Blackpool, England

Visited on June 7, 2024. I am catching up on my trip to England, 2024. Click here to see the other gardens we visited or click here for the Overview post.

Now we’re headed toward new land.  First time for purely recreational visit, no gardens really to see here.  We went for the Victorian era seaside beach resort adventure.   Packed with bars and restaurants, roller coasters and theme attractions big in the 1920’s catering to the domestic northern England vacationers.   

Glass elevator to the top. 

400 feet 

The South Pier and the amusement park up near the horizon. 

Winter Gardens

The Atrium or Arcade inside the Winter Gardens. 

Back to the extreme top of the tower. 

Very windy 400 feet up on the coast of the Irish Sea. 

One of numerous theaters in Blackpool. 

The tide is out on this seven mile long beach.  Later the water came right up to the sea wall. 

The North Pier. 

Now for the highlight for me, an hour dinner cruise up and down the entire beach.  Fish and chips were catered by a restaurant on the Promenade.  The food was really good and the historic train the best.  

In the Fall, Blackpool does the Illumination.   One million light bulbs, six mile along the Promenade is a city hosted light festival.   Since we’re here in June, we didn’t see it.   It has a bunch of unique light fixtures throughout the pedestrian areas. 

I had a great time and will definitely want to return to see the Illumination.  Some good thrift store and gay bars.  Blackpool is a unique place.  With only 130,000 residents it is smaller than the height of their seaside resort era.  A bit rusty with its own personality.  Reno, Nevada claims to be  “The Biggest Little City in the World “ At about half that size, I think Blackpool could make a run for that title.