| The seaside town of Blackpool, a major tourist | | | | view of Blackpool and surrounding areas such as |
| hub since the 19th century, continues to be | | | | North Wales, Cumbria, Lancashire, Winter Hill and |
| heavily dependent on tourism. There is so much | | | | the Isle of Man. There were actually 14 platforms |
| to see in Blackpool that is uniquely its own. The | | | | in all, including enclosed ones, when the tower was |
| following are only some of its leading attractions. | | | | rebuilt in 1900. |
| 1. The North, Central and South Piers | | | | A Union flag usually flies proudly atop the tower, |
| It is no secret that the way to judge the stature | | | | which is painted dark red except during its 1994 |
| of a seaside town is by its pier, and Blackburn has | | | | centenary when it was gold. During illuminations, |
| three of them: the North Pier, Central Pier and | | | | the tower glows brightly from the light of one |
| South Pier. | | | | hundred lamps. |
| Built in 1863, the North Pier is the oldest and | | | | 3. Pleasure Beach, Blackpool |
| largest of the three coastal piers. It was mainly | | | | This amusement park near South Pier was |
| used for leisure instead of seafaring and is one of | | | | inaugurated in 1896 as an American Style |
| the last remaining piers designed by Eugenius | | | | Amusement Park whose main objective, |
| Birch, who built 14 piers in all. | | | | according to its founder, Alderman William George |
| The Central Pier, built in 1868, came about largely | | | | Bean, was "to make adults feel like children again |
| due to the success of the North Pier. The | | | | and to inspire gaiety of a primarily innocent |
| Blackpool South Jetty Company, established one | | | | character." |
| year after the North Pier opened in 1864, hired | | | | About six million visitors come to Pleasure Beach, |
| Richard Laidlaw, the North Pier contractor, to build | | | | Blackpool each year, drawn by its wide array of |
| a new pier near the now-defunct Blackpool | | | | rides, ranging from traditional wooden and small |
| Central railway station and a scant 500 metres to | | | | family rides to modern steel roller coasters and |
| the south of Blackpool Tower. | | | | highly-advanced thrillers as well as some rides that |
| The South Pier, built in 1893, was spurred by the | | | | have been around for generations but are still in |
| ever-growing popularity of Blackpool as a tourist | | | | good working order. In recent years, Pleasure |
| resort. Naturally, development eventually reached | | | | Beach, Blackpool has also installed ongoing ice |
| the south shore and construction of the third pier | | | | shows and a casino. |
| began in 1892. It is also the site of the famous | | | | One attractive thing about Pleasure Beach, |
| American carousel built by John Outhwaite on | | | | Blackpool is that it seems to be constantly |
| sand dunes that has drawn hordes of | | | | evolving and visitors are often amazed that there |
| holidaymakers. A pair of massive fires in 1958 and | | | | is something new every time they visit. |
| 1964 caused major damage to the South Pier. | | | | 4. Blackpool Illuminations |
| These were the same fires that razed the Grand | | | | Illuminations are an electric light festival held in |
| Pavilion to the ground. | | | | several cities in England during Autumn. The |
| 2. The Blackpool Tower | | | | Blackpool Illuminations are the biggest such light |
| The Blackpool Tower is the main attraction of this | | | | show in the UK, running for 66 days in September |
| famous seaside resort, especially given its superb | | | | to early November each year and stretching |
| beachfront location. During the traditional | | | | beyond 10 kilometers. They have been thrilling |
| illuminations each year, the tower shines | | | | thousands of people each year since 1879. |
| magnificently and offers a superb vantage point | | | | Each year, there is a "Switch On" ceremony that |
| for enjoying the colourful lighting displays that | | | | includes live entertainment featuring a host of |
| adorn the town and seafront. The Tower | | | | acts such as Peter Kay in 2006. Over a million |
| complex also boasts the renowned Tower | | | | bulbs are used during the Blackpool Illuminations, |
| Ballroom and the world famous 'Mighty Wurlitzer | | | | with every kind of light display imaginable, including |
| Organ' whose melodious notes can still be heard | | | | neon, lasers, fiber optics, searchlights and |
| during the holiday seasons. | | | | floodlighting. |
| Built in May 1894, this 518-foot-tall structure was | | | | The 2006 Blackpool Illuminations featured over |
| inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris and is a | | | | 500 scenic designs, including characters and |
| member of the World Federation of Great | | | | "moving" objects, which only seem to move |
| Towers. | | | | because of the effect of blinking lights. |
| While the Eiffel Tower is a free-standing | | | | 5. Sandcastle Waterworld |
| structure, the Blackpool Tower is not quite so, | | | | Sitting opposite Pleasure Beach, Sandcastle |
| although this is a common misconception. This is | | | | Waterworld is the leading indoor waterpark in the |
| because its base is strategically hidden by the | | | | UK. Launched in 1896, the park's four huge |
| building that houses the Blackpool Tower circus. | | | | waterslides and dozens of smaller ones as well as |
| There are two lifts that lead to the apex of the | | | | a lazy river. There is also a pirate galleon and the |
| Blackpool Tower, where there are four viewing | | | | Caribbean Storm Treehouse. |
| platforms that provide visitors with a breathtaking | | | | |