By day: things to do in Blackpool

The beach is a fitting way to kick off this list of things to do in Blackpool. One of the jewels in the crown of the town, the sand stretches for an incredible seven miles through the centre and out to the suburbs. There are three massive piers to be explored along its course, and the Blackpool North pier even has Grade-II listed status. Built in 1863, it hosts amusements, fantastic food and a theatre that has played host to many a famous name.

Its southern sibling is a brilliant place for all the family, resembling a mini-theme park that stretches into the Irish Sea. The sand is generous at high tide, and vast when the sea heads out. Donkey rides and deckchairs decorate the beach, and the promenade offers easy access to the rest of Blackpool’s sites.

Blackpool Tower stands spectacularly over the horizon, regardless of where you find yourself in the town. Open to the public since 1894, it was once the tallest structure in the whole Commonwealth of Nations and has drawn inevitable comparisons with the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The tower has a wide range of things to do, hosting the iconic Tower Ballroom, home to decades’ worth of stellar shows. In recently years, it’s perhaps best known as the location for themed weeks of the ever popular Strictly Come Dancing. The tower’s circus is also world-famous, playing host to punters since the early 1900s.

There’s also a crazy golf course, and the frightfully entertaining Blackpool Dungeon. No visit to the tower is complete without heading for its summit. Known as the Blackpool Tower Eye, the 120-metre height it reaches is unrivalled in North West England. There are incredible views of the coast and its surroundings from the top, representing one of the greatest vantage points in the entire country.

Dive into the UK's largest indoor waterpark with slides, wave machines, and a lazy river ride. In total, there are over 20 attractions to see, including an indoor rollercoaster waterslide and the Montazooma flume, with its hairpin bends and helixes.

Stanley Park - a short walk away from our Marton Mere site - sits about a 20-minute walk from Blackpool’s famous promenade. Also accessible by car, there is handy free onsite car park welcoming visitors every day of the week. Designed and built in the 1920s by Thomas Mawson, it’s a grade II-listed site and is part of the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. It’s a great place for a walk, with a clock tower in the centre of the park a common meeting place for loved ones.

The Italian Gardens are one of the star attractions, and there's a boating lake and an outdoor amphitheatre. It's a welcome change from the famous hustle and bustle of the seafront. The park is also a sporting haven: tennis courts, an athletics arena, and a cricket ground join grass that is ideal for a kickabout or a few games of your own. Blackpool Sports Centre added to the action in the 1990s, boasting a climbing wall, all-weather football pitches and several netball courts.

London’s legendary waxworks have a northern cousin in this interactive museum of the famous and infamous. 

Snaps selfies with lifelike wax figures of your favourite celebrities, pop stars, royals, and historical figures. From the Beatles to Ed Sheeran, Spiderman to Queen Elizabeth II, there’s someone you’d like to be seen with!

Worthy of its own feature, SEA LIFE is one of the best things to do in Blackpool. It gives visitors a chance to get closer than ever to the creatures that inhabit our seas, ranging from the recognisable to the curious and incredible. You’ll discover an amazing underwater world within reaching distance of our Blackpool caravan parks and all the other sights that make this town so special.

More than 1,000 different fish species call the aquarium home, originating from all four corners of the world. Flashlight fish, Leopard Eels, Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish, Brittle Stars and Spider Crabs are just some of the fascinating aqua species here. Consistently rated as one the best places for families, you’ll get close to the action with a walk-through underwater tunnel that runs beneath tropical reefs. There is an opportunity to see the animals be fed, and the centre even runs sleepover nights.

Test your skills in this fun-filled mini-golf course by the sea. With water features, jumps, tunnels, and a unique figure-8 hole, there are plenty of challenges. Find it right by the Pleasure Beach amusements.

Blackpool Zoo is another inland adventure and can easily be tied in with a visit to Stanley Park, its neighbour. It’s one of the most popular things to do in Blackpool, winning multiple awards across the years. 37 acres of English parkland are home to a whole host of animals from around the world.

You’ll find the only gorillas in North West England here and the Sea Lion display is an experience that will live long in the memory. Over 1,000 animals are looked after by the zookeepers, with everything from giraffes to zebras being looked after. There is also a cute miniature railway onsite, and play areas, cafés and restaurants make this viable for a long day out. Close encounters with animals, incredible facilities and friendly staff make this a must-visit attraction.

No trip to the British seaside is complete without a visit to a traditional amusement arcade and Coral Island is one of the biggest and the best. You can’t miss the chilling castle and pirate skull over the entrance! 

Step inside for free and you’ll find a massive indoor arcade, with games, rides, challenges, and plenty of surprises. There are frequent events too, so do check their website for the latest highlights.

No visit to Blackpool is complete without a ride on one of the town’s world-famous trams. Ultra-modern carriages join a loveable fleet of restored stock to host the UK’s oldest surviving transport mode of its kind, and for a time one of the country’s few tramways. The tracks date back to 1885 and it is one of the only sites in the world that uses double decker trams. Often associated with the history books, their top deck is the place to be to take in all the sights and sounds of Blackpool.

The line itself runs along 11 miles of coast and is the best way for a day out along the Lancashire coast. From Starr Gate in the south all the way up to Fleetwood’s Ferry stop, 61 stops each offer something a little different. Select a few to disembark from and you’ll be able to see even more of this great area of North West England.

And if you do visit Blackpool at night during illuminations season, you might catch one of the specially lit trams, too.

Featuring hundreds of creative village scenes brought to life to spark your imagination, Blackpool Model Village takes visitors into a mind-bending world in miniature. From Scottish Castles, protected by ranks of Guardsmen to a quaint Cornish fishing village, you'll find an incredible attention to detail, as well as an oasis of peace and tranquillity away from the crowds of Blackpool centre.

Marvel at the many hand-crafted models and figures and step back in time to those bygone days when life moved at a slower pace. From the painstakingly rendered thatched cottages, to the Tudor village whose tiny residents are enjoying a cricket match on the village green, it’s hard not to be impressed at the level of detail.

Kids and grownups alike can enjoy a wander around the beautiful gardens with dozens of quirky and imaginative displays in one of the most unique places to visit in Blackpool. Many new buildings are added yearly, so no two visits to Blackpool Model Village are ever quite the same.