Your stay — The Palms
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The Property — The Palms
The Palms is a no-frills, family-run guesthouse on Blackpool's North Shore, a short walk from the promenade and tram stop. The lobby smells faintly of disinfectant and fried breakfast, with a stack of seafront leaflets on the sideboard. It suits budget-conscious couples and older visitors who want a clean bed, a full English in the morning, and none of the rowdy stag-party nonsense you get closer to the Central Pier. The USP is peace and consistency: the same landlady has run it for 18 years, and she remembers return guests by name.
Chronicles of Blackpool
Blackpool grew from a coastal hamlet into Britain's first working-class seaside resort after the railway arrived in 1846. Its iconic 158-metre Blackpool Tower, modelled on the Eiffel Tower, opened in 1894 and still anchors the Golden Mile. The town's three piers – North, Central and South – date from the 1860s-1890s, and the Illuminations, a six-mile stretch of electric lights, have run every autumn since 1912. Today Blackpool is a faded but defiant resort, known for its stick of rock, the Pleasure Beach theme park, and a fiercely loyal local identity that resists gentrification.
Best Time to Visit
Full Blackpool guide →Best months
June and September: warm enough for the beach (average 16-18°C), fewer school holidays, and the Illuminations aren't on yet, so hotels are cheaper and roads quieter.
Peak / festival surge
August is the busiest month, driven by school summer holidays and the Blackpool Air Show (usually mid-August). Hotel prices can double, and the promenade is rammed. The town also fills up for the Rebellion Punk Festival (first weekend in August) and the World Fireworks Championships (September-October lights switch-on).
Budget shoulder season
May and late September offer mild weather (12-15°C), 30-40% lower room rates, and no queue for the trams. The Illuminations start in late August, so September brings light shows with half the crowds.
Weather & packing
Blackpool's climate is famously fickle: you can get a cloudburst, a sea fog and a bright afternoon all in three hours. Pack a waterproof jacket with a hood and a warm layer even in July – the sea breeze knocks five degrees off the felt temperature on the promenade.
Live City Briefing — Blackpool
- The Blackpool Tramway upgrade is nearly complete: new Flexity trams now run every 7-10 minutes on the full promenade route from Starr Gate to Fleetwood Ferry.
- Storm damage repairs on the Central Pier (south side, near the helter-skelter) finished in May 2026, so the full amusements are back open.
- The town's new Dune Grass sculpture walk along the South Shore dunes opened in June 2026, free to wander and a quiet alternative to the Golden Mile crowds.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to The Palms, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor (floor 1) at the rear of the building, away from Empress Drive. These rooms face the quieter garden area and avoid street traffic noise.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms facing Empress Drive; they get direct street noise from cars, taxis, and foot traffic. Also avoid rooms directly above the small bar or near the staircase as guests can be loud late.
Best views
The best view is from rear-facing first-floor rooms overlooking the small garden and neighbouring rooftops. Front-facing rooms look onto Empress Drive and parked cars.
Quietest floors
First and second floors are quietest, especially rooms at the back. The top floor (third) is also fairly quiet but may have some lift hum if the lift shaft is nearby.
🔊 Noise notes
Empress Drive is a main residential street with steady traffic from early morning to late evening. The hotel has a small bar on the ground floor that may generate noise until around 11pm on weekends. No onsite nightclub or major pub nearby.
Insider tips
1. Check in after 3pm to avoid queueing as the reception desk is small. 2. Ask for a room at the back when booking, but call a day before arrival to confirm as the hotel can be flexible. Parking is on-street and free nearby but fills quickly by evening.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — The Palms
Free basic WiFi throughout; speed ~10 Mbps. A paid premium tier at £5/day claims up to 50 Mbps. No login, just accept terms.
One lift serves all three floors. No stairs-only sections.
No digital newsstand or physical papers. The building is a converted 1930s boarding house with original decorative fireplace in the lounge.
Standard check-in from 14:00 to 21:00. Early bag drop allowed from 10:00. Late check-out until 12:00 costs £15 per room, subject to availability.
Free for guests; left by reception. No secure lockers.
No step-free main entrance (two steps up). No wheelchair-access rooms. Lift is standard size (fits a slim wheelchair). No adapted bathrooms.
No on-site parking. Free street parking on Empress Drive and adjacent roads, but very limited. Nearest public car park: Red Bank Road Car Park, FY2 9HJ, £5 per 24h. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full advance payment taken at booking for non-refundable rates; refundable rates require first night deposit. At check-in a £50 incidental card hold is taken.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: St Stephen's (690 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: Holy Family (997 m · ~12 min walk)
- Church: St Paul's Worship Centre (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
- Church: Bispham United Reformed Church (1.6 km · ~20 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Jubilee Gardens — 298 m · ~4 min walk
Funny Girls — 2.2 km · ~27 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Cohens Chemist — 310 m · ~4 min walk
Toni's Mini Market — 200 m · ~3 min walk
Cliffs Hotel — 65 m · ~1 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Pound Sterling, GBP
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at Blackpool North station or on the Promenade as they charge high fees and poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in shops, cafes, and restaurants; contactless is the norm for small payments; American Express is less common.
Not expected but appreciated. Round up the taxi fare or leave 10% for good restaurant service; hotel porters might get £1-2.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A standard filter coffee or flat white from a café is around £2.50.
A fish and chips takeaway from a chippy costs about £6-8; pub lunch specials run £7-9.
A main course at a pub or curry house in the evening is typically £10-13.
The Promenade has stalls selling doughnuts, candy floss and fried snacks; for a sit-down budget meal head to the Lytham Road area.
Tesco Express, Asda (on Squires Gate Lane) and Aldi (nearby on Clifton Road) are the main budget supermarkets.
The main high street shops along Bank Hey Street and Victoria Street have Primark, Next and Burton; the market on Topping Street has cheap basics.
A day ticket on Blackpool Transport buses costs £5.50 (tap on/off with contactless); from the airport take the No. 14 bus (£2.30 single) into town.
Buy a week-long Tram and Bus pass if staying 3+ days. Eat lunch at a supermarket meal deal (£3-4) or use takeaway chippies. Skip the paid Pleasure Beach entry fee and walk the South Pier for free views.
Good to know — Blackpool
Type G · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ £0.75 · GBP
Emergency Contacts
BlackpoolAll emergency services in the UK share the single number 999. For non-emergencies, police can be reached at 101. Blackpool is served by Lancashire Police. In life-threatening situations, always call 999 immediately.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Blackpool, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at The Palms
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: pharmacy · Cohens Chemist — 310 m · ~4 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Blackpool South Railway Station → The New Oxford Hotel / Town Centre (via taxi/bus)
💡 Connections to Manchester, Preston, Liverpool; station is 10-min walk or short taxi to hotel; useful for day trips
Town Centre / Promenade stations → North Shore, South Shore, Fleetwood (seasonal)
💡 Iconic experience; Heritage fleet runs weekends; modern trams are faster and more reliable for regular commuting
Blackpool City Centre / The New Oxford Hotel → Promenade, Town Centre, Attractions
💡 Day passes offer best value for multiple journeys; buses cover all major attractions including Tower and Pleasure Beach
Blackpool Airport (BLK) → The New Oxford Hotel, Blackpool City Centre
💡 Pre-book for guaranteed rates; hotel can arrange pickups in advance
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at The Palms?
Request a room on the first floor (floor 1) at the rear of the building, away from Empress Drive. These rooms face the quieter garden area and avoid street traffic noise.
Which rooms should I avoid at The Palms?
Avoid ground-floor rooms facing Empress Drive; they get direct street noise from cars, taxis, and foot traffic. Also avoid rooms directly above the small bar or near the staircase as guests can be loud late.
Is The Palms noisy?
Empress Drive is a main residential street with steady traffic from early morning to late evening. The hotel has a small bar on the ground floor that may generate noise until around 11pm on weekends. No onsite nightclub or major pub nearby.
Which rooms have the best views at The Palms?
The best view is from rear-facing first-floor rooms overlooking the small garden and neighbouring rooftops. Front-facing rooms look onto Empress Drive and parked cars.
What are insider tips for staying at The Palms?
1. Check in after 3pm to avoid queueing as the reception desk is small. 2. Ask for a room at the back when booking, but call a day before arrival to confirm as the hotel can be flexible. Parking is on-street and free nearby but fills quickly by evening.
What time is check-in at The Palms?
Check-in at The Palms is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does The Palms have Wi-Fi?
Free basic WiFi throughout; speed ~10 Mbps. A paid premium tier at £5/day claims up to 50 Mbps. No login, just accept terms.
Is there a city or tourist tax at The Palms?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near The Palms?
A fish and chips takeaway from a chippy costs about £6-8; pub lunch specials run £7-9.
What is the cheapest way to get around from The Palms?
A day ticket on Blackpool Transport buses costs £5.50 (tap on/off with contactless); from the airport take the No. 14 bus (£2.30 single) into town.
When is the best time to visit Blackpool?
June and September: warm enough for the beach (average 16-18°C), fewer school holidays, and the Illuminations aren't on yet, so hotels are cheaper and roads quieter.
Top Attractions in Blackpool
💡 Visit at sunset for quieter reflection; the tram stops right there (no need to pay). Free year-round.
💡 Check the council website for exhibition dates; often quiet on weekday mornings. Free lockers for bags.
💡 Enter via the main entrance on Ocean Boulevard; you can see performers and the iconic Big One roller coaster without spending a penny.
💡 Pack a picnic; the Italian Garden near the cafe has less footfall. Open 24 hours, but best light at 4pm in summer for photos.
💡 Buy a combined ticket with the Tower Eye for about £12 to save. Best visited weekday afternoons for lower crowds and live organ music.