Blackpool
The Number 1 Seaside Resort!
With The Grosvenor as your base, you can explore all the wonderful things that Blackpool has that will entertain everyone – both young and old. Probably the most famous attraction is Blackpool Tower and Circus which can provide a whole days worth of fun for all. Dare you take ‘The Walk’?
518 ft of fun for all the family. Over the coming months there are going to be some extremely exciting developments to Blackpool’s top attraction. But while these are going on there’s still plenty to do!
Not only are there numerous shops and stalls but there are also the three piers – North, Central and South. Heading South from the latter you will find numerous works of art to look and listen to.” Exciting attractions for all ages.
Opened on 21 May 1863 the North Pier is the oldest and longest of Blackpool’s three piers. It cost £11, 740 to build and was opened by Mayor Preston. It is a Grade II listed building and is the oldest surviving pier designed and created by Eugenius Birch.
The pier was damaged in 1867 by wreckage from Nelson’s former flagship, the Foudroyant which had been moored off the pier for an exhibition. In the 1870’s the pier-head was enlarged and the Indian Pavilion and bandstand were built. There were futher ship collisions with the pier in 1892 and 1897.
The Indian Pavailion was destroyed by fire in 1921, but a new pavilion was built, unfortunately also destroyed by fire in 1938.
The pier today is home to the magnificent traditional carousel ride, carousel bar, the sun lounge, it even has it’s own little tram which can transport you to the end of the pier.
Blackpool’s Central Pier home to the Big Wheel, Pirates Bay and the number 1 tribute show Kings and Queen.
Situated right in the very heart of Blackpool Central Pier has something for everyone. With rides galore, game stalls, cafes and arcades you’ll never get bored. When the pier was opened on 30 May 1868, it was 503 yards in length, 131 yards of which was a landing jetty for use at low tide. The first manager of the pier was Robert Bickerstaffe, coxswain of the first Blackpool lifeboat. Blackpool’s lifeboat station is located next to Central Pier.
The pier has suffered relatively little damage save for fires in 1964 and 1973 which gutted the theatre buildings. The main structural alterations have been the removal of the obsolete 131 yards (120 m) low tide jetty in 1975 and the construction of the Ferris wheel in 1990. The addition of the wheel required the midsection of the pier to be strengthened to cope with the extra weight.
The Blackpool South Shore Pier & Pavilion Co. Ltd. was registered in November 1890 and work began to build the pier in 1892. It was constructed, at a total cost of £50,000, using a different method than that used for North and Central piers, the Worthington Screwpile System. It opened, with a choir, two brass bands and an orchestra on Good Friday, 1893. The 3,000 capacity Grand Pavilion opened on 20 May. At 163 yards (149 m) long, it was the shortest of the three piers, and had 36 shops, a bandstand, an ice-cream vendor and a photograph stall. It was built shorter and wider than North and Central piers to accommodate pavilion.
Today South Pier is home to Games Stalls, cafes, shops and kiosks as well as the Laughing Donkey Family Bar. It’s also home to Adrenalin Zone which includes Sky Screamer and Sky Coaster, dare you ride them?
Things to do in Blackpool
Blackpool Zoo
Blackpool Zoo is a fantastic fun day out for the whole family!
Blackpool zoo is top of the list for things to see and do in Blackpool and Lancashire.
The Zoo has over 1500 animals, and is a great value for money family day out. Blackpool’s very own Zoo has a wide and varied menagerie of both the exotic and the unusual and is also a not to be missed attraction. There is also Dinosaur World alongside.
Grand Theatre
The Grand Theatre is an 1100-seat theatre designed by Frank Matcham in 1894. This amazing space is a wonder of restoration and revival, presenting a full range of every performing artform, as Blackpool’s community theatre, Lancashire’s preferred opera house and Britain’s National Theatre of Variety.
Madam Tussades
Madame Tussauds Blackpool is opening right on the Promenade in Spring 2011, and you’re invited! Step onto the red carpet and mingle with your favourite TV stars, then go to the locker room and meet your favourite sports stars getting ready for their next game.
Model Village
Marvel at the many hand crafted models and figures that represent life’s rich tapestry and step back in time to those bygone days. From a Scottish Castle to a tranquil Cornish fishing village. Many new buildings are added yearly along with a working train running through the shopping centre.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Pleasure Beach Theme Park / Amusement Park, Blackpool is Britain’s top, tourist attraction. It lies in 42 acres, started with just one ride in 1896, and celebrated its Centenary in 1996.
There’s something for everyone at Pleasure Beach Theme Park / Amusement Park, Blackpool. There are over 125 rides and attractions.
Stanley Park
Blackpool’s jewel in the crown, voted the best UK’s best park twice in three years it’s easy to see why.
The Grade II listed park is spread out of 390 acres opening in 1926 it’s easy to see why Stanley Park was voted the best.
Stanley Park is a leafy escape from the noise and hectic way of life in Blackpool, take a steady walk around the lake and watch the local wildlife entertain you or just while away the hours meandering through the Italian Gardens or the memorial garden, find a shady spot under one of the many different species of tree and just relax or if you fancy it you could always take out one of the motor boats for a sail round the lake.
Heritage Trams
Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours invite you to enjoy an experience like no other as you take a ride along the world famous Blackpool Tramway aboard a piece of moving history!
The Blackpool Tramway now has a fleet of modern low-floor trams to quickly and efficiently transport thousands of people every day. However, the best of the iconic and original Heritage Trams, many of which are over 80 years old, have been retained and superbly restored for you to ride along Blackpool’s famous coastline. Nowhere else in the UK can you still ride on a Heritage Tram on the line for which it was originally built – making your journey with us a totally unique experience!
Our Heritage Trams run most weekends throughout the year, daily during most UK school holidays and our famous Autumn Illumination Tours.
Fun for kids and big kids
Gruffalo
Join The Gruffalo and Friends on their brand new adventure!
Adapted from some of the UK’s most loved children’s stories by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, your little adventure-seekers will come face to face with beloved characters from The Gruffalo, Zog, The Snail and the Whale, Room on the Broom and more.
Farmer Parr’s
If Ewe Like Animals, Ewe’ll Love Farmer Parrs.
Gallop on over for a MOO-vellous Family Day Out!
A fab-ewe-lous animal farm with a museum, cafe & gift shop. Plus outdoor play areas, indoor picnic/bouncy castle barn & indoor animal barns too. So there’s plenty to do come rain or shine!
Penny Farm
An international charity who are grounded in pragmatism and compassion.
Our mission is to work with horses, horse owners, communities, organisations and governments to improve welfare standards and stamp out suffering in the UK and worldwide.
Sandcastle Waterpark
Sandcastle Waterpark is one of Blackpool’s leading tourist attractions. The Waterpark features over 18 slides and attractions including water slides, fun pools, wave machine, lazy river, water chutes, burger bars, snack bars, arcades, swim shop and much much more.
SEALIFE
Showcasing more than 50 dazzling displays and more than 2,000 spectacular aquatic creatures including tropical sharks, colourful reef fish, octopus, rays and sea horses, SEA LIFE Blackpool is the perfect way to experience the wonders of underwater life without getting wet
Ripley’s Believe it or Not
Discover a unique collection of strange, unusual and extraordinary exhibits as you journey through 8 themed galleries, across 2 floors. Our Believe It or Not Odditoriums showcase the eclectically bizarre collection of Robert Ripley. We have carried on Ripley’s tradition of scouring the globe for the world’s most unbelievable exhibits.
Hole in the Wand
At The Hole in the Wand Wizard Golf you will find out if you have the magical powers of a Serpent, Basilisk, Unicorn or Wizard and every player will receive a magic potion gift to take home worth £3.29. After a nine hole adventure you will end up in our Wizard Tavern with a chance to meet Grobblenook the Gargoyle and enjoy a delicious potion. Ages 3+
Entertainment
Viva
The Vegas Venue in the Heart of Blackpool
We are a multi-purpose ‘Vegas Style’ venue boasting 3 amazing rooms including our Cabaret Theatre, ‘The Round Room’ VIP style bar and comedy club and ‘The Festival Suite’ which is an indoor marquee style wedding and functions space also hosting year round Family Show performances.
Our award winning venue hosts year round shows, entertainment and events which can also be used for private functions and parties
Funnygirls
The most famous show in Blackpool
Funny Girls, is an utterly unique and unforgettable experience. Few experiences in recent years have created so much amazement and wonderment as this, creating a window into a magical world of entertainment.
The show with no equal – in a venue like no other!
Winter Gardens
Amazing shows and festivals all year round
The Winter Gardens is a unique venue, offering one of the largest theatre stages in the country, the Empress Ballroom home to the World’s largest Dance Festivals.
A number of smaller rooms set off the venue including the Spanish Hall, with its Andalucian Village lining the roof, the wood panelled Baronial Hall, perfect for Medieval Banquets.
Showtown!
The museum of fun and entertainment.
We‘re Blackpool’s brand new all-singing, all-dancing museum for the whole family. Winner of Exhibition of the Year 2025 and shortlisted for the Children in Museums award & Kids in Museums award, Showtown celebrates the people and performances that made Blackpool the home of show business.
On the Prom, bang in the middle of Blackpool, Showtown is the new attraction that captures the spirit of our amazing town.
Get up close with the entertainers who put Blackpool on the map. The comedians, dancers, acrobats and characters who turned our resort into the home of show business.
Now officially open!
Regular Events
Blackpool Air Show
8-9 August 2026
Blackpool Air Show will return with some of the world’s finest military and civilian aircraft performing over the iconic seafront.
The programme will showcase the very best in British aviation with a whole host of amazing flying machines and some of the country’s most talented pilots.
The air show is free and can be watched from the beach.
Ride the Lights
1st September 2026
Ride The Lights is one of the most extraordinary nights in our events calendar.
For one night only, the six miles of Promenade is closed, giving cyclists an opportunity to get a safe sneak preview of the Illuminations before Switch-On.
Lightpool
21-31 October 2026
Blackpool’s award-winning Lightpool Festival is returning this October half-term with extraordinary free entertainment.
The programme features a spectacular mix of extraordinary light installations, live performance and 3D projection shows.
The festival is free to access and staged across a range of indoor and outdoor venues.
Christmas by the Sea
December (dates: tbc)
This winter, Blackpool’s Tower Festival Headland will be transformed once again into a breath-taking festive village complete with outdoor skating rink, simulated snowfalls, log cabins, larger-than-life light installations, magical light projection shows and festive-themed fairground.
Wrap up warm, grab a tasty sweet treat or gift from our charming cabins and spend an evening discovering all what’s on offer in this unmissable outdoor experience
Beyond Blackpool
Ashton Gardens is an attractive, 10 acre park, full of lovely planting and modern amenities. It’s right at the heart of St Anne’s. Find it at 5 St Georges Road, St Anne’s, FY8 2AE
The gardens welcomes visitors and residents to enjoy the landscaping, plants, trees and flowers. It’s a lovely town centre park, not far from the seafront too. A place for play, solitude, events and community life for locals and visitors.
The gardens are beautifully restored and very well maintained. When you’re next at St Annes it’s well worth a walk through its magnificent gates to have a look around.
Lytham windmill has stood on the green since 1805 when it was built by the Squire of Lytham.
The original design of the windmill did not have the plinth around the bottom, this was added some 10 years later as a way of stopping people and animals getting too close to the sails. It also helped the miller to adjust the cap and the sailcloths.
Many improvements and renovations have been made to the windmill over the years and it has had many uses in the past including an electricty board sub station, now it is used as a museum.
Why not take a look if you’re in Lytham.
Situated near the Green and front of Lytham, Lowther Gardens were laid out in 1873 by Lytham Squire John Talbot Clifton and were given to the town of Lytham in 1905.
The gardens are the oldest in Lytham St Annes and have changed over the years, tennis courts, play area and sports pavillion have all be added. The bowling greens have been improved along with the beautiful herbaceous border.
This beautiful leafy park is a must for anyone to visit. The gorgeous Lily pond is awash with pink and white Lillies through the latter summer months. The landscaped gardens are full of wildlife, birds and butterflies just waiting to be discovered.