Beach and Beyond: Your Guide to Blackpool’s Top Attractions

“An iconic destination, Blackpool is an absolute British institution, a quintessentially English seaside resort with wide appeal. Its attractions, in particular, are a big hit with travellers and range from its world-famous tower to an amusement park and an entertainment complex. Here’s our pick of some of the best.

Blackpool’s beaches
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Four great beaches make up the seven miles of sandy seafront at Blackpool. South Beach is the widest and generally the quietest of the quartet. Central Beach, between the south and central piers, is the town’s main beach and very popular with families. North Beach is the place to go for arcades and, of course, Blackpool Tower.

The wildest of the four beaches is Bispham, between Blackpool North Shore and Cleveleys. There’s a great walk along ‘The Cliffs’, which is perfect for visitors looking to enjoy a picturesque amble. It’s also less touristy than the other beaches, so if you want a little more tranquillity, this is for you.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach
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Described as the UK’s “most ride intensive” theme park, Blackpool Pleasure Beach is gem of an attraction. With plenty of amusing and exhilarating rides to choose from, families and thrill-seekers will be in their element.

Highlights include ICON, otherwise known as “the UK’s first double launch coaster”; Nickelodeon Land, which is home to all sorts of entertaining rides; and, obviously, the celebrated Big Dipper, which has been around since 1923.

Sandcastle Waterpark
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The UK’s largest indoor waterpark, Sandcastle Waterpark is another family-friendly attraction. Whatever your preference when it comes to watery fun, you’ll find across its 18 slides and attractions, chilled out experiences and more heart in the mouth ones.

For example, the adult-only (18 and over) Sea Breeze Spa exudes a laidback vibe. Think sauna, steam room and an aromatherapy room. Meanwhile, the VIP Tiki Cabana, which comes with a private spa, a separate TV and seating area – as well as your own personal fridge – is all about spending quality time with loved ones.

There’s also the white knuckle rides, popular with youngsters and adults alike. Some of the most notable ones include the Master Blaster – thought to be the “world’s longest indoor rollercoaster waterslide” – and Montazooma, a super fast slide with plenty of twists and turns.

Sea Life Blackpool
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Sea Life Blackpool lets you get up close and personal with a whole range of sea creatures, from tropical sharks and turtles to jellyfish and octopuses. There’s around 2,000 in fact, showcasing the amazing breadth of underwater life that exists in the world.

The Aquarium Zones is where a lot of the action takes place. It’s home to an interactive rock pool, a quayside that features stingrays and dogfish, a rainforest area and a walk-through ocean tunnel that is as unreal as it is fascinating.

Madame Tussauds Blackpool
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Located opposite the Central Pier, Madame Tussauds Blackpool gives you unrivalled access to famous celebrities, sports stars and larger than life figures from the big screen – well, the wax versions. One moment you could be hanging out with Corrie legends like Bet Lynch and Ken Barlow and the next moment you could be standing next to the Hulk and his pal Thor.

Taking on average two hours to complete, a trip to Madame Tussauds isn’t just about staring at lifelike mannequins – you can also enjoy some food and drink while you’re there too. Surreally, this takes place in the Rovers Return.

Blackpool Tower
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A visit to Blackpool wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the seaside resort’s most recognisable attraction – Blackpool Tower. Open to the public since 1894 – it celebrated its 125 birthday in 2019 – the landmark stands 150 metres tall meaning epic views with the Blackpool Tower Eye experience.

This also includes the ability to walk out onto a see-through, five centimetre thick floor and a 4D cinema experience that tells the fascinating story of the tower over the years. Beyond the view, you can also enjoy an entertaining circus show, as well as an amusing dungeon experience.

Blackpool Tower Ballroom
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The world famous ballroom, while located within Blackpool Tower, is an attraction in its own right. It doesn’t get any more authentically Blackpool than this and it’s suitable for everyone, including families, couples and groups of friends.

You might be interested to know that the ballroom isn’t just geared towards people in want of a dance, though that’s obviously one of its main draws. Further to that you can enjoy an afternoon tea experience and/or sign up to the inimitable ‘Wurlitzer Experience’, which includes the opportunity to play the famous instrument itself.

The Winter Gardens
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Definitely note winter-specific or garden-related, the Winter Gardens is actually a spacious entertainment venue that plays host to an array of shows and performances. This includes musicals, comedy nights, exhibitions and fairs, and, among others, concerts.

You can also join one of the monthly tours of this historic Victorian entertainment centre, which opened to the public in 1887, and enjoy a bite to eat at the Mazzei Café and the Empress Grill. Or you can simply also grab a drink at the charming Gillow’s Bar before your show starts.”