Summary
When individuals envision domestic seaside holidays in the UK, the Victorian resort of Blackpool remains the primary destination that comes to mind.
Regardless of the unpredictable weather and the brisk temperature of the Irish Sea, Blackpool attracts millions of visitors annually, drawn by various entertainment options, nostalgic amusements, and the everlasting enjoyment associated with the seaside.
This trend has persisted since the 19th century when Blackpool was transformed from a small coastal town into a thriving resort featuring three piers, theatres, a famous iron tower, and a promenade enhanced by one of the UK’s earliest electric tramways.
Since 1879, the Blackpool Illuminations have provided a spectacular finale to the resort’s festive season each autumn.
Let us examine the top attractions in Blackpool:
1. Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Ranked among the 20 most renowned theme parks globally, Blackpool Pleasure Beach has been operated by the same family (The Thompsons) since its establishment in 1896. Over the last century, the park has set numerous records in the UK, Europe, and worldwide, boasting more roller coasters (10) than any other theme park in the country.
We will discuss the Big One separately, as it merits its own entry; however, Infusion is the only roller coaster in the UK completely suspended over water, while Revolution was the first steel inverting roller coaster in Europe.
For those who favor traditional rides, four of Pleasure Beach’s roller coasters are wooden, including the Big Dipper, which dates back to 1923. The “Hot Ice” is an expertly choreographed ice dancing performance, and Nickelodeon Land spans six acres, providing a children’s zone themed after popular Nickelodeon TV shows.
2. The Big One
The sheer size of this iconic roller coaster has made its massive structure a prominent feature of Blackpool’s skyline, comparable to that of the Blackpool Tower.
Upon its opening in 1994, the Big One was the tallest roller coaster globally; nearly 25 years later, it remains the tallest in the UK. Originally, it was also the world’s steepest at a 65° angle and the longest at 1,675 metres.
The Big One’s height necessitated the installation of warning beacons at the top of the first two drops due to its proximity to Blackpool airport, located just a mile away.
The initial drop, which appears to take an eternity to reach, is 62 metres tall; on the descent, you will achieve speeds of 74 mph.
3. Blackpool Tower
One of the most iconic structures associated with Blackpool is the 158-metre iron tower.
Unveiled in 1894, the Blackpool Tower boasts the highest man-made observation point in northwest UK. This imposing structure was inspired by the Eiffel Tower, constructed from over 2,500 tons of iron and five million Accrington bricks.
Your visit should commence with an elevator ride to the pinnacle, where you can admire Blackpool’s promenade and the Irish Sea.
On clear days, the vistas extend to Wales in the south and the Lake District in Cumbria.
The circus within the complex has not missed a single season since the tower’s opening, operating from late March to November.
Additionally, the exquisite Tower Ballroom, designed by Frank Matcham, who also worked on Blackpool’s Grand Theatre, awaits below.
4. Blackpool Tramway
A staple of the promenade since 1885, the Blackpool Tramway is recognized as one of the oldest tram systems globally and the sole survivor of the UK’s initial generation of tramways.
The line stretches 11 miles, commencing at Fleetwood Ferry in the north and concluding at Starr Gate along the Ribble Estuary.
The hallmark of the Blackpool Tramway is the rounded English Electric Balloon car, although these have largely been phased out in favor of the modern Flexity 2 trams, introduced in 2012. Heritage services operate on weekends, bank holidays, and select weekdays, particularly during the Illuminations in autumn, allowing visitors to experience the classic vehicles.
5. Blackpool Beach
In the late 20th century, Blackpool’s beach had a reputation for poor cleanliness; however, it has been revitalized and has recently received its first Blue Flag award.
The beach encompasses all traditional English seaside elements, including deckchairs, ice cream vendors, and donkey rides.
Children can enjoy playing in the shallow waters and constructing sandcastles.
The beach features a gentle gradient, and during low tide, the sea retreats for hundreds of meters.
Blackpool’s three piers provide a multitude of attractions, shows, and rides.
Nearby the South Pier, the Great Promenade Show offers an outdoor exhibition featuring ten pieces annually from both established and emerging artists.
6. Grand Theatre
The esteemed Victorian theatre designer Frank Matcham was the architect behind the magnificent Grand Theatre, which opened in the mid-1890s.
The neo-Baroque auditorium comprises four levels and is adorned with exquisite gilded stuccowork on the ceiling and cantilevered balconies.
The Grand Theatre is such an impressive venue for performances that one need not be particularly selective about what to watch.
It hosts a diverse range of productions, including musicals, classical music ensembles, ballets, operas, pantomimes, and comedy shows.
7. Winter Gardens
A vast entertainment complex, the Winter Gardens first opened its doors in 1878 and features the Opera House, one of the largest theatres in the UK with a seating capacity of 3,000. This is merely one of several auditoriums and halls within the Winter Gardens, including the barrel-vaulted Empress Ballroom, which serves as both a concert venue and formerly hosted the annual conferences for the three main UK political parties.
The largest venues are situated on the ground floor, accessible via an Art Deco corridor topped with a metal and glass roof.
Throughout the year, visitors can enjoy concerts, dance performances, comedy acts, musicals, exhibitions, and trade shows within this impressive Grade II listed complex.
Recent renovations have uncovered and restored original plasterwork created by the film set designer Andrew Mazzei at the café.
8. Stanley Park
A refuge from Blackpool’s vibrant entertainment scene, the resort’s largest park spans 260 acres, located a mile east of the promenade.
The landscape architect Thomas Mawson was responsible for designing the park in the 1920s and contributed to several of its buildings.
The most prominent is the café, designed in an Art Deco style and overlooking the Italian Garden, embellished with statues (including the two Medici lions) and a beautiful marble fountain.
The nearby boating lake is charming, and on its southwest shore stands a Neoclassical bandstand, also conceived by Mawson and surrounded by amphitheater seating.
Children can enjoy a range of activities at Stanley Park, including bumper boats, crazy golf, trampolines, a miniature train ride, and electric cars.
9. Blackpool Zoo
Located within 32 acres of scenic English parkland, Blackpool Zoo is just a couple of miles from Blackpool Tower.
Opened in 1972, the zoo regularly introduces new exhibits, the latest being Project Elephant, which represents the zoo’s largest investment in its 45-year history and features the largest indoor elephant hall in the UK. The Orangutan Outlook, housing five Bornean orangutans with floor-to-ceiling viewing areas, is also noteworthy.
At Amazonia, visitors can navigate a rainforest setting amid squirrel monkeys and a vibrant mix of tropical birds, including conures, ringed teals, and parakeets.
The zoo is also home to popular animals such as giraffes, African lions, penguins, western lowland gorillas, and it features a children’s farm with pygmy goats, donkeys, alpacas, and Ouessant sheep.
10. Sandcastle Waterpark
Situated between the Pleasure Beach and the South Pier, Sandcastle Waterpark is recognized as the UK’s largest indoor waterpark.
Offering a tropical climate indoors with a consistent temperature of 84°F, the waterpark features 18 slides for children, including two new attractions, Montazooma and Aztec Falls.
The former is a mat-slide with 360° twists, while Aztec Falls provides a high-speed descent into a dark chasm, culminating in a corkscrew.
Younger children can safely enjoy the Shimmerin Shallows, while parents may retreat to the Sea Breeze Spa, which offers a steam room, sauna, heated foot spas, and an aromatherapy room.
11. North Pier
As the oldest and longest of Blackpool’s three piers, the North Pier was established in 1863 and extends for half a kilometer.
This pier is the only one of the three that holds English Heritage listed status, and like its counterparts, it has withstood storms, fires, and collisions with vessels for more than 160 years.
Originally intended to offer a refined atmosphere, the pier charged visitors for entry until the 2000s and featured lovely Victorian architecture, including a wrought iron canopy in the Carousel bar located at the pier’s head.
After a fire in 1938, the Indian Pavilion on the pier was replaced by an Art Deco theatre, which has hosted numerous prominent British entertainers, including Morecambe and Wise and Bruce Forsyth.
The pier also includes an arcade dating back to the 1960s, a charming two-tier carousel, various food stalls, a Victorian tea room, and a spacious beer garden at the Carousel bar.
12. Central Pier
Extending 339 meters into the Irish Sea, Central Pier was constructed in 1868 in response to the popularity of the North Pier.
From its inception, this pier has focused more on entertainment (primarily dancing) compared to its more tranquil counterpart to the north.
As preferences changed throughout the 20th century, the dancing was replaced with roller-skating, a theatre, amusements, and eventually video arcades.
The most recent notable addition was the 33-metre Ferris wheel in 1990, replicating a Victorian wheel that previously towered over the Winter Gardens.
Free performances are held at the Pirate’s Bay “Family bar” located at the pier’s end, featuring science shows, dance competitions, ventriloquists, illusions, and juggling acts.
The Showbar at the front of the pier hosts tribute performances to renowned artists such as Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Whitney Houston, and George Michael.
13. Madame Tussauds
The Blackpool location of the renowned Madame Tussauds showcases an impressive collection of primarily British celebrities, remarkably crafted as lifelike wax figures.
Visitors can have an audience with Queen Elizabeth II, meet Olympic star Mo Farah, and engage with the famously critical talent show judge Simon Cowell.
The exhibit features icons from music, British television, international cinema, and sports, all presented in immersive displays that allow individuals to capture selfies with the figures.
One of the most beloved sections includes a replica of the Rovers Return Inn from the long-running British soap opera, Coronation Street, where visitors can interact with characters such as Ken and Deidre Barlow, Jack and Vera Duckworth, and Bet Lynch.
14. Blackpool Illuminations
Regarded as the “best free light show in the world,” the Blackpool Illuminations is an annual light festival that occurs for 66 days, generally beginning at the end of August and concluding at the beginning of November.
This tradition commenced in 1879 to extend the tourist season into autumn, and virtually every feature along the promenade, from heritage trams to the Blackpool Tower, is adorned with a million bulbs.
Visitors can enjoy traditional animated displays, sequentially illuminated hotels along the promenade, and in recent years, 3D light shows projected onto the side of the Tower.
Since 1934, there has been a “Switch On” event where a celebrity activates 10 kilometers of lights.
This occasion is typically accompanied by a concert, with notable performers such as Britney Spears participating in 2018.
