Blackpool

Blackpool Pleasure Beach

One of Britain's largest and oldest amusement parks, with ten roller coasters including the Grand National, a listed racing wooden coaster built in 1935, the world-unique Steeplechase roller coaster, and Britain's tallest roller coaster The Big One which is over high. Other rides include the 1930 Ghost Train which gave the rides their name, and Sir Hiram Maxim's Captive Flying Machines, the oldest amusement park ride in Europe, being built in 1904. As well as the adult rides, children's rides area, and side-stalls, the park also has some excellent architecture. It began as a Victorian funfair, adding permanent buildings in the 1930s in Art Deco style, such as the station of the Roller Coaster ride, and the White Tower at the south entrance to the park.

Apr-Oct: daily 11AM-5PM·Adult £35, child £30

Blackpool Tower

A Victorian tribute-act to the Eiffel Tower, 518 ft (158 m) high, part of a big leisure complex. The main attractions (many closed in winter) are: the Ballroom, ornately decorated, where the Wurlitzer tootles as you dance or sip tea; the Circus; the Dungeon theme-ride; Jungle Jim's children's indoor adventure play area; Dino's indoor mini-golf; and finally the observation deck at the top of the tower, now called Blackpool Tower Eye reached by glass elevator. Various combi tickets online (cheaper than at the door): the Eye is £15.

Daily from 10:00

Blackpool Zoo

The zoo in Blackpool Tower closed in 1969; it was a cramped unhygienic affair, the site of Alfred's mishap with the lion. This larger zoo opened in Stanley Park in 1972. There are great ape enclosures, wolves, wallabies, penguins, meerkats... and dinosaurs, rare in the wild nowadays.

Daily Nov-Mar: 10AM-4PM, Apr-Oct 10AM-5:45PM·Adult £15

Central Pier

This opened in 1868 to target the day-tripper mass-market that North Pier didn't care for, so it was close to the (now vanished) Central Station and has always had more amusements. It's 371 yards (339 m) long but it used to be longer: the landing jetty was removed in 1975. It suffered fires in 1964, 1973 and 2020. There are arcades, a pub, and a funfair with waltzers, dodgems and a 33-m Ferris wheel.

Apr-Nov: daily from 10AM·FreeGBP

Grundy Art Gallery

Council run art gallery which opened in 1911. The gallery shows both temporary exhibitions and its permanent collection

Tue - Sat 10AM - 4.45PM·free

North Pier

North Pier was opened in 1863 and is 550 yards (500 m) long. It was aimed at the "genteel" classes rather than day-tripper hoi-polloi, and remains the quietest of Blackpool's three piers. Originally it had a landing wharf at the end. Several ships have bashed into the pier down the years, and a 1936 steamer bisected it to leave several people stranded. It suffered fires in 1921 and 1938, but the biggest threat has been financial viability versus the cost of upkeep of the Grade II listed structure. There's an arcade with shops then a breezy stroll (or pootling tram) out to the pub, sun lounge and Joe Longthorne Theatre at the far end, named for the singer (1955-2019) who did impressions of Shirley Bassey. An earlier showbiz career launched here was in 1948 when Harry Corbett (1918-1989) bought a glove-puppet bear to amuse his son, for 7s/6d (nowadays 37.5 p). The puppet boosted his stage act and he daubed its nose and ears black for a stronger image on TV, hence Sooty.

24 hr·Free

South Pier

When opened in 1893 it was called Victoria Pier. At 163 yards (149 m) long, it was intended to be upmarket, but commercial reality soon forced it to offer more attractions. It suffered fires in 1958 and 1964. It has arcades, a funfair (which replaced the theatre), a cafe and a bar.

Apr-Nov: daily from 10AM·Free

St Johns Anglican parish church

Completed in 1878 in Early English style. It's part of the Diocese of Blackburn.