Blackpool

Blackpool on the west coast is the UK's capital of holiday nostalgia: in the days before budget airline travel, the seaside town used to be the number-one resort for British tourists on their summer vacations. Nowadays, some of Blackpool's visitors have drifted away to the south of France or the Costa Del Sol – but the town still has an English holiday feel to it that will get under your skin and bring you back for more.

Ride the iconic trams past the Blackpool Illuminations, the town's annual autumn light show featuring glitzy tableaux from popular culture. Channel your inner Fred Astaire as you waltz round Blackpool Tower's gigantic ballroom. Then sample some of the best fish and chips in Britain one of the many seaside cafes: order your portion with tea and bread and butter if you want to pass for a proper local! Though you might want to delay lunch until after you've finished riding Blackpool Pleasure Beach's most infamous rollercoaster, 65m (213ft) giant The Big One, whose towering red tracks are visible all the way from the other side of town.