Near Downtown Blackpool Is An Award-Winning Park With Gardens, Pedal Boats, And Art Deco Vibes

The thing to know about Blackpool in Northern England is that people go there to have a good time. It's home to a seaside amusement park called Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Tower, which can easily be mistaken for the Eiffel Tower, and wildly creative activities for bachelor parties—or stag dos, as they say in England. Stanley Park is another great reason to visit Blackpool. Voted twice over as the best park in the U.K. by Fields in Trust and deemed an English National Treasure, the 390-acre park has gorgeous gardens, eye-catching architecture, and offers a smorgasbord of leisurely activities.

It's easy to spend the day at Stanley Park simply enjoying its formal gardens or taking a stroll via its nature trails. Ducks and swans glide across the lake, and folks lounge on well-maintained lawns and benches. You can play a round of pitch-and-putt, accompany your kids on a mini-train, or take a serene boat trip in a pedal boat. To admire the local architecture, head to Park's Art Deco Café, where a pair of Medici lion statues guard the steps to the elegant building.

In addition to green spaces like the Rose and Remembrance Gardens (to honor veterans), Stanley Park is also adorned with Italian gardens. The gardens' vibrantly colored flowers provide a lovely view while you sunbathe or have a picnic. Look up to see the Cocker Clock Tower, which serves as a memorial to Blackpool's first mayor and rises majestically over the park. As you take it all in, keep an eye out for squirrels darting here and there and interesting birds such as rose-ringed parakeets and great spotted woodpeckers. Just as nice, you can sit by the lake and feed the ducks and geese.

If you want to get active at the park, you can play pitch-and-putt, which involves shorter holes but uses real golf clubs and balls. Keeping in line with the idea of active leisure, head to the park's lake and rent a pedal boat. You can enjoy views of leafy trees that surround the lake and pedal past the bandstand, where live performances take place. Alternatively, head to the skate park and practice your kick flips or BMX. Kids can teeter on seesaws and rocking horses at the playground or have a romp on a trampoline.

After all the activities, make a beeline for Park's Art Deco Cafe. A Grade II listed building that was constructed in 1937, architecture lovers can admire its stately entrance. Mouthwatering dishes like hot buttered crumpets, prawn sandwiches, and cottage pie feature on the menu. There's always a new seasonal dish to try, and the cafe also serves afternoon tea. For those less familiar with English traditions, feel free to brush up on five English afternoon tea rules. The nice thing about afternoon tea at the cafe is that the assortment of treats includes canapés and comes with free refills of garden tea.

There are various clubs at Stanley Park, including a cricket club and a slot car club (for miniature car racing). Blackpool Park Golf Club, a golf course accompanied by a members' lounge, sits in the northern section of the park. Or, assemble a group of friends and check out the facilities for five-a-side football, a 10-person soccer game played on a smaller pitch.

It's not a myth that on average England endures a high number of rainy days a year, and Blackpool isn't exempt from that phenomenon. The chances of rain in the city hover between 30% and 50% year-round, so it may be a good idea to check the forecast before venturing to the park. If you're driving to the park, there is a free parking lot.  Alternatively, the number 18 bus can drop you off on the eastern side.  

If you're looking for another nice day out near Blackpool, visit Fleetwood, a coastal town with delicious seafood and beaches. Alternatively, you can experience more of England's outdoor charms along the Tolkien Trail, an ethereal countryside trail inspired by "Middle-earth." The trail resides in Hurst Green, under an hour's drive from Blackpool.