The Dungeons are a group of educational, interactive shows set in well, you guessed it, dungeons around the world, bringing the darkest stories from history to life. Most of them are in big cities like London, Berlin, and Shanghai, but I'm very proud to say that here in Lancashire we have our very own Blackpool Tower Dungeon.

My tickets to The Dungeons were compensated in exchange for honest review.

Please be aware that there may be some spoilers in this post, so if you're brave enough to dive in to The Dungeons blind feel free to hop over to my other Blackpool recommendations, but if you'd like a heads up before you head in, carry on reading.

Immersed in dimly lit tunnels where strange sights and sounds wait around every corner, you can easily forget you're just minutes away from a massive Primark, and a few floors from The Blackpool Tower Ballroom!

Every room sets the scene perfectly, from the doctor's office where you'll feel your skin crawl with leeches, to the Captain's secret cove. Your adrenaline will surge as the lights go out and you wait in suspense to see if you'll make it into his smuggling crew. 

While nothing actually touches you or puts you in danger, The Dungeons are full of clever tricks to keep you on your toes and ramp up your heart rate. Lights will drop, creatures will jump, and somewhere through the tour you'll lose yourself in a smoky mirror maze.

The creatures, as they are called by the tour guide, are the leaders who will show and tell their part of history. Meet the doctor, his assistant, and their leeches as they attempt to cure the plague, Judge Blackheart who will decide if you hang, and the torturer of Lancaster Castle who really does not like Yorkshire folk. 

Despite repeating their lines multiple times a day, the actors don't hold back on making their creature characters as horrible and intimidating as possible. Think awkward eye contact, sudden movements, and the creepiest of smiles to really put you on the edge.

At The Dungeons, you are part of the experience, so be prepared to answer their questions and do as they say- or else. This is what makes it so much fun, especially for your friends and family as they watch you squirm.

Congratulations, you've survived the tour! Commiserations, you've been found guilty of being part of the infamous Pendle witches, and must hang for your crimes. If you pass the safety checks you'll be ushered to your death by an executioner and strapped firmly into a row of seats. 

Your heart rate will rise with the seats as they're cranked higher and higher in a dark room, until a fiery Viking face speaks the last words you will hear, and your body suddenly drops back down to the floor with a rush of cold air. 

It's exhilarating, it's frightening, and it's absolutely hilarious- though perhaps not as much as the souvenir photos that are snapped halfway through your fall. 

You might need a stiff drink after that shock, and luckily there is a licensed pub on site where the staff stay in character and can tell you the latest scandals and gossip of 1896. Stop by the souvenir gift shop, then raise a glass to making it out of The Dungeons alive.

I'd recommend a trip to The Blackpool Tower Dungeons to anyone, even big scaredy cats like me! The idea is that the fear adds to the fun, so you'll jump, shriek, and scream, but laugh a lot, too. There are one or two slightly cheeky jokes, but aside from that it's great for couples, friend, and even families, with a recommended age of 8 for younger visits. 

For Christmas (how was that 7 months ago?!) my boyfriend very kindly gifted me a chocolate selection box from The Vegan Kind, chock full of dairy free, honey free, gelatine free sweet treats to enjoy.

I hid the box from myself so it wouldn't get devoured in the festive frenzy, and I've slowly eaten and savoured the contents to share my thoughts on them properly. Willpower level: warrior.

Call me strange, but I don't actually like normal Smarties. If you do, you'll love these, because they're honestly almost the same! The chocolate and sugar shell had the classic taste and feel, and the only difference I could find was that these come in more muted colours.

There are hundreds in the bag, and I feel like these would be really good for dairy free or vegan kids' treats or lunchboxes, and they'd also be great for decorating cakes.

Amazing. Buy them now. I don't know how they make fudge without condensed cows' milk but by golly, they've done it! The filling is almost identical to Cadbury's fudge but with a toastier flavour coming in at the end, alongside the kick of sea salt to offset the sugar rush.

The chocolate coating around them was also lovely, it wasn't too dark and still melted well as I ate the fudge. Definitely a winning combination and one I will buy and recommend.

This was absolutely delightful, 10x better than a Cadbury Crunchie. The dark chocolate complemented the super sweet honeycomb, and the vanilla in it shone through. I recommend letting it sit out overnight so it gets all chewy and even more delicious. If you need a gift for a vegan friend, order two of these- one for them, one for you!

The tagline of 'not dusty, chalky, or chewy' initially put me off this bar a bit. That's the very least I expect from my treats, and should be a given, not what you advertise with, but then I read that the lady behind the brand- Mummy Meagz- had found that many vegan bars were exactly that, and she wanted to buck the trend.

The bar was very sweet, and the chocolate coating was surprisingly creamy. The marshmallows studding it were not chewy like non-vegan ones, but they were still delicious. The white chocolate chunks were generous but a bit sickly for me, and there were plenty of crunchy biscuit pieces in the mixture too.

Overall the bar was just too sweet for me, I would prefer a darker chocolate and stronger orange flavour, but it was almost identical to a non-vegan version which will be exactly what some people want.

If you like praline, you'll love this. It tasted exactly like I was eating a Thornton's chocolate, and the quinoa added a nice crispy texture. Praline isn't my favourite, so I wouldn't buy this again, but I did still enjoy it as a sweet treat.

I expected these to be dry like cocoa Shreddies, but I was happily surprised to find that they are Shreddies coated in a generous layer of chocolate, which was dark but sweet and not too bitter. I didn't detect a caramel flavour, but there were little pieces of salt which complemented the coating.

I probably wouldn't buy these again because I prefer to either have a healthy snack or a treat, and these fell in between for me, but I did enjoy them.

It's peanut butter truffle time, peanut butter truffle time! At first I hated these, because the chocolate is darker than my soul. They did grow on me, and the depth of the chocolate meant that they were rich without being sickly, but I'd still choose a milky, sugary Reese's cup over them.

The Vegan Kind selection box has something for everyone, and it's a really easy, accessible way to find new vegan and dairy free chocolates, whether you're fully cruelty free, lactose intolerant, or just love trying new things. Just a few clicks and one payment and a whole box is picked for you and sent to your door.

Alongside the seasonal chocolate boxes, The Vegan Kind also offer vegan lifestyle and beauty boxes, and The Vegan Kind Supermarket, where you can stock up on new-found favourites.

The Setting

The Blackpool Tower Ballroom is famously the big location on Strictly Come Dancing every year, and always looks amazing, but it's even better in person. While the cameras keep all eyes on the dancefloor, I was able to look around to the gallery and the grand, decorated ceiling that has overlooked thousands of dances in its time. 

It's a lovely piece of Lancashire's history and tourism, and a luxurious place to enjoy afternoon tea. The talented organists who play the Wurlitzer live from centre stage boost the atmosphere even further. Between them and the dancers, it really felt like stepping back to a time when dances were the place to be.

The Dancers

I stepped into the ballroom under the impression that any of the diners could get up and give the dancing a go. What I wasn't expecting was a dancefloor full of couples who knew every song and step, and performed them perfectly! 

While I felt way too shy to join in alongside such brilliant dancers, I was more than happy to sit and watch them glide around the floor. Some of them looked to be in their 80s and it was obvious from their elegance that these were dances they practised and perfected over many years. 

I'm not ashamed to say I had a little tear in my eye watching them sway and step in perfect rhythm, it made for such a special experience and I'm very grateful to them for that. It has definitely made me appreciate the art of dancing more, and I have a newfound respect for the Strictly celebs who learn these dances so quickly!

The Service

Every member of staff I met at The Blackpool Tower was efficient, friendly, and just wonderful. It felt like they genuinely enjoyed their jobs, and they really helped to enhance our visit. 

Francis greeted us with the warmest welcome at the door, before Leia showed us to our seats. Once we were settled our server, Bethany, introduced herself, took our drinks order, and checked over our dietary preferences, advising us to let her know if there was anything we didn't like so she could change it. 

We also had the pleasure of meeting Maggie, who kindly took some snaps of us from different angles, and was always smiling when we saw her.

The Food

Unfortunately the low point of our visit was the afternoon tea itself. Perhaps I've been spoilt by other teas I've tried, but it was a little lacklustre, especially against the grandeur of the setting. 

The sandwiches were egg mayonnaise, tuna mayonnaise, cream cheese and cucumber, and ham and cheddar, and they were fine but could have benefited from a garnish of salad or a few crisps as they looked very plain on the plate.

The scone tier was much better, with large scones full of cherries, and ample cream and jam alongside them. 

Usually the cake tier is my favourite, but I wasn't impressed with the selection in the ballroom. There was a small square of rich chocolate brownie, a slice of Victoria sponge, and a berry coulis topped with synthetic cream. With jam and cream on the scone, sponge, and coulis dessert, the flavours just became repetitive and the afternoon tea would have benefited from more variety. 

Both the Victoria sponge and dessert were in plastic packaging too, which suggested to me that they were bought from a food company rather than prepared fresh. I appreciate the ballroom may not have a full kitchen, but perhaps they could work with a local supplier to bring in fresh, higher quality food for their teas. 

The Experience

While you can eat better afternoon teas elsewhere, it would be difficult to find one in a setting better than The Blackpool Tower Ballroom. It must have been breathtaking when it first opened in 1894, and it's still spectacular now. 

You can buy tickets to visit the ballroom without having afternoon tea, so whether you're a dancer, history buff, or Strictly Come Dancing superfan, I would recommend booking in to see it for yourself.

My tickets to Madame Tussauds Blackpool were provided in exchange for honest review.

SETTING

It's no secret that we get more than our fair share of rain in the North West, so indoor attractions are always appreciated, and Madam Tussauds Blackpool is one that truly does offer something for all the family.

At £18 for adult tickets, Madame Tussauds isn't the cheapest attraction, but there are lots of deals around to lower the price. If you park on Blackpool Central car park, check the back for money off, or book online for reduced entry and discount bundles on other Merlin venues, like Sea Life Blackpool.

Another tip for booking is to opt for a weekday if you can to allow plenty of time and space to really make the most of your visit and take plenty of pictures.

THE CHARACTERS

Whether you want to rock out with iconic musicians, marvel at the superheroes, admire the athletes, or go behind the scenes with TV, comedy, and movie stars, Madame Tussauds offers areas for everyone, and there were actually more models than I had anticipated.

Some of my favourites included boxer Nicola Adams, Alan Carr, and Groot, but I found that even the people I wouldn't ordinarily be drawn to were made interesting by the facts or interaction around them, like lockers in the football room that showed the players' lucky charms, and a screen playing a film on astrology in Professor Brian Cox's room.

It was great to see a section on how the models are made, too, starting life as a wire frame and being built right up into a realistic person. Each wrinkle in the lips is handpainted, every individual hair placed on their heads. The wax figures are even treated to a regular refresh and hair wash to keep those details perfect.

THE MUSIC ROOM

This was my favourite part of all, as I think fellow visitors guessed when they heard me shout "Freddie!" upon spotting my idol, Mr Mercury. He shares a stage with Shirley Bassey and MJ, while Britney Spears and Tom Jones hang out with Sid Vicious on the other side of the room and The Beatles strolled across a recreation of Abbey Road.

After striking a few poses with my beloved, I hopped into the sound booths where you can pop on some soundproof headphones, select your favourite track from the era of that booth, and- if you're bold enough- have a boogie.

THE ROVERS RETURN

Being so close to Manchester, where Coronation Street is filmed, it's only fitting that Madame Tussauds has its very own recreation of the street's much loved pub. It's actually licenced and has its own bar staff too, so you can have a beer with Deirdre Barlow using special MT tokens!

MARVEL SUPERHEROES
Little ones and big kids at heart will love meeting the Marvel superheroes! Start your journey by registering your handprint in, then you're ready to join the team.

Take your chance to get close to Thor,
flex your muscles as you lift a taxi with The Hulk or take flight with Iron Man, who cleverly has a screen behind him showing moving footage, so it looks like you are lifting off together.

INTERACTION

When I visited Madame Tussauds London a few years ago, the only interaction I remember is actors jumping out and spooking me, so I expected the same from Blackpool, but I'm very pleased to say that there was no fright, just fun in all areas of the attraction.

Instead of just looking at the models, visitors are invited to get more physically involved, from hopping on Elliot's bike with ET, to scoring goals in the football room, to ducking and diving in the laser maze. I surprised my family and myself by coming top of the leaderboard- 414 is the score to beat!

ACCESSIBILITY

I was really pleased to see that disabled guests can fully enjoy Madame Tussauds, with lifts for access and plenty of room to navigate wheelchairs and powerchairs around. In the music exhibit where Olly Murs is onstage, there is even a ramp around the back so visitors can sit right beside him.

It was also nice to note that the mirror maze had a bypass so that children or sensory impaired guests could choose a calmer route if the mirrors would be stressful for them.

SOUVENIRS

As you explore the exhibits there are paid photo opportunities that use props and/or the magic of green screen to create souvenir pictures of your visit- for example, you can try on Tom Baker's classic stripy Doctor Who scarf and see yourself with Sonic Screwdriver in hand.

For more mementos, the gift shop has everything you could imagine, and you can even make your own wax hand as the perfect reminder of your day.

OVERALL

Madame Tussauds Blackpool exceeded my expectations. We were there for a good hour and a half and both myself and my parents really enjoyed our visit, proving that it suits almost all ages. I probably wouldn't advise it for very young children who wouldn't really 'get' it or could find the models alarming, but primary school children and up will have a blast meeting their favourite superheroes and spotting celebs.

There are so many touches that help to bring it to life (in the least creepy way possible!) and more than once I did find myself expecting a wax figure to move or wink due to the level of skill and detail that goes into every face. Come rain or shine. I'd definitely recommend visiting them for yourself.

Have you been to a Madame Tussauds before?

Horwich, a tiny town just outside of Bolton, is home to lots of charity shops, beauty salons, and cafes, with Chill at The Cowshed being the most beautiful of the latter in my opinion. Shabby chic Cath Kidston-esque decor meets sleek beachy vibes to make a really lovely spot for lunching and chatting.

My mum had kindly gifted me a voucher for their afternoon tea for my birthday, so I booked in to celebrate my new job in style. Straight away I was impressed with the customer service on the phone- the lady was so polite and advised me the best time to visit for a calm afternoon where we wouldn't feel rushed.

Surprisingly, the scone tier was my favourite. Ordinarily I'm not keen on scones, especially fruited ones, but The Cowshed got them spot on.

Already generously sandwiched with jam, cream, and strawberries, we had no choice but to eat them like burgers rather than in halves. The scones themselves were soft and tasted really fresh, with plenty of plump raisins throughout, and the juicy strawberries on them were a really nice addition.

Alongside the scones were almond meringues sandwiched with chocolate ganache. Personally I prefer a chewy macaron with buttercream or fruit in the centre, but my boyfriend favoured the crisp meringue. They were just the right size for after the scone and before the top tier.

The top tier held a tiny jar of trifle, which was nice to see. I always appreciate something novel, and the cold jelly studded with pineapple pieces was nicely refreshing after the scones, though after all the cream in the scones I didn't need custard and cream on the trifle, too.

Carrot cake buns were also on the top tier, complete with lots of buttercream and little sugar carrots. Really I should have taken mine home as I was already stuffed, but I soldiered on and found the cake to be nice and moist with a good spice.

My family will tell you that I'm something of a Haribo fiend, hoovering up every new release I can find, and harbouring a not-so-secret love for Tangfastics, so when I learned that the Haribo vegetarian line was growing and I could enjoy my fruity sweet treats with a clear conscience, I almost jumped for joy!

The items in this post were sent to me for honest review.

In the range we have Spaghetti Zing, Rainbow Strips, Jelly Beans, Funny Mix, Giant Strawbs, and Giant Strawbs Gone Mini that are in treat size bags, perfect for your little ones. All of the line is gelatine-free so suitable for vegetarian and Halal diets alike, but be aware that most contain beeswax so are not vegan friendly.

All the packets are labelled as vegetarian to make them easy to grab when you're shopping, and in the case of the non-vegan ones, the beeswax is clear in the ingredients rather than being listed as an E number. The Haribo Rainbow Strips and Spaghetti are vegan friendly.

While we're discussing ingredients, let me tell you that the Funny Mix has been revamped to include real fruit juice, and it shows. The mix is made of ice cream cones, strawberries, and my favourite, the cola bottles. They have such a vibrant, tangy flavour that's just like drinking a Coke with plenty of lemon.

My second favourite was the Haribo Spaghetti Zing. I'm a sucker for sour sweets, and both the coating and spaghetti itself were tart. I could happily eat a whole bowl of this! 

I also really enjoyed the jellybeans, which had peach, marshmallow, raspberry, blackcurrant, popcorn, and candyfloss flavours under a sweet sugar shell. I couldn't tell a huge difference between flavours, with them all tasting like raspberry ripple ice cream to me, but the texture was spot on. 

Unfortunately the texture for the Strawbs and Funny Mix wasn't great. While Candy Kittens have managed to recreate the classic chewy texture of gelatine sweets, the Haribo vegetarian range is much softer and tends to get stuck in the teeth, which is the only downside to these treats for me. 

Haribo gelatine-free sweets can be found in supermarkets now. Which pack will you pick?

Home of William Wordsworth, the chocolate box village of Grasmere is still hugely popular with tourists today, and it's easy to see why. It's quaint, picturesque, and has a host of local hotspots to explore and enjoy. I've listed my top five, but the village also has independent art and craft shops, a bookshop, and tonnes of tearooms and eateries to enjoy.

Whether you make a dedicated trip, or visit on your way to Keswick or Ambleside, Grasmere truly is a gem of the English Lakes that mustn't be missed.

Allan Bank

One of my absolute favourite National Trust places, Allan Bank is the best place to make the most of the beautiful views. On a sunny day there's nothing better than enjoying tea and biscuits in the garden, but whatever the weather you are invited to curl up with a book, get creative in their dedicated craft room, or join in scheduled art activities.

The Storyteller's Garden

Taffy Thomas MBE may just have the best job in the world. From the garden across the road from Sarah Nelson's, he tells tales to any children lucky enough to listen. The garden is closed in January, February, and March, but from Easter onwards you can find seasonal family events being held.