The Top Ten Must Visit Places In Blackpool

There’s more to Blackpool than donkey rides, ice cream, kiss-me-quick hats, The Tower and a game of bingo on the Golden Mile.

Blackpool has a rich heritage that’s famous world-wide and some superbly designed interiors in its listed building. This is perhaps the reason we see coach loads of foreign tourists from all over the world completely enamoured by what is often termed as ‘The Capital of Fun’.

A lot has evolved since early Victorian times, when bathing machines graced the beaches and the rich came to bathe in the sea for medicinal reasons.

Later, Blackpool became the epicentre for mill workers to spend their Wakes Week holidays in its boarding houses or visit on a day trip by train or charabanc.

During World War 2, it was taken over by the RAF for training purposes because of its ready made accommodation, whilst the 50’s saw it a boom holiday town.

But like most British seaside resorts, it suffered a lack of visitors when package holidays started to tempt the Brits to foreign climes but yet it still was top of the tree for short breaks, especially during its illumination period.
Blackpool has undergone a terrific resurgence in just about every way over the past 25 years with new attractions and hotels as well as promoting its wonderful heritage.

So, as they say in Strictly, in no particular order here’s ten must have places to tempt you to take a fresh look at Blackpool. Henry Ormonroyd, a character in J.B. Priestley’s renown play When We Are Married said: “Blackpool’s a place you go to live in” and it really is the place to live it up in whatever your tastes.

Beachside Boulevard Blackpool Illuminations Photo: VisitBlackpool

Blackpool Illuminations

Just over 12 million visitors went to see the illuminations last year. The ‘greatest free show on earth’ as its often called started in 1879 and was the idea of Mayor Crocker as a way of boosting trade after two cold, wet summers had left the town very depressed. The lights started off with 8 arc lamps on poles and at a time when most households lit their homes by candles, visitors flocked to see this installation.

It was not until 1912 that the illuminations came close to our modern day displays to commemorate Blackpool’s very first royal visit by Princess Louise to open a new section of the promenade.

Every year the illuminations returned bigger and better until the outbreak of war in 1939 but were brought back in 1949 when Dame Anna Neagle pulled the switch.

Since then, dozens of celebrities have pulled the switch from Kermit the Frog, Jayne Mansfield and Gracie Fields to Danny La Rue, Shirley Bassey and Robbie Williams.
Today there are over one million led lamps used on the display of more than six miles that runs from 30th August to 5th January.

Afternoon Tea Tower Photo: Merlin

Afternoon Tea In the Famous Tower Ballroom

Inside the famous Tower are many things but none more famous than its Frank Matcham designed ballroom, opened in 1899.

Dancing is synonymous with Blackpool. Originally, it transported mill workers millions of miles from their Monday mornings at the mill. Later, Blackpool Tower Ballroom became world famous as the venue for Ballroom dancing competitions and more recently, the yearly Strictly performance is a nod to its greatness.

Taking afternoon tea in the ballroom is something to be savoured. Sitting at the side of the dance floor, you can enjoy a superb afternoon tea and watch the dancers or if you are nimble enough, join in with them. But it’s the sight of the mighty Wurlitzer coming up through the floor and disappearing again as it has been doing since 1929 that really amazes.

Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Get The Adrenalin Racing At The Pleasure Beach

The Pleasure Beach can trace its history back to 1896 and was originally situated on sand dunes on the beach – that’s how it got its name and in the 1920’s moved to its present location.

Its been home to the Sir Hiram Maxim Captive Flying Machine since 1904, the oldest continuous amusement park working ride in Europe and the wooden track roller coaster The Big Dipper since 1923.

But new rides are always evolving, like Valhalla, seven times winner of the world’s best water ride and Icon, the first and only double-launch coaster that allows you to experience the G Force of Formula One. But not for the faint hearted there is the opportunity to walk the Big One on a guided escorted climb.

But if you don’t want to do the rides, Blackpool Pleasure Beach has some great themed nights and activities, including an Oktober Fest with a German Band, A spooky Journey to Hell event from 10-31 October plus in its Globe Theatre a spectacular traditional pantomime.

Photo: VisitBlackpool

Promenade Along The North Pier

Opening in 1863, the North Pier is the oldest of Blackpool’s three piers. It was built to attract the better class Victorian visitors who would promenade down the pier to take tea or sit in the old solarium.

The North Pier always attracted top-line performers in its shows in the theatre, such as Morecambe and Wise, Ken Dodd and Lily Savage. The theatre was renamed in 2020 The Joe Longthorne Theatre and hosts shows to suit everyone from Sooty to Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown.

The pier boasts some great bars Blooms Bar is a beautiful, luxurious lounge bar with stunning views of the Irish Sea and The Tower, with music at weekends. its open from 11am. Sitting in here is like being on a sea cruise.

It’s outdoor sister bar, The Garden, nearby, is located in what used to be the North Piers old solarium. This is real class with an outdoor cocktail and champagne bar. The Garden still features the original glass solarium building, complemented by organic floral displays, comfy seating areas and has live entertainment throughout the season – weather permitting.

Step Back In Time Visit Tramtown

Blackpool is famous for its trams. But have you ever wondered how their famous Heritage Trams make their way on to the tracks? Well now you can see the inner workings of the Heritage Tram Centre and hear just how a team of volunteers keep the wheels turning on the world-famous Heritage trams.

Your tour guide takes you through the Heritage Fitting Shop to see the equipment used by the engineers to keep the wheels moving.

Then book a tram tour to see the lights in an illuminated Heritage tram, or other tours that might take your fancy are Afternoon Tea Tours, Fish and Chip tours, or a Ghost Tram Tour.

Casson Mann Showtown ©Hufton+Crow

It's Showtime: Blackpool's Newest Attraction

You don’t follow the Yellow Brick Road—you mount the pink steps to find your way into Blackpool’s newest museum of fun and entertainment—Showtime in Bank Hey Street near the Tower.

This is not your run-of-the-mill-museum; it’s a front-row ticket to Blackpool’s entertainment legacy with a whole host of fun interactives for all the family—even I enjoyed participating in most of them and was amazed how long I stayed there, and that was without trying everything that was on offer so do allow plenty of time for your visit.

Divided into six gallery spaces, it explores the elements that make Blackpool so special: seaside, magic, Circus, illuminations, shows and dance. You can have a go at performing a Punch and Judy Show, directing a show, designing or lighting the Illuminations, circus skills, dressing as clown or designing a dress for Strictly. It’s also full of nostalgia and vintage entertainment exhibits and you can even learn to play the banjo like George Formby.

Funnygirls

An Award Winning Venue

Back in 1994, Basil Newby, MBE, transformed a corner shop into the vibrant Funny Girls. Soon outgrowing its origins, it moved into the historic 1939 Odeon Cinema and was reborn as the Iconic Funny Girls.

This place is a sumptuous art deco venue with a decadent mystique charm. The minute you enter the grand doorway, you are transported into a world of wonder, wicked wit and fabulous fantasy, gorgeous high camp glamour and thrilling entertainment escapism.

It’s a world-class experience like no other, combining a five-star full-on dance drag show, hilarious drag DJ banter, and sing a long music that lifts your heart and soul!

Over time, Funny Girls has produced unforgettable memories, like their Swine Lake performance at the Royal Variety in front of the late Queen and Duke and their revealing 2013 TV documentary.

Now in its 30th year, its still enchanting audiences with spectacular renditions of hits from A Chorus Line, Chicago and Hairspray with artists embodying silver screen sirens, pop idols, and decadent divas of stage and screen. A fast paced show with clever choreography shows change throughout the year with a Halloween Spooktacular, A Christmas Show and even a drag pantomime!

Floral Hall Photo: Winter Gardens

The Iconic Winter Gardens

The Winter Gardens houses the Opera House that boasts one of the largest stages in the country and the famous Empress Ballroom, plus restaurants, bars, conference venues and public spaces.

The first Winter Gardens opened in 1878 and was one of the largest projects Blackpool had ever seen and The Empress Ballroom at that time was the largest ballroom in the world!

The theatre has been rebuilt several times and the present one opened in 1939. An art deco masterpiece, it has 3000 seats and in 1955 it hosted the first Royal Variety Performance outside London. Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and Bob Hope have all appeared here and today it stages large scale touring musicals and shows by leading performers.

In 1920, The Empress Ballroom hosted the first Blackpool Dance Festival. One of the world’s most prestigious competitions is still held here, attracting competitors from all over the world.

The venue has restaurants, bars and even a chic cocktail bar to partner your theatre visit or just to relax in whilst you soak up the Winter Gardens Magic.

The Golden Mile Photo: Merlin

The Golden Mile

You have to experience one of the Golden Mile's offerings.

There’s been a waxworks museum on the Golden Mile since 1900, and in 2011, Madame Tussauds opened on the site of the old one.

This is a place to have some fun, take some pictures and let your imagination run riot.

There’s a music zone where, amongst dozens of music stars, you can take to the stage with Lady Gaga or moon walk alongside Michael Jackson before walking down Coronation Street and stopping for a drink at the Rovers Return with some of the Corrie greats.

The Blackpool Strictly Come Dancing immersive experience offers fans some ballroom brilliance, including lifting the glitterball trophy, strutting your stuff on the strictly inspired dancefloor and raising a score paddle.

But it’s Be the Hero with Marvel, where you burst through the pages of vintage Marvel comic strips and step right into action with the marvel heroes. No spoilers here but this is very different.

For the more sedate as well as taking a selfie with TV royalty, you can also take one alongside actual royalty.

Hot Ice Eternity

Blackpool's hidden gem - The Greatest Show on Ice

The Blackpool Ice Arena, formerly known as The Ice Drome, opened in 1934 as a theatre for ice dancing shows, and since its opening, an ice show has been staged every year since, missing only one due to Covid. It even staged ice shows during World War II with a cast of 50 skaters.

Famous ice skaters have graced the ice, including in 1938, Roy and Betty Callaway starred in the show. Betty went on to achieve fame when she coached Torvill and Dean to Olympic and World Championships.

The ice show is known as the “Most Spectacular Ice Show in the World”. With a cast of 30 world-class Olympic skaters from all over the world, its fast, furious and an artistically designed creative masterpiece by Amanda Thompson, who has directed the show for 29 years.

The ice show combines sport, theatre, high-tech special effects, nail-biting stunts and lavish costumes embellished with feather, hand jewelled rhinestone, fringing and feathers that are just totally amazing.

And if you fancy your chances at becoming another Torvill or Dean, then the Ice Arena runs public skating sessions and lessons. So what are you waiting for – get your skates on!

For details about Blackpool’s events and attractions visit: www.visitblackpool.com.