If you're looking for entertainment, you couldn't do much better than take a holiday in Blackpool. Europe's biggest and most popular seaside resort combines a traditional holiday beside the sea with the latest in high thrill rollercoaster rides at the Pleasure Beach.

If you fancy something a bit more quiet, take a slow stroll along the promenade to see Blackpool tower and meander down the seafront's three piers. Or indulge in a bit of retail therapy in Blackpool's shopping centres.

The town's Grundy art gallery provides a cultural distraction for visitors. Alternatively simply hire a deck chair and relax, enjoying the fresh sea air and the warm sands on the beach.

For evening entertainment, Blackpool's theatres, including the 3,000 seater Opera House, offer shows from comedy cabaret to West End musicals.

For a memorable Blackpool experience, visit between September and November for the town's world famous illuminations. Started in Victorian times, the lights now stretch along five miles of the promenade and include spectacular fibre optic and computer controlled displays.

Blackpool is also close to some of England's most beautiful countryside including the Lake District and the Yorkshire dales.