face of the modern beach resort also encompasses a variety of luxury, award-winning accommodation – ranging from boutique guesthouses, self-catering apartments and hotels – and a number of top restaurants catering for all tastes.

B&Bs offering comfortable accommodation at all levels, line the promenade and the streets behind it.

While, if you are seeking a little luxury on your weekend break, the four-star Barcelo Blackpool Imperial Hotel, based on the north shore, is offering double rooms from as little as £59 per night in its summer sale.

Whether you are heading to Blackpool for an overnight stay, a short break or a longer holiday, there really is something for everyone:

Best for families

Blackpool Tower: The most famous seaside landmark in England, opened to the public on Whit Sunday, May 14 1894, admission to the main building then was sixpence. Today it costs £12 adults and £10 for children and seniors at the door. Once inside you can visit the aquarium, the circus or the famous Tower Ballroom and the tower opens from 1pm-4pm.

Blackpool Zoo: The venue is 10 minutes from junction 4 on the M55 and two miles behind the seafront. It is home to animals,reptiles, and exotic birds and is surrounded by 32 acres of mature parkland and lakes. Adult admission is £13.99, children under-15 is £9.99 and under-threes enter for free. Concessions are £11.99 and car parking £2. The zoo opens at 10am.

Blackpool pleasure beach: It was founded in 1891 and remains Britain’s number one tourist attraction with more than 6.2 million visitors now travelling every year. Rides at the resort theme park include the Pepsi Max Big One, Valhalla, white knuckle ride Spin Doctor, and another white knuckle ride, the Bling, which lifts riders 100ft above the ground and spins them through the air on giant glittering gondolas in three different directions at speeds of over 60mph as the ride pulls 2.5gs. The pleasure beach is open on July 11 from 10.30am-8pm and July 12 10.30am-6pm. Gate price for an adult and child on the day is £54 but £10 cheaper if you book online.

Best for culture vultures

The Grand Theatre: is a stunning Victorian theatre designed by renowned architect Frank Matcham in 1894. Blackpool’s beautiful Grand offers a packed year-round programme of live theatre from opera, ballet, plays, comedies, musicals, contemporary dance, to fun children’s shows and, of course, pantomime!

Book your seats now for Pete Townshend’s iconic rock opera Quadrophenia, the dazzling family musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, cheeky comic Joe Pasquale, celebrated entertainer Joe Longthorne or the legendary Ken Dodd.

There’s always something to see at the Opera House & Winter Gardens. The wonderfully ornate Winter Gardens houses a complex of theatres and show venues, including the opulent Empress Ballroom, which attracts top bands and recording artistes, and the amazing 3,000 capacity Opera House – one of the largest stages in the UK and a great venue for hit musical shows. Comedian Jimmy Carr is the latest in a line of top talent to play at the venue – he is there tonight and tomorrow as part of his current national tour.

South Beach Art – The Great Promenade Show: celebrates the uniqueness of Blackpool with a collection of open air, interactive art work stretching two kilometres along New South Promenade from Squires Gate to Sandcastle Waterpark. Best of all the show is completely free.

First published at 11:35, Friday, 03 July 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk