Blackpool - seaside fun all year round
Bold, brash and beautiful, Blackpool is Britain’s playground by the sea. It’s Britain’s most popular seaside resort packed with wall to wall family entertainment. Revel in 7 miles of sand, the Pleasure Beach with its hair-raising rides and rollercoasters and the Promenade and piers with their slots, shows and buzzing bars and restaurants. Just a short hop from Manchester, Liverpool and Scotland, Blackpool serves up high energy entertainment whatever the weather.
Memory of Blackpool
“We had a donkey ride, went down water slides, saw a magic show and went on massive rides, all in one day!”
Róisín (age 8) Ireland
Culture & Heritage
Visitors first flocked to Blackpool in Victorian times and it’s been known as the archetypal English seaside resort ever since. Much has changed but you’ll still find clanking trams, celebrated theatres, historic wooden rollercoasters and a nostalgic shot of seaside fun. Blackpool tower, built in 1894, still commands fantastic views over the resort.
Shopping
From high end to the high street, Blackpool offers a wide range of shops. The shining new Houndshill Shopping Centre (www.houndshillshoppingcentre.co.uk/) has all your favourite stores under one roof. And don’t leave town without a souvenir stick of rock, the sticks of boiled candy with Blackpool’s name running through them.
Attractions
Whether you want a night on the town or a day at the beach, Blackpool is jam-packed with things to see and do. Don’t miss Blackpool Tower (www.theblackpooltower.co.uk/) with its vertigo-inducing glass floor, the fastest rollercoaster in the world at the Pleasure Beach or the rides and arcades along the front.
Sport
Get moving in Blackpool and enjoy activities from paintballing to ballroom dancing and everything in between. Zoom down the slides at the Sandcastle water park, try rock climbing at the 20m climbing towers or try your hand at ice skating. And if you fancy something a little more sedate, why not have a paddle in the sea?
Food & Drink
You’ll find a range of cuisine from all over the world in Blackpool but traditional fish ‘n’ chips are still a delicious and popular choice. For something a little more upmarket, try Kwizeen (www.kwizeenrestaurant.co.uk/), the restaurant that serves local produce with aplomb. You could also try the Pleasure Beach’s White Tower restaurant (www.whitetowerrestaurant.com/).
Music & Nighlife
West End hits, sell-out concerts, ballet and operas, tributes to the stars, circus, illusion and cool, contemporary productions – Blackpool has them all. Add a splash of cabaret, a dash of cutting edge club culture and you’ve got a recipe for fun that suits all comers.
Buy before you fly
To make your trip to Blackpool easier, you can buy tickets to attractions, travel passes, and much more at our online shop, and avoid the queues! The BritRail GB Flexi Pass allows you to explore the country at your own pace, and the Great British Heritage Pass (www.britishheritagepass.com) gives you free entry to nearly 600 of Britain’s finest historic houses, gardens and monuments. For more great offers, go to VisitBritain Direct (www.visitbritaindirect.com).
Top day time must-dos
Top night time must dos