Choosing where to stay

Blackpool's queer scene grew up alongside its guesthouses. From the 1980s onwards, gay-run and gay-friendly B&Bs opened in the terraced streets north of the town centre, a few minutes' walk from the bars. That pattern still holds. Nearly every LGBTQ+ stay in town is a small, owner-run house within ten minutes of Funny Girls. The trick is picking the one that matches your trip.

Start with the street

• Lord Street is the main guest-house strip, and it has two ends. The station end (Q Accommodation, Rendezvous, The Garnett, Legends, Mardi Gras, Trades) is closest to Blackpool North and the bars. The sea end (Gabrielle's, The Dragonfly, Westfield House, DeLovely, McGraths) is a little calmer and closer to North Pier.
• Dickson Road is the spine of the gay village. Stay at the southern end (The Molly House, Lee & Chris's Belvedere, Peek-a-Booze, Lu-Lu's) if you want to step straight out into the action. The far northern end, by the Gynway, is quiet and residential.
• High Street, Banks Street and Yates Street are tucked between the station and the bars (Pride Lodge, Welhorny's, Hotel Neon, the Prince Albert). They are close to everything but slightly off the main drag.
• Cocker Street and General Street are on the town-centre side of the quarter (Chaps, the B and B Blackpool, Evanescent, Lawrence House). They are handy for the Winter Gardens and big car parks, and about five minutes from the bars.

Decide how much noise you want

Blackpool has a strong tradition of rooms above a bar. Mardi Gras, Peek-a-Booze, Lu-Lu's, Rendezvous, Evanescent and Trades all have busy bars beneath the bedrooms, some open until 1am or 3am. That is perfect if you plan to be there until last orders, and miserable if you need sleep. If you want quiet, choose a house with only a small residents' bar or none at all, such as Q Accommodation, Lawrence House, Westfield House, Gabrielle's or the Prince Albert. Or ask for a rear room. McGraths, for example, has most of its rooms at the back.

Breakfast or room only?

More houses than you might expect are now room-only: Hotel Neon, Q Accommodation, Evanescent and Rendezvous (unless you ask). Pride Lodge leaves a light breakfast in your room. Room only is often cheaper, and the quarter has plenty of places for a fry-up, including Peek-a-Booze (food all day from 9am), DeLovely and the cafés near the station. If a full English matters to you, Lawrence House, Chaps, the Molly House, Gabrielle's, McGraths, the Garnett and the Belvedere all include one. Lawrence House is unusual in also serving home-cooked dinners every night.

Who is it for?

• Mixed and everyone-welcome: most houses fall into this group, and they welcome gay, lesbian, bi and trans guests and friends.
• Adults only: the majority of LGBTQ+ guesthouses are 18+, and many refuse stag and hen parties, whatever the group's sexuality.
• Men only: Trades, the Prince Albert and Welhorny's are for men, and two of them run as members' clubs. See our men-only and adults-only guide.
• Families and dogs: the Molly House takes all ages and has family rooms. The Dame Lane and the Gynway welcome families and dogs.
• Women: see our women and lesbian-friendly stays page.

Facilities worth knowing about

• Sauna, gym and hot tub at your guesthouse: Pride Lodge.
• A roof terrace: Lawrence House.
• Cabaret in your own building: McGraths, Peek-a-Booze, Lu-Lu's and Mardi Gras.
• Discount cards: Pride Lodge gives guests a card with offers at local LGBTQ+-friendly venues, including money off at Funny Girls.
• Parking included or cheap: Legends has free parking. Hotel Neon has two free spaces. DeLovely and McGraths rent private spaces. Q Accommodation and Pride Lodge can get you a discounted pass for Bank Street car park.

Money-saving tips

• Go midweek. Pride Lodge takes 15% off Sunday to Thursday stays, the Belvedere takes 15% off midweek three-night stays, and Lawrence House gives 10% off stays of five nights or more. Chaps offers seven nights for the price of five.
• Book direct. Many houses promise to beat the big booking sites, and some, such as Lawrence House, don't use them at all.
• Read the minimum-stay rules. Two nights at weekends and three over event weekends and bank holidays is common.
• Check the deposit terms. First-night deposits are usually non-refundable, and many houses charge in full if you cancel inside seven or 14 days.

When to book early

Book months ahead for Pride in early June, Winter Pride in February, the Illuminations switch-on at the end of August, the autumn Illuminations weekends and New Year's Eve. The men-only hotels' themed weekends, such as bear, fetish and naked weekends, also sell out quickly.