Visit Blackpool! Blackpool has a midwinter population of 125,000 that swells to three or four times that in midsummer. The country's largest resort makes its living from conferences, tour groups, families, and couples looking for an affordable getaway. Its 11km (7 miles) of beaches, 9.5km (6 miles) of colored lights, and dozens of Disneylike attractions and rides make Blackpool one of the most entertaining cities in England.

Disadvantages include unpredictable weather that brews over the nearby Irish Channel; a sandy, flat-as-a-pancake landscape that's less than inspiring; and a reputation for dowdiness. But some people love the brisk sea air, the architectural remnants of Britain's greatest Imperial Age, the utter lack of pretentiousness, and the poignant nostalgia that clings to the edges of places like Coney Island.