Did You Know?

Famous for its Pleasure Beach, the Illuminations, glitzy ballroom dancing, and fish and chips on the seafront, Blackpool is one of the UK’s most popular seaside tourist destinations.

Throughout the Medieval and Early Modern period, Blackpool was a coastal hamlet in Lancashire's Hundred of Amounderness, and remained such until the mid-18th century when it became fashionable in England to travel to the coast in the summer to improve well-being. In 1781, visitors attracted to Blackpool's 7-mile sandy beach were able to use a new private road, built by Thomas Clifton and Sir Henry Hoghton. Stagecoaches began running to Blackpool from Manchester in the same year, and from Halifax in 1782.

In 1879 thousands of people descended upon Blackpool to witness the switching on of 8 large electric lights to illuminate the promenade, which is where it all started!

Escapologist Karl Bartoni married Wendy Stokes mid-air at the of the Blackpool Tower in 1985, two years after he had performed three daring escapes suspended from the Tower.

The nostalgic tramway in Blackpool is one of the oldest electric lines in the world, dating back to 1885.Before it was modernised in 2012, it was the last surviving first-generation tramway in the UK.

Blackpool is the only British beach resort to boast three piers. Holding Grade II listed status, the North Pier was opened in 1863 and is the oldest remaining example of a pier designed by celebrated seaside architect Eugenius Birch.Central Pier followed in 1868, where a 108ft Ferris wheel known as the Big Wheel was installed in 1990.Finally, South Pier, originally called Victoria Pier, opened in 1893 and is the youngest of the three structures.

Blackpool became a popular resort during the 19th century when it was connected by rail to much of northern England. Today, it attracts about 12 million people each year.

The town of Blackpool is known for its historic Victorian architecture, but not many people know that there are so many listed buildings.Famous examples include the Grade II listed Winter Gardens designed by Thomas Mitchell and built 1875-78, and the Baroque-style Grand Theatre designed by Frank Matcham and built over seven months, opening in 1894

The famous Blackpool illuminations have been on display since 1879. The free light show uses over a million bulbs and runs from early August until late November each year.

Famous Blackpudlians include actor David Thewlis (Professor Remus Lupin from Harry Potter ), The Cure’s Robert Smith, Dr Who sidekick Jenna-Louise Coleman, John Mahoney from Frasier, and Zoe Ball.

Blackpool Tower opened in 1894 and was modelled on the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The 158 metre high landmark is illuminated by about 10,000 light bulbs and takes 7 years to paint.

Blackpool’s famous Pleasure Beach has over 40 rides and attractions, and is one of the UK’s most visited tourist attractions. It has one of the highest rollercoasters in the country, with a 65 metre drop.

Blackpool Zoo is built on the site of the old Blackpool Municipal Airport, which was later turned into Stanley Park Aerodrome. It was turned into an RAF parachute training centre in 1939.

The world’s biggest stick of rock candy was made by Blackpool confectioners Coronation Rock in 1991. It was 19 feet long and weighed 413.6kg.

In September 1977, a famous racing horse switched on the Blackpool Illuminations. Red Rum had just won his third Grand National that April.

Other well-known attractions in the town include the zoo, which is home to over 2,500 animal species, and Stanley Park. The Sandcastle water park is one of the UK’s largest indoor water parks.

Notariannis. It was established in 1928 and has been serving its famous home-made ice cream to the masses ever since. If ever there’s flooding on the prom, everyone’s first question is always “is Notariannis okay?”