Broomcroft

The clatter of trams and the salt-sharp breeze off the Irish Sea reach this Victorian guesthouse on the edge of Blackpool's bustling seafront, a proper base for anyone wanting the illuminations and piers without sleeping under canvas in a coastal gale.

This one suits families after a traditional seaside break with proper beds, couples doing the Tower and Winter Gardens, or anyone combining a Fylde Coast visit with the odd night under cover in one of the camping pods. Dogs are welcome by arrangement, so beach walks along the seven miles of sand are sorted. Blackpool itself divides opinion — it's candy floss and rollercoasters, stag dos and donkey rides — but if that's your kind of nostalgic British seaside, you're in the thick of it here.

Inside there's guesthouse accommodation with the usual breakfast-included setup, plus those pods if you want something between a tent and four walls. Ask about campfires when you arrive — policies vary. Open all year, so you can catch the lights in autumn or brave a winter paddle if the mood takes you.