On a clear day, the tower can be seen from as far away as Barrow-in-Furness. Over the years, it has developed into a major tourist attraction. The ballroom was used by the BBC for their Come Dancing television series and more recently has been host to Strictly Come Dancing.

Younger visitors can take part in a Jurassic walk or play in the Jungle Jims adventure playground.

For those who prefer a more energetic time in Blackpoool, the Pleasure Beach is a serious attraction. Surprisingly, the Pleasure Beach is actually only two years younger than the Tower although most of the rides that are experienced are of course much more recent. The Pepsi Max Big One is the ultimate roller coaster ride at the beach and can be seen from miles away when you approach Blackpool from the motorway. Roller coaster afficionados should make sure that they check out the traditional wooden coasters, the Big Dipper and the Grand National, where you race against the adjacent train.

Blackpool's night life has expanded a lot in recent years, so you're not limited to looking at the annual illuminations.

Instead, there are a large number of clubs and bars which cater for many stag and hen parties over the year. This does mean, of course, that the centre of Blackpool isn't always as quiet as the older generations may prefer! So if you want to visit Blackpool with your family, you should double check with your hotelier as to whether they cater for such parties or not. There are plenty of places to stay whether you are there for a quiet family vacation or a more rioutous weekend.

With the wide variety of people who visit Blackpool, there is an equally wide variety of entertainment. Traditional "variety" shows feature a large number of high profile entertainers including the UK's very own Ken Dodd. The Pleasure Beach also hosts the Hot Ice show and nearby you can often witness hypnotists and other entertainers.

The Blackpool illuminations stretch along the entire sea front, lighting up seven miles from late summer through to early November. Even today, cars and coaches still crawl the whole length of the show ? if you have the energy, you may find it quicker to walk instead.

Once the main UK holiday season has ended, Blackpool turns host to politicians, trade unions and many others who use the location as a conference venue. The thousands of delegates are easily catered for in Blackpool's many hotels and guest houses.

More traditional seaside pleasures are not neglected and include the North Pier and Central Pier, both located on the Golden Mile. The South Pier completes the set and makes the town unique in the UK as the only place to have three piers. On sunny days, the beach attracts thousands of tourists.

On days where it isn't as sunny, you could visit the UK's largest Dr Who exhibition or take your children to the Sandcastle Water Park, where they can enjoy sliding down water slides and play around in the waves.