Blackpool
Blackpool is a large town and seaside resort in North West England with a population of 138,400.
Every week in the holiday season saw the arrival of hundreds of trains to Blackpool, packed with factory workers from Lancashire, Liverpool, and Manchester. It became the UK’s first working class seaside resort.
In recent years the rising popularity of foreign holidays has bitten hard into Blackpool’s core business. Visitor numbers have fallen quite sharply but the town is fighting back with an ambitious regeneration plan and plenty of new developments and things to do.
Attractions
In recent years Blackpool has built many new tourist attractions and made overdue improvements to existing ones.
With its white-knuckle rides like the Pepsi Max Big One and Infusion, Blackpool Pleasure Beach is the UK’s most popular tourist attraction. Nickelodeon Land, a new £10 million area of the park with rides and attractions themed around characters from the children’s TV channel, opened here at the start of the 2011.
The world-famous Blackpool Tower is also getting a makeover after being purchased by Blackpool Council in 2010. The local authority brought in Merlin Entertainments, Europe’s biggest leisure group, to manage the attraction and big changes are in the pipeline. The Blackpool Tower Dungeon and the Blackpool Tower Eye are both set to open in time for the 2011 Illuminations.
In 2011 Merlin also opened the UK’s second Madame Tussauds, a long overdue replacement for the old Louis Tussauds waxworks.
Sandcastle Waterpark, the UK’s biggest indoor water park, is also building two new rides for the 2011 season and work is also progressing on restoring the Winter Gardens to its Victorian splendour.
The Tower Festival Headland is another major development. Situated at the foot of Blackpool Tower this outdoor arena will be able to accommodate 20,000 spectators and will play host to major events and concerts. It will also be home to the Comedy Carpet, a unique art installation featuring the catchphrases of the famous classic and modern comedians.
Public artwork has featured heavily in the regeneration of the town. It started in 1996 with the Great Promenade Show, a series of 10 sculptures running from Squires Gate to the South Pier. More recent additions include The Wave; a 10.5 metre high metallic sculpture at St John’s Square and Brilliance, a light and sound show on Birley Street incorporating six huge stainless steel arches.
Hotels
Hotels and places to stay in and around Blackpool include:
- Shore Stay Guest House
- Hotel Segantii
- Aparthotel Blackpool
- Just Roomz – By The Beach
- The Garnett
- The Georgian Hollies Hotel
- AA Central Hotel
- OYO Silver Strand Hotel
- Village Hotel Blackpool
- Stanley Hotel
Nightlife and Entertainment
Lovers of cabaret will find the show at Funny Girls is an unforgettable experience. The town also boasts a good selection of theatres and other live entertainment venues such as the Empress Ballroom, Opera House, Grand Theatre, Legends on the Central Pier, and the Merrie England Bar on the North Pier.
Shopping
The £30 redevelopment of the Houndshill Shopping Centre was completed in 2008. The new mall is anchored by a massive Debenhams department store and is home to all the popular high street shops.
Transport
Car
The M55 connects Blackpool with the M6 and the UK’s motorway network. Leave the M6 at junction 32 for the M55.
The M55 goes almost all the way to the town centre. All major attractions are well signposted.
Tram
Blackpool’s trams run from Starr Gate (near Blackpool International Airport and Squires Gate train station), along the Promenade, and through to Cleveleys and Fleetwood.
Train
Blackpool North is the busiest of Blackpool’s four train stations. It’s located on Talbot Road in the town centre. The other stations are Blackpool South, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, and Squires Gate.
There are many options for getting to Blackpool by train. Direct services to Blackpool are provided by Northern Rail and First TransPennine Express.
Northern Rail runs a train service from Hazel Grove to Blackpool, calling at Stockport, Manchester Piccadilly, Bolton, and Preston. They also run trains from Manchester Victoria to Blackpool.
Northern Rail also runs a train service from Colne to Blackpool South. Stops include Burnley, Accrington, Blackburn, Preston, Lytham, St Annes, Squires Gate, and Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Northern Rail trains from York to Blackpool North call at Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, Burnley, Blackburn, and Preston.
Trains from Liverpool to Blackpool are provided by Northern Rail. Services depart Liverpool Lime Street and call at St Helens, Wigan, Preston, and Blackpool North.
First TransPennine Express runs trains from Manchester Airport to Blackpool North. Stops include Manchester Piccadilly, Bolton and Preston.
Passengers can connect with the West Coast Mainline at Preston. Virgin Trains offer high speed train services from here to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Carlisle, Penrith, Lancaster, Warrington, London Euston, and many other destinations.
For train fares and times to and from Blackpool visit the National Rail Enquirieswebsite.
- UK Information
- Blackpool Information Online
Blackpool Information Online
Get to know Blackpool
Whatever you want to find around Blackpool; shops, businesses, hotels, pubs, restaurants, clubs, cinemas, theatres, etc. our directory, classified system and events guide will help you to find out what’s on around Blackpool and where to find things in and around Blackpool.
If you can’t find what you want in Blackpool use the Towns/Cities information to search in other places near Blackpool.
Whatever you need to know about Blackpool this is the place to start. Submit or read articles, search the directory, find out what is going on in your area, advertise for free and much more.
Entertainment and Leisure
You can use our
- Blackpool cinemas,
- Blackpool theatres and
- What’s On guide to plan your day or evening out.
Accommodation
If you are looking for accommodation we have:
- Blackpool bed and breakfasts and
- Blackpool hotels plus
- Blackpool cottages and self catering holiday accommodation as well as directories for
- Camping,
- Holiday Camps and
- Caravan Parks.
Visiting and Local Services
If you are looking for tourist information or information on how to get around we have details of
- Tourist Information,
- Travel & Transport and
- a list of local Attractions and Places of Interest with
- a list of local Guide books and Maps to help you find where you are going.
Directory
Our Directory contains lists of sites that have been submitted by the owners.
Travel & Transport
For anyone that wants to get around, we have put together a list Travel & Transport pages including a map and route planner.
Information
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Beside the Seaside, Beside the Sea
A favoured holiday spot since the Victorian era, Blackpool is a traditional English seaside town. Amusement arcades and crazy golf courses line the promenade and dotted between them are plenty of places to pick up fresh fish ‘n’ chips and Blackpool rock.
On the 5-mile sandy beach, children can enjoy Punch and Judy shows and donkey rides. Old-fashioned entertainment at its best. At the other end of the scale is the Blackpool Pleasure Beach, a fairground complex comprising a variety of rides, including The Big One – once the world’s tallest and steepest rollercoaster. They actually had to get permission from nearby Blackpool Airport to erect it!
More seaside pursuits are on the town’s 3 piers, one of which is Grade II listed. However, the most recognisable landmark is the Blackpool Tower which houses a circus, 4D cinema and a world-renowned ballroom, to name a few. Modelled on the Eiffel Tower, it is spectacularly lit during the annual Blackpool Illuminations, when the whole town is bathed in bright lights. The trams plying the prom are also lit. Look out for the one shaped like a ship.
A popular stag and hen do destination, Blackpool offers accommodation ranging from North Shore hotels to South Shore B&Bs – see Booking.com for the best choice.
All about Blackpool
When to visit
There really is something to do year-round in Blackpool, but when it comes to weather, spring and summer are the best times to visit. Some attractions are only open at certain times of the year, such as the Illuminations, which are usually switched on in a star-studded ceremony in September or October. Pleasure Beach amusement park has a main opening season of April to October, and some of the rides may not be open during the off season.
Getting around
Blackpool has a compact, pedestrianized town center that is easy to walk around. Trams are available to take you up and down the promenade. There are tour buses offering hop-on hop-off tickets, and the standard local bus service is a reliable way to travel further afield. Trains run from Blackpool South and Blackpool North directly to Preston, Liverpool, and Manchester Airport. There are also non-traditional ways to travel—Victorian horse-drawn carriages operate on the promenade.
Traveler tips
Blackpool has a great local food scene, and there are a number of top restaurants in town. If you fancy getting away from the usual fish and chips, it’s easy to find somewhere to dine on high-quality global cuisine. It’s worth booking tickets to enjoy a show or musical act in the Winter Gardens or Grand Theatre while in Blackpool—the interior and exterior Victorian architecture of both ornate buildings is a must-see.
People Also Ask
Get to the seaside early for a traditional English breakfast in a café overlooking the beach. Stroll along the promenade and head to Central Pier or North Pier and play in the arcades. Hang out at Pleasure Beach amusement park, and then finish with fish and chips by the sea.
Yes, Blackpool has something for everyone. There are attractions and amusement park rides for kids of all ages, and bars and traditional English pubs for a drink. There is always live music and entertainment on offer, and the drag shows are noteworthy.
Blackpool is popular as a spot for entertaining, fun-filled holidays, and weekend breaks. There is a calmer side to Blackpool—cocktail bars, high-end restaurants, and nearby spas—but the majority of travelers visit Blackpool to enjoy Pleasure Beach amusement park, the zoo, and the beach.
High summer can be busy, but it’s also when the weather is at its best. Visit at the beginning or end of the English summer holidays to avoid most of the crowds—around May or early September is your best bet. For a more festive side of Blackpool, visit from October-December.
No, you need a ticket to enter Blackpool Pleasure Beach amusement park, and every member of your group will need to purchase one to access the park’s grounds. These are available as eTickets, directly downloadable to your phone for easy access. Children under 11 have a reduced price ticket.
Yes, Blackpool Illuminations are always free to view. To see them, travel to the promenade when they’re lit (generally September 1–January 1)—you can choose to drive underneath the displays, or park and ride. Alternatively you can walk the full length of the Illuminations and enjoy the atmosphere from the sidewalk.
