Kiss-me-quick hats and fish & chip shops are still very much in abundance at Blackpool, the UK’s premier seaside resort, however there’s much more to be found at this booming Lancashire town.
Massive investment
It’s no exaggeration to say that Blackpool is enjoying something of a renaissance right now. The Lancashire seaside resort has been associated with rapid decline following the introduction of the cheap foreign package holidays in the 1960s, however over the past few years there has been a noticeable increase in the number of visitors. The arrival of Covid-19 and the resultant lockdowns, travel restrictions and subsequent airport chaos resulted in many families deciding to look closer to home for their annual holiday, while the massive investment in the town’s infrastructure and the opening of new high-end hotels and restaurants have clearly contributed to this resurgence.
Turnaround in fortunes
The beginning of this turnaround in Blackpool’s fortunes can be traced back to the tram improvements of over 10 years ago. The second oldest electric tramway in the UK dating back to 1885, Blackpool Tramway waved goodbye to their popular but somewhat dilapidated tramcars in 2012 and replaced them with a state-of-the-art fleet of Bombardier Flexity 2 trams. The old trams were kept as a ‘Heritage Fleet’ to be used for tourists and this has worked extremely well. Coupled with a massive improvement of the whole promenade, the seafront at Blackpool is now a far nicer place to be than it was a decade ago.
Far greater choice
Blackpool accommodation has also improved significantly over the past few years with some modern and sophisticated hotels and guest houses opening throughout the town. Gone are the days when the only accommodation available was a small terraced guest house with a shared bathroom and a curfew of 10.00pm. The guest houses are still a vital part of a Blackpool holiday for many families but there is now a far greater choice with high-end hotels which wouldn’t look out of place in the west-end of London. Similarly, the choice of restaurants has grown more varied in recent years and visitors can now enjoy a huge selection of eateries offering food from all corners of the globe.
Old favourites
While new attractions are being added each year and new events are added to the Blackpool calendar, the old favourites remain stronger than ever. One of the biggest draws for visitors is Blackpool Pleasure Beach which has been situated on South Shore since 1896. This is one of the biggest and most famous seaside theme parks in the world and contains no less than four wooden roller coasters – more than any other park in the country – namely the Big Dipper, Grand National, Nickelodeon Streak and Blue Flyer. The Big One has dominated the Pleasure Beach for almost 30 years since it opened in 1994. When built, this ride was the tallest roller coaster in the world at 213 ft as well as the steepest and second fastest, attaining a top speed of 74 mph. The park contains many more popular rides such as Avalanche, Revolution and Valhalla, while even more are planned for the coming years.
Sweeping views
When travelling by road to Blackpool, the first thing most visitors will notice is the famous Blackpool Tower which has stood tall over the town since 1894. When built, this was the tallest man made structure in the British Empire at 518ft and it was inspired by the recently erected Eiffel Tower in Paris. The Tower is part of a complex which includes the Blackpool Tower Eye, Tower Ballroom, Tower Circus and Blackpool Dungeon, all popular tourist attractions in their own right. The Tower Eye is the biggest draw here, visitors able to enjoy sweeping views across Blackpool as well as further afield to the Lake District, Liverpool, Manchester, North Wales and even the Isle of Man on a clear day. The viewing platform has a height of 380 ft and is the highest observation deck in the North-west of England.
Unique charm
Blackpool is also the only town in the UK to possess three piers and each of these has their own unique charm and attractions. The North Pier was the first of the three piers to open in 1863 and it offers holidays a chance to unwind and take in the views over the Irish Sea. This is the most relaxing pier with little in the way of brash amusements and fairground rides, however there is still a range of eating outlets and bars to be found along its length. The Central Pier – as the name implies – sits at the heart of Blackpool close to the Tower and this is home to a wide range of amusement arcades and rides for all ages. Built in 1868, this is a favourite of families and includes a 33-metre-high Ferris wheel as well as a funfair. South Pier is the most adrenaline-fuelled of the three piers and is home to numerous fun-filled rides as well as a plethora of amusement arcades. This pier is situated very close to Blackpool Pleasure Beach and can often be the most crowded of the piers.
Light display
One of the major events in Blackpool’s annual calendar are the Illuminations which provide a sparking light display for a whole six miles along the promenade. Blackpool Illuminations are known throughout the world and due to their continued popularity, the event has been extended to four months for the second year running. in 2022, the Illuminations attracted record crowds towards the end of what had already been a record summer season and the indications are that an even greater number of visitors will watch the display in 2023.
The future is bright
Where will Blackpool go from here? Already new attractions are being planned for the coming years while new developments are already under construction. Transport infrastructure continues to improve with an extension of the tram line to serve Blackpool North Station, while the Pleasure Beach is planning some thrilling new rides for next season. The future is certainly very bright for the UK’s premier seaside destination.