Blackpool

When cotton mill workers got their first days off in the 19th century, they hopped on a train to Blackpool – and turned the little town on the Irish Sea into England's best-known seaside resort. A vacation in Blackpool is still a slice of British pop culture: an iron tower, a grand ballroom, three piers, roller coasters, and a light festival stretching for miles.

History of a Seaside Resort

Starting in 1846, the railway brought tens of thousands of working-class families from the industrial cities of Lancashire and Yorkshire to the coast. During the Wakes Weeks, when entire factories closed at the same time, the town was packed with visitors, and hundreds of small guesthouses sprang up. Blackpool had one of the world's first electric tramways, opened in 1885, and in 1894 it got the Blackpool Tower, inspired by the Eiffel Tower. In the 20th century, the town became the epitome of the British seaside vacation. Cheap flights to Spain dulled its shine, but with new attractions and restored buildings, Blackpool is enjoying a revival, and the Showtown museum has told the story of the town's entertainment history since 2024.

Sights in Blackpool

Blackpool Tower is 158 meters (518 feet) tall; an elevator takes you up to the observation deck with its glass floor. Below, inside the tower building, is the Tower Ballroom, a lavish ballroom with gilded boxes and a Wurlitzer organ, where couples have been dancing for over a hundred years and which fans of the TV dance show "Strictly Come Dancing" will recognize. At the southern end of the Golden Mile, the seafront promenade, you'll find Pleasure Beach, a long-established amusement park with wooden roller coasters and the "Big One," which was the tallest roller coaster in the world when it opened in 1994. Three Victorian piers jut out into the sea; North Pier is the oldest. The Winter Gardens, a complex of theaters and ballrooms, has hosted party conferences and Beatles concerts.

The Illuminations

From early September to early January, the promenade glows with the Illuminations: strings of lights, illuminated figures, and light installations stretch for about six miles, and trams run decorated as glowing ships or trains. The festival has been held since 1879, and the switch-on in September is a big event with a concert.

Eating, Going Out, and Places to Stay

Blackpool means fish and chips by the sea, cotton candy, and Blackpool rock, hard sticks of candy with the name of the town running through them in letters. In the evening, the bars and shows along the promenade and in the center are busy, especially on weekends, when bachelor and bachelorette parties come to town. There's a wide choice of accommodations, from classic bed and breakfasts to large hotels on the coast. On the side streets, many guesthouses have been run by the same families for generations.

Getting There and Best Time to Visit

By train, Blackpool North is just over an hour from Manchester, and Manchester Airport is the nearest international airport. The tram runs along the promenade all the way to Fleetwood. The best time to visit is summer for beach days and fall for the lights. If you prefer something quieter, stroll through Stanley Park with its boating lake and Art Deco café, or take the tram north to the quiet beaches of Cleveleys and Fleetwood, where fishing boats rest in the harbor.