Blackpool
Blackpool is a seaside resort town in North West of England.
Understand
Over 6 million people visit Blackpool every year. It is Britain's number 1 tourist venue, although Brits will deny going there.
"Oh I do love to be beside the seaside" was played for years every day at the Tower Ballroom Blackpool by Reginald Dixon on his Wurlitzer.
More details
Get in
By car
Blackpool is reached via the M55 from the M6.
By bus
Local bus services run from Preston, Lancaster, Southport and Fleetwood.
Long distance bus services, and charters, run from virtually everywhere in Great Britain.
By train
The trains run to Blackpool North and Blackpool South stations from Preston and many other destinations. Blackpool North is the main station but for a day trip to the Pleasure Beach, change at Kirkham and take the Blackpool South line; the last station before Blackpool South is the Pleasure Beach.
By plane
Blackpool has its own and regular flights from Dublin, Belfast, London, Girona, Jersey, Malaga and the Isle of Man. Services to Mallorca, Alicante, Murcia and Tenerife will commence in Spring/Summer 2006.
By boat
The closest ferries from Blackpool are Fleetwood to Larne and Heysham (near Morecambe) to Douglas (Isle of Man) and Belfast, operating in Summer only.
Get around
Trams run all along the complete length of the sea front. Taxis are available easily. Have a donkey ride on the sands.
See
- Blackpool Tower. Victorian and a smaller copy of the Eiffel Tower. The view from the top is worth seeing, but it gets busy at the peak of the tourist season.
- The Piers. Blackpool has 3 piers.
- Blackpool Illuminations - from September to the first week in November, these attract visitors after the other seaside resorts have closed down.
Do
- Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Includes Britain's biggest roller coaster ride, "The Pepsi Max" (more commonly known as the Big One).
- The Winter Gardens.
Buy
A stick of Blackpool rock and a mandatory "Kiss Me Quick " hat on Blackpools Golden Mile.
Eat
Lots of budget eateries abound.
Drink
- The famous Funny Girls transvestite show bar.
- Dozens of pubs and clubs
Sleep
A plethora of accommodation awaits you. From budget to the top of the line.
Accommodation guides
Budget
B&B's
Mid-range
Splurge
- Blackpool Hilton
- The Imperial
Get out
Take a tram north to Fleetwood. A now redundant fishing town. Visit its famous market and go to the outlet mall called "Freeport"