Overlooking the Irish Sea, Blackpool Centre serves as the heart of Blackpool, one of England’s most popular seaside resorts. It’s famed for its pleasure piers featuring Victorian theatres, vintage rides and sideshow attractions. It also hosts an annual illumination show along its main promenade.
Things to do in Blackpool Centre
Protruding into the Irish Sea is the Central Pier, a 19th-century wood and iron structure that’s now home to family-friendly attractions. You can ride the Blackpool Big Wheel or have your photo taken in the Old Tyme Portrait Studio, then enjoy the rides and sideshow attractions of Peter Sedgewick’s Funfair.
To the north lies the heritage-listed North Pier, which is the oldest and longest pier in Blackpool Centre. Originally designed as a promenade, it now boasts a Victorian tea room, the Venetian Carousel and a 1,564-seat theatre where live concerts, stand-up comedy shows and a diverse range of entertainers perform.
For some of the best views in Blackpool Centre, ride the elevator up to the Blackpool Tower Eye, a 120-metre-high observation deck perched at the top of an Eiffel Tower-inspired landmark. Watch the 4D film about the local region and the history of the Blackpool Tower’s construction before peering down at the streets below through the glass floors of the Eye. At the base of the structure is the Tower Ballroom, one of the most spectacular ballrooms in the United Kingdom. It regularly hosts dance performances accompanied by music played on its Wurlitzer organ.
Getting around Blackpool Centre
Blackpool Centre is served by the Blackpool North railway station, which has train services to destinations across the United Kingdom. Trams travel along the coast while buses connect to the surrounding suburbs. Blackpool Centre is compact enough to explore on foot.