Blackpool

Blackpool can be found in the North West of England about 30 miles from Liverpool. It currently has a population of approximately 150 000 and is the fourth largest settlement in the North West behind Manchester, Liverpool and Warrington.

Blackpool is mainly known as a tourist destination with its long sandy beach and pleasure attractions. It is found on the west coast and is bordered by the Irish Sea. Blackpool became a tourist destination in the 19th century when it became a favourite of the inhabitants of the nearby northern mill towns. Blackpool became very fashionable in the mid 18th century with the upper classes as the practice of sea bathing to cure diseases. It was however the arrival of the railways in 1846 that was the most significant event in the development of Blackpool as a holiday destination.

During the late 19th century, Blackpool became the only town in the UK with three piers. The north pier was completed in 1863 followed by the central pier which contained a theatre and an open air dance floor. The south pier was the last one to be completed in 1893.
Blackpool thrived as a holiday destination until the 1960’s and the arrival of the ‘package’ holiday which offered cheap air travel, more competitive prices and the lure of more reliable weather. Blackpool is still the most popular seaside resort in the UK attracting a large number of visitors from Glasgow. This popular resort has however seen a significant drop in visitor numbers in recent years with people tending to visit the town for weekends rather than the traditional week long holiday break.
Blackpool has also become a major conference town, hosting events for the large political parties and trade unions using Blackpool’s Winter Gardens as its venue. Blackpool also plays host to the world famous Blackpool Dance Festival which is a ballroom dancing competition of international significance.
From the end of August until early November, when most tourist resorts are closing down, the famous ‘Blackpool illuminations’ are switched on. The Illuminations consist of over seven miles of lighted displays and collages along the entire length of the seafront.
Blackpool has a large number of important landmarks including:
•    Blackpool Tower – the tower was opened in 1894, it is 158 meters tall and was inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris. At the base of the tower is a complex of leisure facilities, entertainment venues and restaurants, including the world famous Tower Ballroom and Tower Circus.

•    North Pier – This is the northernmost pier in Blackpool. This pier includes a small shopping arcade, a small tramway and the North Pier Theatre. The end of the pier used to have a helicopter pad, but this collapsed into the sea during a storm in 1997.


•    Central Pier – This middle pier has a large Ferris wheel and some shops.

•    South Pier – The southernmost pier is found almost directly opposite the pleasure beach and it has its own theme park.


•    Blackpool Pleasure Beach – The world renowned amusement park which between 1994 and 1996 was home to the world’s fastest and tallest circuit rollercoaster. This was the Pepsi Max Big One.

•    The Winter Gardens – A large conference and entertainment venue located in the town centre. It is home to the Pavilion Theatre, Empress Ballroom, Spanish Hall, Arena, Olympia and the Opera House which is one of the largest theatres in Europe.

•    Stanley Park – This is a grade II  listed historic park and gardens with a golf course, cricket club, sports arena, lake, restaurant and a model village.

Blackpool ‘s biggest attraction is of course its sandy beach which stretches along the whole seafront. Behind the beach there is also the Great Promenade Show which is a series of modern artwork along the south promenade. This includes the famous Blackpool High Tide Organ an unusual musical monument which uses the movement of the sea to make music.

Blackpool is home to the only surviving first-generation tramway in the United Kingdom which runs from Starr Gate in Blackpool to Fleetwood. The tramway dates back to 1885 and is one of the oldest electric tramways in the world. The tramway runs for 11 miles and carries 6.5 million passengers every year. The tramway is currently undergoing a complete upgrade costing in the region of £85 million. The upgrade will include the entire length of the tramway and sixteen state of the art trams replacing the current fleet.