Blackpool's Basic Travel Guide

Blackpool is the most popular seaside resort in the United Kingdom, where around 4 million visitors come every year to have a good time. Blackpool is located on the North West coast of England and has a population of 150,000 people. Its attractions suit the most diverse requirements, offering activities for both young, party animals and tranquillity-loving families. It is also a popular attraction among gay and lesbian couples. Blackpool's tourist history goes back to 1735 when the first guest house was opened. Here are a few Blackpool travel tips for you. You can get to Blackpool by train, as it has two railway stations - Blackpool South and Blackpool North, by plane, as it has its own airport (located 5 miles from the town centre and well connected to the resort by train, bus, rail and taxi services) or by road, as the M55 motorway is going through the heart of the town, linking Blackpool to the British motorway system. Blackpool's main travel attractions are the Golden Mile, which is considered to the heart of the city, the Blackpool Pleasure Beach and the Blackpool Tower. The Golden Mile is the main shopping area; it has restaurants, cafes, arcades and the Tower. It is most famous mainly for its illuminations (also known as the world's longest free show) which take place yearly between September and November when the 8 km of seaside promenade and the Blackpool Tower are lit with bright, beautiful lights. The Tower has been built in1894 and it represents a famous Victorian landmark. It is nowadays a huge entertainment centre with a huge ballroom and a circus. The Blackpool Pleasure Beach was opened in 1896. It is an amusement park that is offering a variety of rides for all tastes. Its main attractions are the 200 ft Big One roller coaster that is being known worldwide, three wooden roller coasters and several smaller theme roller coasters, entertainment shows featuring acrobats and dancers like the 'Eclipse at the Globe' show and the world's biggest ride in the dark - the 'Valhalla'. It also has rides suitable for children like a centrifugal rocket called 'Flying Machines' or the 'Beaver Creek' ride. The Blackpool Model Village is another place you should visit. It is a quieter attraction, located in Stanley Park. You can take a refreshing walk through this hand crafted model village and its beautiful gardens. If your Blackpool travel experience involves children, Louis Tussaud's waxworks is a nice place for taking them out. The museum has 5 floors packed with lifelike models of famous people from around the world and it's much cheaper than its London relative, Madame Toussauds. But if you are travelling to Blackpool with friends and you want to go out, you should know that there are many restaurants and pubs where you can have loads of fun.