As one of the most iconic seaside resorts in England, Blackpool remains an enormously popular UK spot for holidaymakers looking for some good old British sun and sea, a stick of rock and a Kiss Me Quick hat.
However, there’s quite a lot more to Blackpool than just its seafront and many of the attractions here go back a century or more.
Learning more about the history of Blackpool’s most famous attractions is a fascinating way to discover how the town has developed over the years and where these remarkable buildings have come from.
View our guide to the best places to go in Blackpool, and also some history and more information about these iconic locations.
1. Blackpool Tower
The Blackpool Tower stands an impressive 518 metres tall and was inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It first opened in 1894 and more than 3,00 tourists took the first rides in the lifts up to the top of the building.
Over the years, the Tower has been the subject of some controversy – in its early years several ships mistook the Tower for a lighthouse and were wrecked on the nearby coast, and the construction was nearly demolished when it turned out that the wrong paint had been used and it had all become wholly corroded. However, the Tower has survived in tact and has been through a number of facelifts, including having the top painted silver for the Queen’s Jubilee in 1977 and being reopened as ‘Tower World’ by Princess Diana in 1992 after some internal reconstruction.
The Tower has always been a part of the local community, constructed by Blackpool resident and mayor John Bickerstaffe and continuously owned by the local family until 1964. It remains one of the most recognisable symbols of Blackpool and of the best of British beach holidays.
2. Tower Ballroom
Tower Ballroom is located underneath the Blackpool Tower and has an identity all of its own. First opened in 1897, it was built to the same designs as those of the architect of the Grand Theatre and was a focal point for social life in Blackpool.
The Ballroom has always had its own unique character, as well as some strict rules such as ‘Gentlemen may not dance unless with a Lady.’ The BBC’s Come Dancing ran on and off from 1949 and was regularly televised from the Ballroom and more recently it has become known as a venue for several of the shows on the Strictly Come Dancing series.
Inscribed above the stage is a Shakespeare quote ‘Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear,’ showing that this old grand dame of showbiz is about more than just the bright lights and sparkle.
3. The Grand Theatre Blackpool
The Grand Theatre Blackpool was opened in 1894 and was designed to be ‘the prettiest theatre in the land.’ It was one of the first theatres to use a design that required fewer pillars in the interior, giving more of its patrons a clearer view of the stage.
The theatre was enormously popular with locals and visitors right through until the 1960s when television began to impact its numbers. After narrowly escaping demolition and being used as a bingo hall for three years, finally in 1981 the Grand was reopened as a functioning theatre again, hosting the Royal Variety Performance in the same year.
4. Grundy Art Gallery
Grundy Art Gallery dates back to 1908 when Blackpool council commissioned the gallery to be built after it received a significant bequest of more than thirty pieces of art from the Grundy brothers. The gallery opened in 1911 and now has a collection of more than 2,000 objects, including watercolours from the Victorian era, ceramics and fascinating photographs and souvenirs from the city of Blackpool over the years.
5. The Winter Gardens
The Winter Gardens is a 19th century entertainment complex that was once described as ‘the most magnificent palace of amusement in the world.’
It first opened in 1878 with outdoor skating rinks, the impressive Opera House theatre and later additions including the Empress Ballroom, an enormous Ferris wheel with carriages large enough to carry 30 people each, a circus, cinema, and a large number of halls, including the Spanish Hall, which gained its name from the three-dimensional Spanish villages depicted on its walls and balconies.
Nowadays, the Gardens remain a popular spot for tourists and hosts all the annual conferences for each of the major political parties, as well as events like the Blackpool Dance Festival and world darts tournaments.
A history of Blackpool’s attractions goes back more than a century and includes events that have affected many seaside resorts around the British coast during this time. In many cases it is a testament to the love of the local community for these iconic constructions that they have avoided demolition, and so will live to tell their tales for a hundred years more.
