by Nish Laverz

Created on: January 10, 2011

Blackpool is the biggest resort in Europe. It's prom is covered in tourist attractions and hotels. The Golden Mile houses some of Blackpool's biggest attractions.

Blackpool is home to three Piers

The North Pier, the oldest and most nostalgic of them.

The Central Pier

The South Pier

The Grand Metropole Hotel at Blackpool's Northern end, once owned by Butlin's is the only Hotel on the seaward side of the Prom. Blackpool was once home to a Pontin's camp at the Southern end as well and has a Haven on its outskirts.

Blackpool Tower.

Blackpool tower opened on 14th May 1894, is 518ft 9inches tall and the Tower alone contains 2,493 tons of steel and 93 tons of cast iron with another 985 tons of steel and 259 tons of cast iron contained in its base structure. It cost £300,000 around £21 million in today's money. The 'Walk of Faith situated 380ft above the promenade is a 2 inch thick piece of glass set into the viewing platforms floor, it weighs 1/2 tone and is made from two sheets of laminated glass. It can withstand the weight of 5 baby elephants. Maintenance workers can climb to this point using the 536 steps, Tiring work. During the Illuminations the tower is lit up by ten thousand light bulbs and it has a huge searchlight which sweeps across the town all evening.  it between 1913 and 1946 it's telephone number was "Blackpool 1", or I think 2522576651. It takes 7 years to paint the tower and they use 6 tons of paint to do it. It is grade 1 listed and is the oldest tower on the World Federation of Great Towers membership list.

Blackpool Airport

Blackpool Airport began operation in 1909 and hosted the UK's First Air Show, it was Known as Squires Gate. It only lasted a year and in 1910 the land was leased to a syndicate of business men and turned into a horse racing course. This lasted till the out break of World War 1 when the land was taken over and turned into a military convalescent home, which eventually closed in 1924.

In 1927 another airport opend on the site that is now Stanley Park and in 1932 flying began again from Squires Gate. In 1937 after it had been decided that there should only be one airport flights ceased from Stanley Park. Two years later at the outbreak of World War 2 Squires Gate airfield was taken over by the Air Ministry and developed for use by the Royal Air Force.

In 1945 when the war ended Squires Gate was designated a civil Airfield and by 1949 it had been modernised.

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