Tag: Attractions

Stanley Park

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The park was officially opened on 2nd October 1926, by Edward George Villiers Stanley – 17th Earl of Derby.  However, the park was named after his father, Frederick Arthur Stanley, the 16th Earl of Derby and Blackpool’s first Member of Parliament. Stanley Park is a public park in the town of Blackpool on the Fylde coast in Lancashire, England. It is the town’s primary park and covers an area of approximately 104 hectares (260 acres). The park was designed to include significant sporting provisions, along with formal gardens, a boating lake and woodland area. It was designed and built in… Read more »

Odyssey 2024

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The biggest standalone light installation ever created for Blackpool Illuminations has brought a futuristic feel to the famous Golden Mile. Standing at 11 metres high, Odyssey is a spectacular interactive display that has been co-created by international designer Jack Irving in collaboration with a highly-talented team of computer scientists from Lancaster University. The outdoor installation comprises six large-scale towers that are combined with state-of-the-art technology to create an immersive projection show themed on undiscovered creatures lurking in the depths of the deep sea. Odyssey, which has been manufactured at the Blackpool Illuminations Lightworks factory, has taken more than two years to design… Read more »

Blackpool Sports Centre Opens

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On the site of the former park nurseries, the Blackpool Sports Centre was built in 1996, further enhancing Stanley Park’s reputation as a hub for sports and recreation. The sports hall, designed with versatility in mind, offers facilities for a wide range of activities, including badminton, table tennis, and 5-a-side football. This development marked a significant investment in Blackpool’s sporting infrastructure, helping to provide local residents and visitors with access to high-quality facilities for both recreational and competitive sports. Behind the sports hall is a 60-metre running track, catering to athletes and fitness enthusiasts of all levels. However, this part… Read more »

Blackpool Cricket Club Opens

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Blackpool Cricket Club has a long and storied history, dating back to its origins in 1890. The club was initially based in various locations within the town before it found a permanent home at Stanley Park. The land, a sprawling 256-acre site, was gifted to Blackpool Corporation in 1924, as part of a grand vision for the development and expansion of the town’s public amenities. This ambitious project led to the creation of Stanley Park as a key community space, with facilities for leisure and sports. As part of the broader development, a cricket pitch was laid in 1925, alongside… Read more »

Parks Art Deco Cafe

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The Parks Art Deco cafe is frankly stunning. A majestic art deco building set in beautiful Stanley Park, the cafe was built in 1926 and is grade two listed. It is owned by Blackpool council and is fully licensed, although as we went for breakfast we didn’t indulge in the glorious jugs of Pimms they had advertised. There is seating both indoors and outdoors facing the Italian gardens, so wherever you choose to sit you certainly have a room with a view. When I was in Blackpool last month, the local historian Ted Lightbown also took me to the Stanley… Read more »

Blackpool Zoo Opens

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Blackpool Zoo officially opened its doors on July 6, 1972, marking the beginning of what would become one of the town’s most beloved attractions. The zoo was developed on the site of the former Stanley Park Aerodrome, an historic airfield that had fallen out of use. Amelia Earhart was one of its many famous visitors. You can see her name mentioned on the blue plaque below. Its transformation into a zoo was part of Blackpool’s broader efforts to expand its appeal beyond the famous seaside attractions and provide visitors with a unique, family-friendly experience. From its inception, Blackpool Zoo was… Read more »

Royal Palace Gardens

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“To go to Blackpool and not visit the Royal Palace Gardens is to visit London and not visit the Crystal Palace or Westminster Abbey, or go to Rome and not visit the Vatican or the Coliseum!”London Weekly News – 1891 The Royal Palace Gardens was a world famous destination for variety and music hall stars and touring exhibitions and battle re-enactments like ‘Savage South Africa’ and the ‘Afghan War’. With its lavish Grand Opera House, Indian Pavilion and famous botanical gardens, conservatories and menageries, it covered an area of over 40 acres. It was the first of Blackpool entertainment complexes… Read more »

Derby Baths on Blackpool Promenade

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Derby Baths in Blackpool, which opened on 22 July 1939, quickly became the town’s premier spot for swimming and recreation. Designed in the popular Art Deco style, it featured a large swimming pool, saunas, steam rooms, and relaxation areas. For decades, it was a central hub for the community, hosting events, fitness classes, and social gatherings, making it a beloved landmark in Blackpool. However, after years of declining visitor numbers and growing concerns about the building’s condition, Derby Baths closed on 31 December 1991. Although there were discussions about renovating and possibly reopening the facility, the decision was made to… Read more »

Charlie Cairoli Statue moved to the Tower

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The statue of Charlie Cairoli was initially placed in Stanley Park in Blackpool to honour his contributions to the town’s entertainment scene. But because of his special connection to the Blackpool Tower Circus, the statue was moved to the Blackpool Tower. This relocation was to better recognise his legacy by putting the statue at the place where he made such a big impact. The Blackpool Tower is a historic landmark, and its Tower Circus has been a central part of Blackpool’s entertainment since it opened in 1894. Moving Cairoli’s statue to the Blackpool Tower allows visitors to celebrate his work… Read more »

Gordon Brown pulls bid for ‘Super Casino’ in Blackpool

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Blackpool was really hoping to get a super casino to help revitalize the area and boost the local economy. In 2007, though, the British government, led by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, decided to give the license for the super casino to Manchester instead. This was part of a broader plan to set up regional casinos across the UK. The decision to choose Manchester over Blackpool stirred up controversy. Blackpool was considered a strong contender because of its history as a tourist spot and the potential benefits of a super casino for its economy, especially since the town played a key… Read more »