Vacation in Blackpool

Introduction

Blackpool is a seaside town in England, on the coast of the Irish Sea. It is traditionally part of Lancashire but on April 1, 1998 was made into an independent unitary authority. It is believed to get its name from a long gone drainage channel which ran over a peat bog. The water which ran into the sea at Blackpool was black from the peat and formed a "black pool" in the relatively clean waters of the Irish Sea.

History

During Roman times, the Fylde, was an area of oak forests and impassable bogs. The Romans built a road through Preston to a settlement outside Kirkham fort and this continued westwards, probably towards a Roman port. In 1602 entries in the Bispham parish baptismal register mention "de Poole" and "de blackpoole", at that time a collection of cobble and clay huts spread along the coast near to the "Pool". In 18TH Century The Fylde coast began to attract visitors from the landed gentry by the 1720's and in 1735 a cottage owned by Ethart a' Whiteside became the first 'guest house' used especially for visitors. The 19th Century saw the rapid development of Blackpool as a major resort for the industrial working classes of Lancashire and Yorkshire. The 1970's and 80's brought competition from continental holidays and from the consequent higher expectations of visitors. Blackpool adjusted as it has throughout its history, by providing mini breaks, en-suite facilities, and major indoor facilities such as the Sandcastle, Sea Life Centre and most recently the World of Coronation Street.

Place of interest

Blackpool is heavily dependent on tourism. Major attractions include:

  • Blackpool Tower, built in May 1894, is a 518-foot-tall copy of the Eiffel Tower. It was painted gold for its centenary.
  • The Blackpool Pleasure Beach amusement park, near to the South Pier.
  • Blackpool Zoo - provides a home to over 1500 animals from all over the world.
  • Blackpool Dance Festival - World famous annual ballroom dance competition of international significance: home page
  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach - Theme park with lots of different attractions including the tallest rollercoaster in Europe.
  • Tower World - A huge complex of leisure facilities, entertainment venues and restaurants. Included is the famous Blackpool Tower, Tower Ballroom and Tower Circus.
  • Winter Gardens - Large entertainment and conference venue in the town centre.
  • North Pier - The northernmost of Blackpool's three piers. It includes a small shopping arcade, a small tramway and a theatre at the end. It was damaged by a 1997 Christmas windstorm
  • Central Pier - The middle pier. It includes a large theme park and shopping.
  • South Pier - The southernmost pier. Almost directly opposite the Pleasure Beach, it houses a large theme park.


  • One controversial proposal, which has the involvement of the local council, is to transform Blackpool into a casino resort along the lines of Las Vegas and Atlantic City, making it the centre point of gambling in the UK.

    Blackpool remains a major summer entertainment venue, specialising in variety shows featuring entertainers such as Ken Dodd. Outside the main holiday season, Blackpool's Winter Gardens routinely hosts major political and trade union conferences, ranging from that of the Conservative Party and the TGWU with thousands of delegates and visitors, to substantially smaller gatherings such as the CWU or NUS conferences.

    Museums & Art Galleries

    The world famous Waxworks exhibition is situated on Central Promenade and is open throughout the season from Easter to the end of October. Famous personalities such as film stars, television personalities, pop idols and politicians are all portrayed in wax. Why not visit the Chamber of Horrors and the Anatomy Exhibition for adults where new figures are introduced every season. Toy and Teddy Bear Museum is another attraction for visitors.

    Shopping

    Like other popular cities Blackpool has a number of shopping center chain. Among them : Littlewoods Extra with a massive range of 40000 products, ranging from toys and clothes to electrical goods and sports equipment and Marks & Spencer for womenswear, menswear, gifts, flowers and a wide range of delcious food. Except this two, Bhs Plc, Clifton Arcade, Hearnshaw Of Fleetwood, Stringer Jw, Woolworths Plc, Lancastrian Shopping Mart etc., are some famous shoping centers in Blackpool.

    Food & Drink

    Blackpool hosts a number of restaurants offering all range of food and all verities of food from different place of the world. Blue Room, Cottage, Giggis Taverna, Grosvenor Casino, Galley Caf