There’s no British seaside resort extra iconic than Blackpool – and whether or not you’re on the lookout for conventional enjoyable on the seashore, planning to see the well-known illuminations or testing the household sights, there’s a lot to do in Blackpool with children.
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Lastly managing to take my daughter on her first go to aged 10, we hit the candy spot between nonetheless having fun with the actions for youthful children in Blackpool and those designed to tempt teenagers and tweens, plus the solar helpfully shone over the golden sand of the seashore as effectively.
And with the brand new Gruffalo Clubhouse play expertise becoming a member of the opposite Merlin sights (together with Sea Life Blackpool, Madame Tussauds Blackpool, the Blackpool Tower Dungeon, the Blackpool Tower Eye and Blackpoool Tower Circus) it’s a good time to plan your individual household seaside vacation, and see what number of issues to do in Blackpool with children you possibly can squeeze in!
Gruffalo Clubhouse
Model new in Could 2023, the Gruffalo Clubhouse is little one heaven – aimed toward underneath 10s, even my 10-year-old embraced her inside preschooler and made essentially the most of with the ability to play.
There are six themed play areas, together with the under-threes Room on the Broom space, plus a castle-style play space themed round Zog, Snail and The Whale ball pit, and a gentle play part.
The primary central part takes you into the deep darkish wooden, with statues of among the characters round, together with Mouse, Owl and – in fact – the Gruffalo, a lot to the delight of the opposite small guests.
There are additionally stay reveals, the place you possibly can dance together with the Gruffalo earlier than having your picture taken collectively, and storytelling from a few of Julia Donaldson’s much-loved tales.
For folks, there are comfortable chairs overlooking the play areas, and a restaurant (let employees know if it’s your little one’s birthday for a bonus deal with). Do take socks with you, in any other case it’s £1 to purchase a pair, and at peak occasions everybody will get a colored wristband if you enter – you’re nonetheless assured 75 minutes inside, with limitless play time at different occasions.
Blackpool Tower Eye
Modelled after the Eiffel Tower, the Blackpool Tower has stood overlooking the seafront since 1894 when guests paid sixpence for entry (and one other sixpence to make use of the lifts to achieve the highest).
And whereas costs have gone up a bit, the view is simply as spectacular as ever, with the possibility to stroll out onto the 5cm thick glass ground for an all-round view – the Skywalk viewing platform has been examined to take as much as 5 tonnes, so I braved it to look down on the promenade and out on the Irish Sea.
My daughter, determined she’d relatively recognize these views from the good strong ground on the again! Till November 5, the tower can also be residence to the Tower Prime Backyard, the very best backyard in Blackpool.
Your go to begins with a brief movie within the 4D cinema – I received’t give away the whole lot, however stick with the perimeters if you wish to keep away from among the added results! After a race via the tower’s historical past and a hen’s eye view, you then head up within the lifts to expertise the true factor.
It’s a 69 second journey as much as 380ft – and a few quirky information to find as you wait, together with the very fact the tower alone accommodates 2,493 tons of metal, plus extra one other 985 within the constructing on the base. All of it takes seven years to color.
Initially the Tower was solely going to be 450 toes excessive, however the distance to the highest of the flagpole is now 518 toes 9 inches. And you may climb as much as 412 toes (or the decrease part at 401 toes) for an excellent greater view.
On a transparent day, you possibly can see over to the Lake District, right down to Liverpool and out to the Isle of Man.
Guide the Blackpool Large Ticket and also you get right of entry to six Blackpool sights, together with the Blackpool Tower Eye, Ballroom, Circus, Blackpool Dungeon, Madame Tussauds and Sea Life Blackpool, saving practically 50% on entry
Blackpool Tower Circus
The Blackpool Tower Circus opened again in Could 1894 and hasn’t missed a season since, and with afternoon reveals in addition to night performances, it’s unbelievable for households.
There’s a brand new present for 2023 and from the pair of clowns joking away to some spectacular feats of talent, daring and athleticism, our afternoon invoice was centered on mild leisure.
Nonetheless simply spectacular sufficient that my daughter’s jaw dropped over and over, and she or he tried to work out how the performers have been doing these apparently not possible issues (nonetheless onerous she peered, she couldn’t see any wires or trickery although, which left her much more impressed).
Motorbikes raced round a cage, performers juggled hearth with their toes, made human pyramids and hung daringly from the heights, plus some viewers participation with the clowns, together with a skit utilizing a mirror that’s excellent for making children (and adults) snort.
By the way in case you have children who don’t like clowns, Mooky and Mr Boo put on low-key make-up and costumes so there are some clowning classics like massive footwear, however not the complete white face and fright wig.
Blackpool Tower Ballroom
Whilst you’re visiting Blackpool Tower, make a while to cease in and see the Blackpool Tower Ballroom as effectively.
As Strictly followers, we couldn’t miss an opportunity to have a look inside, tiptoe throughout the sting of the sprung dance ground and gaze up on the gilded ornament and glittering chandeliers above, across the purple velvet seats.
You possibly can guide in for afternoon tea if you wish to make an actual occasion of it, or just seize a drink from the bar and watch the dancers on the ground.
Even with out a particular efficiency happening, once we visited there was music being performed on the Wurlitzer organ and {couples} whirling across the ground – some wanting very skilled, some simply having fun with the possibility to bounce right here.
Dino Mini Golf
One other enjoyable further whilst you’re visiting Blackpool Tower is the Dino Mini Golf on the tower’s seventh ground – 9 holes full with dinosaurs dotted round.
The indoor mini golf is nice if the climate outdoors is unhealthy, and whereas among the holes positively require a little bit of talent or luck, there’s nothing too tough for those who’re visiting with youthful children.
It’s all tucked into one lengthy room, with a couple of glimpses of the seafront via the home windows. Not big, so that you’ll in all probability be accomplished in round half-hour relying how busy it’s, so additionally an effective way to fill a little bit of time between visiting Tower sights.
You possibly can guide tickets as an add-on for those who’re shopping for on-line, or pay on the day.
The Gap in Wand
The Gap in Wand wizarding golf is one other very enjoyable possibility in case your children love magic (or simply fancy some extra loopy golf!) – sister to the attraction in York, it really works on the same foundation and also you’ll discover a nod to the York course right here too.
With 9 holes to attempt, you’ll win a prize of a drink on the finish relying in your talent stage – serpent, basilisk, unicorn or wizard.
Alongside the best way, you’ll courageous a forest filled with venomous snakes, an historic fort with a magical fountain, a visit to a practice station and have riddles to unravel.
Throw in quirky decorations, together with dusty skulls, cauldrons, books and a few significantly tough holes to play too – and because it’s indoor, it’s one other nice possibility for Blackpool within the rain with children.
Sea Life Blackpool
Step from the seafront in Blackpool and head underneath the waves on the aquarium, with over 2,500 creatures to see at Sea Life Blackpool together with an enormous 5ft inexperienced moray eel (known as Matilda).
Beginning with the contact rock swimming pools, there are 50 shows in all, resulting in the massive ocean tunnel. Alongside the best way, you possibly can spot native creatures, spy rays in Stingray Journey, marvel on the colors of a coral reef, take a rainforest journey and see all 4 corners of the world, with extra themed tanks.
There are some very enjoyable methods to expertise the aquarium’s inhabitants too, together with the possibility for youths to crawl part-way inside tanks, amplify among the creatures and get a bit extra fingers on, feeling a shark’s pores and skin and tooth or stingray barbs.
Workers are round to share extra data, plus there are many different information dotted about, in addition to a powerful give attention to conservation.
If you wish to do extra than simply look, you possibly can even snorkel with the sharks and feed turtles, as among the VIP experiences. There may be additionally a free path to comply with, whereas further household actions typically happen throughout college holidays.
Madame Tussauds Blackpool
The Tower Ballroom isn’t the one place to tempt Strictly followers in Blackpool, with an opportunity to see among the present’s stars, costumes and even get behind the judges’ desk (and wave these paddles round) at Madame Tussauds Blackpool.
When you couldn’t care much less about sequins and glitterballs, there’s loads for the entire household although, together with Physician Who and I’m A Celeb, Get Me Out Of Right here to sporting heroes, Marvel superheroes, Coronation Avenue stars, music legends and extra.
My daughter posed with ET, Ant and Dec, Spider-man, the King, Sooty and Kate Winslet to call just some (and it’s not typically you get these names grouped collectively!) as we strolled from room to room, spending virtually 90 minutes inside.
In addition to the well-known waxworks (and Alan Carr giving an instance of how they’re created), there’s some end-of-the-pier enjoyable together with basic comedians and a mirror maze – I used to be very grateful for a couple of smudgy fingerprints whereas looking for my method via!
There are some enjoyable interactive moments as effectively, together with a problem to carry Thor’s hammer (not one for the simply startled!), picture alternatives galore and even an enormous deckchair to climb into.
Blackpool Tower Dungeons
Terrify your self with a visit to the Dungeons, the place stay actor whisk you thru 1,000 really alarming years of historical past, plus loads of particular results and rides to get your coronary heart racing even sooner.
Like all of the Dungeon places, the Blackpool Tower Dungeons has areas themed to go well with its personal historical past, together with the Darkish Chapel with a spooky monk telling tales of the Fylde Coast and Lytham Priory, and a go to to the torture chamber of Lancaster Fort.
You’ll encounter smugglers and witches too as a part of the ten actor-led reveals, earlier than a drop journey as the ultimate heart-racing thrill.
Beneficial for age 10+, it’s not one for youthful children (except they’re feeling notably courageous) with loads to make teenagers and adults leap too.
Guide the Blackpool Large Ticket and also you get right of entry to six Blackpool sights, together with the Blackpool Tower Eye, Ballroom, Circus, Blackpool Dungeon, Madame Tussauds and Sea Life Blackpool, saving practically 50% on entry
Blackpool Dungeon Escape Room
If a go to to the Blackpool Tower Dungeon isn’t scary sufficient, why not tackle the Dungeon Escape Room – beginning by being locked inside a jail cell at Lancaster Fort, the place you’ve been sentenced to hold for witchcraft.
Your solely method out is to seek out the key passage out of the guard’s quarters earlier than the guards themselves come again in an hour.
With the clock ticking, you’ll have 60 minutes to deal with the collection of riddles and puzzles to see if you will get away in time.
Suggested for age 10+, like the primary Dungeons, it’s additionally not splendid for the claustrophobic, as you’re locked inside a cage (till you’re employed out find out how to escape, not less than). However there’s nothing like a problem to get all of the household working collectively!
You want a separate timed ticket to tackle the Escape Room, though you will get mixed tickets for this and Blackpool Tower Dungeon. Costs range relying on the quantity in your group.
Peter Rabbit: Discover and Play
Hop to it! On the Peter Rabbit: Discover and Play attraction, there are 5 rooms for little ones to discover as a part of a mild 45-minute journey themed round everybody’s favorite rabbit.
With challenges to deal with to see for those who’ve obtained what it takes to affix the Secret Treehouse Membership with Peter and his mates (keep in mind, a very good rabbit by no means provides up!), the interactive household attraction relies on the TV collection, so children may also encounter a few of their favorite characters not within the books.
Make music in Jeremy Fisher’s pond, climb and crawl round Mr MacGregor’s backyard as you hunt for Peter, go to The Burrow and Mr Bouncer’s Invention Workshop as you go – plus the possibility to satisfy Peter Rabbit himself.
Simply among the best issues to do in Blackpool for toddlers.
Blackpool Seashore
Blackpool’s well-known Golden Mile is just the start for those who’re seeking to hit the seashore in Blackpool with children. The coast has been tempting guests since 1840 and it’s nonetheless among the best issues to do in Blackpool without spending a dime.
There’s really an enormous seven miles of sand alongside Blackpool seafront, with the primary Blue Flag seashore between the South and Central piers, though you received’t be wanting someplace to construct a sandcastle – particularly at low tide when the ocean retreats a surprisingly great distance, leaving some tide swimming pools to splash in (though it comes proper to the ocean wall at excessive tide).
Test the tide occasions right here
You possibly can rent deckchairs in the course of the summer season months (together with some within the tangerine colors of the city’s soccer workforce) plus there are nonetheless donkeys giving rides to children alongside the sand.
There aren’t any canine allowed on the seashore between North Pier and the large Mirror Ball past the South Pier from Could to September, and canine have to be on a lead on the promenade always between the North and South Piers.
The Comedy Carpet
One of many largest items of public artwork within the UK, the Comedy Carpet is an expanse of jokes on the promenade on the foot of the Blackpool Tower.
And whether or not you cease for a fast giggle on the best way previous, or spend a while wandering round studying your favorite humorous bits, it’s an awesome reminder of a few of Britain’s greatest beloved comedians – over 1,000 represented in all.
You’ll discover previous jokes to make you groan, entire sketches, even songs in addition to comedy catchphrases, all divided into sections like a conventional playbill – the lettering is as eye-catching because the content material at occasions. And with 2,200 sq. metres to learn via, there’s sure to be one thing to make everybody snort.
Blackpool Piers
What’s a British seaside metropolis with out its pier? And Blackpool is fortunate sufficient to have three of them! Every of the town’s Victorian piers has its personal distinctive options and loads of enjoyable household sights, from amusement rides and arcades to meals stalls and stay leisure.
The North Pier
The North Pier is the oldest of the three Blackpool piers, relationship again to 1863. It’s additionally the one of the three to carry Grade II listed standing, so visiting is a should.
The historic pier doesn’t have any amusement rides like the opposite two piers, nevertheless it does have a conventional gaming arcade, a couple of eating places and bars, and a small theatre exhibiting family-friendly reveals all year long.
There are another household sights like Laser Quest Blackpool not removed from the top of the North Pier too.
The Central Pier
The Central Pier sits on the coronary heart of the Blackpool shoreline and is residence to the town’s well-known “Large Wheel”.
The Ferris wheel has simply undergone an enormous £4 million improve for summer season 2023 so it’s now greater and higher than ever too.
The pier additionally has varied different enjoyable fairground rides for each children and children at coronary heart, in addition to a gaming arcade and the favored Pirate’s Bay Household Bar, with an awesome children’ menu and plenty of stay household leisure.
The South Pier
The South Pier is the most recent pier in Blackpool and the most effective for adrenaline junkies of all ages.
This pier has the largest vary of thrill rides and sights, together with the UK’s fastest-spinning wild mouse journey, the stomach-churning Waltzer, Dodgems, a carousel, and extra, so there’s one thing for the entire household.
Pleasure Seashore
If the pier thrill rides weren’t fairly sufficient adrenaline for your loved ones, head over to Blackpool Pleasure Seashore, a big amusement park near the South Pier.
The theme park is residence to 125 rides and sights, with the whole lot from big curler coasters appropriate for older children and teenagers, to extra household pleasant sights akin to a ghost practice, dodgems, water rides, and a miniature railway.
Actual thrill-seekers (over 1.32m/4.3ft) received’t need to miss The Large One. When it was first opened in 1994, this coaster was the tallest, quickest and steepest metal curler coaster on the planet! At this time it’s nonetheless the UK’s largest curler coaster.
Different well-known coasters on the park embody ICON, the UK’s first and solely double-launch curler coaster, and Revolution, the UK’s first looping coaster.
You’ll must buy a ticket to enter the Blackpool theme park, which incorporates limitless rides all day.
Nickelodeon Land (Pleasure Seashore)
There are many rides and sights in Blackpool’s Pleasure Seashore for youthful youngsters too, however none are as massive a success as Nickelodeon Land.
The one certainly one of its form within the UK, Nickelodeon Land is an space of Pleasure Seashore particularly for toddlers and youthful youngsters, with Nickelodeon-themed rides and smaller/no top limits.
The world has 12 thrilling themed rides, together with SpongeBob’s Splash Bash, The Rugrats’ Misplaced River, and Dora’s World Voyage. There are additionally common character meet and greets, making it an awesome day trip for little Nickelodeon followers.
To go to Nickelodeon Land, you’ll must purchase a regular Pleasure Seashore entrance ticket which will get you in to each theme parks. There are lowered ticket costs for youths underneath 11.
Sandcastle Waterpark
Simply throughout the street from Pleasure Seashore, you’ll additionally discover Sandcastle Waterpark – the UK’s largest indoor waterpark.
With 18 slides and sights inside a tropical 84-degree climate-controlled constructing, the big water park is likely one of the greatest days out in Blackpool for youths it doesn’t matter what the climate.
The waterpark has a wave pool, lazy river, water chute, and splash space for youthful youngsters, whereas older children can take pleasure in Masterblaster, the UK’s longest indoor curler coaster water slide, and the waterpark’s many different thrilling white knuckle rides.
Coral Island
Coral Island is a big indoor amusement arcade positioned on the seafront. It’s the town’s largest free-admission attraction, making it splendid for households visiting Blackpool on a funds (so long as you watch how a lot you spend inside!)
The arcade has a wide range of enjoyable arcade video games, from seaside classics like slot machines, air hockey tables, crane machines, and basketball hoops, to a number of trendy digital actuality video games.
There’s additionally a handful of small child’s rides, together with a spooky ghost practice and the Pirate Flyer monorail that flies proper above the arcade video games.
Coral Island additionally a pirate-themed restaurant within the arcade, with a kid-friendly menu and youngsters underneath 10 eat free all day every single day (with every paying grownup).
Blackpool Zoo
Blackpool Zoo is a big, award-winning zoo positioned on the outskirts of the town, round a 10-minute drive from the seafront – be sure you permit not less than half a day to discover.
The zoo is residence to over 1,350 animals from all all over the world, together with lions, tigers, gorillas, giraffes, penguins, and a herd of Asian elephants. The model new Large Cat Home opened in Could, residence to 3 new lionesses Hira, Emma and Narla who arrived from West Midland Safari Park.
There are many enjoyable and interactive sights throughout the zoo for youths. The kids’s farm lets little ones stroke and feed pleasant farmyard animals, akin to ponies, goats, and rabbits. And followers of Madagascar received’t need to miss the walk-through Lemur enclosure, which is residence to 3 species of lemur together with ring-tailed lemurs.
In addition to the modern-day animals, the zoo’s Dinosaur Safari lets children journey again over thousands and thousands of years and are available face-to-face with prehistoric creatures too.
Sound results and genuine crops and timber additionally assist deliver the prehistoric world alive for little ones – plus be careful for the dinosaur spraying water over unsuspecting guests.
Toddlers and youthful children may also love working across the zoo’s big three-level play barn, with big slides, ball cannons, ball showers, and extra.
If you need extra animal sights in Blackpool, it’s additionally round a 15-minute drive to World Horse Welfare Penny Farm the place you possibly can meet the horses and comply with the exercise path via the farm
Stanley Park
Stanley Park is a big public park within the coronary heart of the town and is likely one of the greatest locations to go to in Blackpool with children on a sunny day – it’s proper subsequent to the zoo if you wish to mix the 2.
The 256 acre park has an enormous number of family-friendly actions and child’s play amenities. You possibly can rent a pedal boat on the big boating lake, take pleasure in a recreation of loopy golf, or comply with one of many scenic household nature trails.
There are many sporting amenities within the park too, together with trampolines, bowling lanes, a trim path, a high-ropes course, and a model new skatepark and BMX observe.
Plus maintain an eye fixed out for occasions and actions happening within the park, with the likes of guided walks, particular children actions, and stay leisure taking place all year long.
Blackpool Mannequin Village
Blackpool Mannequin Village is a miniature village positioned inside Stanley Park.
Spanning over 2 acres of lovely gardens, the mannequin village has a variety of miniature buildings and landmarks from all around the UK, from a Scottish fort and a conventional Tudor village to a contemporary purchasing centre and a working mannequin railway.
You’ll additionally discover loads of tiny figures throughout the village depicting scenes from British life, from a group cricket match to farmers herding their cows.
There are additionally common household occasions and actions on the mannequin village, together with hunts and challenges with prizes for little guests.
Spitfire Customer Centre
When you’re on the lookout for some historical past, the Spitfire Customer Centre is a family-friendly museum in Blackpool devoted to the historical past of the Spitfire airplane and its use in the course of the Second World Battle.
Situated in an actual hangar at Blackpool Airport, the museum has 5 Spitfire replicas, in addition to a group of wartime RAF Airfield autos and tools.
Youngsters can sit within the cockpit of a Spitfire for some cool images, whereas studying all about Lancashire’s wartime historical past on an informative tour of the ability.
The museum can also be residence to the UK’s solely full-size Spitfire flight simulator, so you possibly can expertise what it was actually wish to fly certainly one of these spectacular planes.
The customer centre is open on Saturdays from April to October.
Blackpool Illuminations
Attracting guests from all throughout the UK, the well-known Blackpool Illuminations are an annual gentle competition that takes place within the metropolis every autumn.
The competition runs from September till the top of the 12 months, and sees the city’s seafront promenade illuminated with over six miles of dazzling lights shows and sculptures.
The illuminations are utterly free for everybody to attend, making it the largest free gentle present on the planet and a good time to go to Blackpool with children.
Blackpool Heritage Trams
Different cities have open-top bus excursions – Blackpool has open-top trams plus different classic trams for a enjoyable technique to discover using one of many Blackpool Heritage Trams.
Nice for those who’re seeking to sightsee with out an excessive amount of strolling, there are a number of totally different routes to take. The hour-long Promenade tour takes you alongside the Promenade between North Pier, Bispham & Pleasure Seashore, so it’s additionally a enjoyable technique to get from A to B.
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Or you may attempt the two-hour Coastal tour, which works alongside the Promenade and out to Fleetwood previous the Fylde shoreline, with 40 minutes to cease in Fleetwood, earlier than returning to Blackpool once more.
When the Illuminations are exhibiting, you can too take an Illuminations tour (in an illuminated tram!), which journey from Pleasure Seashore previous all three piers to the top of the lights at Bispham.
There are further themed excursions working in the course of the 12 months as effectively. Tickets value from £6 for adults, half-price for youths aged 3-15 (free for underneath 3s, in the event that they don’t have a seat of their very own).
Take pleasure in an ice cream
When you’re on the lookout for the most effective ice cream in Blackpool, the title has been held for years by Notarianni’s Ice Cream – serving home-made vanilla ice cream for over 90 years, to an Italian household recipe, you possibly can select from an array of sundaes in addition to basic cones, plus toppings galore.
It’s round 5 minutes from the South Pier (round a 20-minute stroll from the Central Pier) however that is one Blackpool establishment to not miss.
When you’re on the lookout for different flavours than vanilla, Scoop Ice cream on the seafront close to the Central Pier has a lot of quirky selections plus milkshakes.
Eat fish and chips
You’re spoiled for selection in the case of locations to purchase fish and chips in Blackpool, with numerous choices alongside the seafront.
Enterprise just a bit method off the primary promenade, and you could find two locations serving the most effective fish and chips in Blackpool – Lily’s Fish and Chips, a stone’s throw from the Central Pier, and C Contemporary Blackpool, which has been promoting fish and chips since 1950.
Each are just some minutes from the sand if you wish to eat on the seashore, or have tables inside.
Disclosure: Paid collaboration with Merlin Entertainments: all opinions on the most effective issues to do in Blackpool with children are my very own. This put up accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Tram/Stanley Park courtesy of Depositphotos, Pleasure Seashore/Coral Island/illuminations courtesy Picfair, all different pictures copyright MummyTravels
