The Miramar

The smell of sea air cuts through the Victorian terraces the moment you step outside — you're a five-minute walk from Blackpool's promenade, close enough to hear the gulls and the distant rumble of the Pleasure Beach.

The Miramar offers both traditional guest house rooms and camping pods, so it suits couples after a seaside weekend, families who want a proper bed after a day on the piers, or anyone testing the camping-pod waters without committing to canvas. Blackpool's all about the lights, the tower, and the kiss-me-quick energy, but you're also surprisingly close to the quieter stretches of the Fylde coast if you need to escape the arcades. Anglers sometimes use this as a base for Four Seasons Fishery, a short drive inland when the seafront gets too much.

Facilities aren't specified in detail, so it's worth checking what's included when you book. Dogs are welcome by arrangement, and campfires depend on what's allowed when you arrive — ask ahead if that matters. It's open year-round, which makes it a solid winter bolthole when the illuminations go up and the crowds thin out.