The Town and Its Attractions
With seven miles of beach - the tide ebb is a full half a mile, leaving plenty of sand at low tide - and accompanying promenade, you'll want to jump on and off the electric trams if you plan to get up and down much between the piers. South Pier to North Pier - between which lies most of what there is to see and do - costs GBP1. The major event in town is Blackpool's Pleasure Beach on the South Promenade (March-Easter Sat & Sun 10am-8pm; Easter-June Mon-Fri 2-8pm, Sat & Sun 10am-10pm; July to Nov 5 daily 10am-11pm; hours can vary, call 0870/444 5566, ), just south of South Pier - visted by over seven million people each year. Entrance to the amusement park is free, but you'll have to fork out for the superb array of "white knuckle" rides including "The Big One", the world's fastest roller coaster (85mph) which involves a terrifying near-vertical drop from 235ft. If you're not leaving until you've been on everything - a sensible course of action - buy an unlimited ride wristband (one-day GBP25, two-day GBP40). Across the road, the Sandcastle (June-Oct daily 10am-5.30pm; Nov-May Sat & Sun only; GBP4.95) is the only place you are likely to want to swim. With every aquatic diversion kept at a constant 29°C it can be a welcome respite from the biting sea air. Jump a tram for the ride up to Central Pier with its 108-feet high revolving Big Wheel. The Sea-Life Centre (daily 10am-6pm; July & Aug Fri & Sat to 10pm; GBP7; ) here is one of the country's best, with eight-foot sharks looming at you as you march through a glass tunnel. For a taste of what Blackpool attractions used to be like, you could then hit Louis Tussauds Waxworks , 87-89 Central Promenade (daily 10am-10pm; GBP4.50) - these days, more Posh and Becks than Churchill and Margaret Thatcher. Between Central and North piers stands the 518-feet Blackpool Tower - the skyline's only real touch of grace - erected in 1894 when it was thought that the Northwest really ought not to be outdone by Paris. It's now marketed as "Tower World" (Easter to early Nov daily 10am-11pm; rest of year Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 10am-6pm; GBP10) which offers a ride up to the top (where there's a postbox), an unnerving walk on the see-through glass floor, plus a visit to the Edwardian ballroom and various other attractions. From the very early days, there's been a Moorish-inspired circus (shows included in the entry ticket) between the tower's legs, which still functions, though in the spirit of the times it's now animal-free.
Your Tip for Blackpool
Help other backpackers! Write your own guides and backpacking tips to Blackpool - they will appear instantly on this page - Please only write a tip/guide to Blackpool - visit the main Blackpool forum to ask a question!
Please do not post links to your site here (they won't work) - please use the Blackpool webguide section below! Thanks.
| 
