Blackpool
Blackpool City Guide
Introduction
Blackpool is a large seaside resort town on the north west coast of England, which still attracts people in their millions every year despite the allure of cheap foreign package holidays. Why? Because it has everything that people want on a seaside holiday. You name it, Blackpool has it – from donkey rides, tram rides and rollercoaster rides to bingo halls, amusement arcades, candy floss, fish and chips and of course the ubiquitous Blackpool rock. It’s fun by day and animated by night, making it the perfect destination for any type of holiday, whether you’re looking for a family break with the kids or a wild stag or hen party.
It’s tacky and proudly so, but that’s what makes it so appealing. You’ll find superlatives everywhere – the fastest rollercoasters, the biggest mirror ball, the brightest lights, the largest clubs, the liveliest nightlife and the best entertainment.
The origins of the resort are quite different though. Once an upmarket resort for the well-to-do of northern England, it took more than a day to reach by coach in the 18th century. However, the arrival of mass public transport changed all that. When Blackpool got a railway station in the mid 19th century, people started to arrive in droves for cheap summer holidays to escape from the big cities and the town diversified to cater for a wider market, creating an appeal that endures to this day for so many British holidaymakers. So whatever tickles your fancy, you’re sure to find it in Blackpool.
Attractions
Blackpool’s seafront is a long stretch: there are 12 miles of promenade and three piers, although the central area, known as ‘The Golden Mile’, lies between the North and Central Piers. The sea is normally a little too cold for bathing, but with so many things to do all around, you’ll hardly find the time to dip your toes in the water anyway. The cast-iron North Pier, built in the 1860s, is Blackpool’s oldest pier and is now a listed building, and the Central and South Piers are equally as impressive. All three piers have a host of leisure and entertainment facilities, from theatres to arcades and fairground rides.
The town’s most famous landmark is the late 19th century Blackpool Tower, which dominates the skyline. There’s a circus beneath it and an elegant Edwardian ballroom on one of the lower levels, and it’s possible to take a lift up to the top for marvellous views of the resort and beach.
The Pleasure Beach, just south of the South Pier, is undoubtedly Blackpool’s biggest attraction. It’s an enormous fairground with plenty of hair-raising and exhilarating rides, both old and new. As well as having the world’s fastest rollercoaster, the Pepsi Max Big One, and the world’s longest log flume, it also has some great old wooden rollercoasters dating from the early to mid 20th century, such as the world’s first Big Dipper (1923) and the white-knuckle Grand National (1935).
For those who fancy a paddle, the Sandcastle (opposite the Pleasure Beach) is a great indoor water park with wonderfully warm pools and fantastic flumes, dinghy slides, fountains, waterfalls and whirlpools. So whatever the weather, you can still have fun in the water.
Every season is tourist season in Blackpool. You’ll find the resort bustling and lively at any time of year, and the famous Blackpool Illuminations attract visitors well into autumn and winter. After nearly 100 years, this dazzling display of electric lights on the promenade still has an incredible allure.
Some of the best indoor attractions are the Sea Life Centre on Central Pier, with its enormous shark tunnel, and Louis Tussauds Waxworks just next to the pier, which has amazingly life-like models of celebrities, royals and pop stars.
For a more sedate and relaxing afternoon, head over to Stanley Park to take a stroll along the leafy paths, admire the splendid Italian Gardens, go boating on the lake or have a round of golf.
Next to the park, there’s a model village with wonderful miniature castles, bridges, cottages and harbours. There’s also an excellent zoo with well designed enclosures and fascinating feeding time talks.
Eating Out
Don’t expect to find gourmet cuisine in Blackpool – fish and chips are the order of the day here. Food is cheap and cheerful and far from sophisticated, but you’ll probably find some of the best fish and chips and traditional British dishes in the whole country.
Harry Ramsden’s on Church Street is the best of them all, serving various types of fish, freshly caught, battered and fried to perfection.
Cockles and mussels are another traditional British seaside favourite and there are plenty of seafood stalls all along the promenade where you can pick up a tub to eat on the go. For a sit-down meal, try Robert’s Oyster Bar near the Tower on the Promenade. It’s been around for over 130 years and the wood panelled interior is fabulous. It serves oysters, cockles, mussels, whelks and shrimps – or combinations of these in seafood platters – all served with a generous helping of brown bread and butter.
There’s no shortage of cheap Indian, Chinese and Italian restaurants all over the town, most of which also do takeaway. You’ll also get good value at restaurants that serve pre-theatre menus, of which there are plenty.
If you’re looking for something more sophisticated, there are a few upmarket restaurants such as the September Brasserie on Queen Street, where the interior is chic and modern, the menu is exotic and there’s an excellent wine list.
Nightlife
The sheer range of entertainment options in Blackpool means you’ll never get bored. There are traditional theatres showing great musicals, TV comedians and family shows, while the Blackpool Opry does toe-tapping country music and line dancing, and there are scores of traditional dance halls and ballrooms around. For the young and adventurous, the Pleasure Beach and other fairground attractions stay open until late evening.
For loud and lively nightlife, Blackpool is the place to go. At any time of year, the town is alive all night with pubbers and clubbers. The most thumping and funky clubs are NTK, The Liquid Lounge and The Flagship. If rock music is more your thing, The Tache is an excellent rock pub and live music venue. There’s also a large number of traditional pubs such as The Mitre, a tiny bar with a very friendly atmosphere, and The Bier Keller, a family friendly pub with a great selection of lagers and ales.
