Les Dawson

Les Dawson was a Lancashire lad through and through - born in 1934 in Lytham St Annes, just a few miles from Blackpool, and he spent his life making people laugh across Britain. The comedian's legacy isn't tied to a single building or museum, but rather to the spirit of the area that shaped him. If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Manor House Glamping or Haven Marton Mere are closest - it's worth taking an afternoon to explore the places that mattered to him: Lytham itself, where he grew up, and the coastal towns where he'd have played in his youth.

Dawson was the man with the mournful expression and the twitching orchestra, a genius at deadpan delivery who could make misery hilarious. Visiting Lytham and the surrounding Lancashire coast gives you a feel for where that particular brand of northern humour comes from - the grey skies, the chip shops, the proper working-class grit. The town's pleasant enough for a wander, with the seafront and pier offering that classic seaside atmosphere he'd have known as a kid.

There's no dedicated visitor centre, so this is more about paying your respects to his memory and the place that made him. History buffs and comedy enthusiasts will get more from it than casual holidaymakers, but anyone interested in British entertainment history should factor it in. Allow an hour or two wandering Lytham's town centre. The real value is the connection - understanding where one of Britain's finest comedians came from.