by Nish Laverz

Created on: December 28, 2010   Last Updated: December 31, 2010

Blackpool is the most famous resort on the Fylde coast in Lancashire, England. It is also Europe’s largest.

Lets start with a bit of history.

Blackpool rose to prominence as a holiday destination in the 18th century as a place for the well to do to get away from it all. It was believed back then that bathing in sea water could cure diseases.

In 1781 Thomas Clifton and Sir Henry Hoghton built a private road to Blackpool. Allowing stagecoaches an easy route into the then still small town. The first of which started running from Manchester the same year. The next year stagecoaches started running from Halifax.

In 1801 Blackpool only had a population of around 500

In 1846 the railway came to Blackpool.

Blackpool is home to one of the most famous stratches of sea front in the world. The Golden Mile is home to most of Blackpool's major attractions

From September to November the Golden Mile allong with the rest of the sea front is awash with color at night. The Blackpool Illuminations keep the tourists comming even after the summer has gone.

Attractions:

The North Pier

The North Pier was the first of Blackpool’s 3 Piers to be built. It originally dates from around 1863.

As well as being Blackpools oldest it is also its longest.

It is considered to be the most traditional of the three piers.

Central Pier

The Central Pieroriginally dates from around 1868.

Attractions include:

Trevor Chance’s Legends

Central Pier fair

The Wheel

Central Pier Family Bar

Peter Sedgewicks Funfair

Central Pier Family Entertainment Centre

Old Tyme Portrait Studio

Blackpool Tower

In the 1870’s Dr Cockers’ Menagarie and Aquarium opened on the site where the tower now stands. The tower complex itself was built around this between 1891 and 1894 and the Aquarium is now one of the first attractions people visit as the enter the tower.

As well as incorporating the Aquarium the main brick structure has housed Tower Circus since it opened in 1894 It is positioned between the four legs of the tower Structure in the middle of the building. It is famous for its Grand Finales with Dancing Fountains due to the pool of water set under the lowerable circus ring.

A few months after the tower opened the Tower Pavilion opened to the public. This was later replaced by the Tower Ballroom which is still in use today. It is home the the famous Wurlitzer organ.

Today the tower is home to a number of attractions as well as the Aquarium, Ballroom and the Circus. These include:

Restaurant 1894

This replaced The Hornpipe Galley in 2008

Jungle Jim’s Towering Adventureland

This is a new interactive play area that has recently replaced the original Jungle Jim’s area. It consists of a play area based on the idea of a lost city where children can search for hidden treasure while tackling a series of adventures.

Jurassic Walk

This attraction includes a walk through landscape based around Dinosaurs and a 3D cinema.

Charlie Cairoli Exhibition

Tower Top and the Walk of Faith

Tower Heritage Trail

Tower Lounge Bar

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