Serviced Apartments in Blackpool

Discover the best activities and attractions Blackpool has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach
One of the UK’s most famous traditional amusement parks, Pleasure Beach draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year with headline rollercoasters (like The Big One and ICON), family rides, live shows and on-site dining. Its economic impact is substantial: it’s a major employer in the area (seasonal and year‑round roles), drives hotel stays and spend in restaurants and shops, and helps sustain the wider leisure supply chain (suppliers, maintenance, events). It’s special for its mix of historic rides and modern thrills, waterside location, and reputation as a multi-generational family destination that keeps visitors in Blackpool longer.

Blackpool Tower (Tower Ballroom, Tower Eye & Circus)
An iconic Victorian landmark offering panoramic views from the Tower Eye, the famously ornate Tower Ballroom (dance events and heritage architecture), and the long-running Tower Circus. The Tower is central to Blackpool’s identity and visitor appeal, attracting tourists who then spend locally on food, accommodation and retail. It supports cultural tourism (dance events, performances), provides skilled jobs in hospitality and performance, and helps market Blackpool nationally and internationally. What makes it special is the combination of historic architecture, entertainment heritage (dancing and circus), and a dramatic seaside viewpoint in one site.

Blackpool Illuminations
A six‑mile annual light festival (running autumn evenings, typically late August–early November) that transforms the seafront with themed light displays and nightly events. The Illuminations extend Blackpool’s tourist season beyond summer, boosting hotel occupancy, restaurants and shops in shoulder months and supporting countless local jobs. It’s unique for its scale and longevity (a tradition since the 1870s), community involvement (schools, artists and local businesses participate), and its role as a national draw that keeps the resort lively well into the autumn.

Stanley Park
A large, award‑winning Victorian park in the town’s heart offering landscaped gardens, lakes, sports facilities, play areas and the Peace Gardens. As a free public green space it delivers quality-of-life benefits to residents (recreation, health, sports clubs) and attracts visitors seeking family-friendly outdoor activities. Economically, it supports nearby cafes and leisure businesses, hosts events that bring footfall into the area, and raises local property desirability. Its combination of formal design, sporting facilities and quiet natural areas makes it a valued community asset and a peaceful counterpoint to the busy promenade.

The Grundy Art Gallery (and local cultural venues)
The Grundy is Blackpool’s principal public art gallery and exhibition space, staging contemporary exhibitions, community projects and education programs. Cultural venues like the Grundy and the nearby Winter Gardens/Opera House underpin creative life in Blackpool, support arts education, attract cultural tourists and conference attendees, and help diversify the local economy beyond mass tourism. They’re special because they provide high‑quality free or low‑cost access to visual and performing arts, foster local artists, and contribute to civic pride and year‑round footfall into town centres and cafés.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Blackpool, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Tram (Blackpool Tramway) - A coastal light rail/tram line running the length of the seafront between Starr Gate (south) and Fleetwood (north). Operated as a mix of modern low‑floor Flexity trams alongside some heritage services; frequent services on the Promenade serve major piers, Pleasure Beach and central stops.
- Rail (National Rail services) - Two main railway termini: Blackpool North (primary station on the main line via Preston with regular local and regional services to Preston, Manchester and connections to the national network) and Blackpool South (branch line with less frequent services toward Kirkham & Wesham/Preston). Local rail services are primarily operated by Northern; some longer-distance/seasonal services have been provided by other operators.
- Buses (Local and Regional) - Local bus network linking town centre, suburbs and nearby towns operated by Blackpool Transport and other operators (Stagecoach and independent providers). Frequent urban routes around the resort and regional routes to Preston, Lytham St Annes, Fleetwood and other Fylde Coast destinations.
- Coaches (Intercity services) - National coach connections (e.g., National Express and other coach operators) serve Blackpool coach station/nearby stops offering long-distance links to major UK cities and airports, often with seasonal variations.
- Taxis and Private Hire - Licensed taxis, black cabs and private-hire operators serve the town with ranks at key locations (station, central promenade, piers) plus app-based ride-hailing options.
- Airport Access - Blackpool Airport provides general aviation, private flights and occasional commercial/charter services; the nearest major international airports for scheduled flights are Manchester Airport and Liverpool John Lennon Airport, both reachable by road and rail.

Major Highways
- M55 - Direct motorway link from Blackpool eastwards to the M6 near Preston, providing fast access to the national motorway network.
- M6 - Principal north–south motorway for access to Lancaster, Manchester, Birmingham and onward to the rest of the UK; reached via the M55.
- A583 - Main trunk road (Preston Road) connecting Blackpool with Preston and links into the M6 corridor.
- A585 - Route linking Blackpool area northwards toward Fleetwood and connecting with local A‑roads serving the Fylde coast.
- A584 - Coastal road/Promenade route running along the seafront, linking central Blackpool with south‑coast suburbs including Lytham St Annes.
- A587 - Important local route connecting Blackpool north–south through suburban areas and providing links to other A‑roads on the Fylde.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Cycle routes and lanes - A mix of dedicated cycle lanes and on‑carriageway cycle provision exists on sections of the Promenade and key arterial roads, plus local signed routes and links to the National Cycle Network serving the Fylde Coast; cycling infrastructure is patchy in places but recent active‑travel schemes and town centre improvements have added more branded and segregated provision and promoted community bike hire schemes.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Blackpool Tramway modernisation (completed and follow‑on works) - Major track renewal and fleet replacement with modern low‑floor Flexity trams was delivered in the 2010s; follow‑on maintenance and stop accessibility improvements have continued since to support reliability and accessibility.
- Bus fleet and passenger information upgrades - Local operators and councils have been investing in low‑emission / Euro‑VI and electric buses, improved bus shelters and real‑time passenger information to improve service quality and reduce emissions (programmes subject to funding and phased roll‑out).
- Station and interchange enhancements (planning/ongoing) - Targeted improvements to station facilities and pedestrian interchanges (especially at Blackpool North and key tram/bus interchanges) have been pursued to ease transfers between rail, tram and bus; some works are completed while others remain at planning or funding stage.
- Road junction and capacity schemes - Local and regional highway authorities have advanced studies and phased works to improve M55 junctions and other key junctions around Blackpool to address congestion, safety and access to employment areas; projects vary by delivery timetable and funding.
- Active travel and cycling programmes - Lancashire County Council and Blackpool Council have rolled out active travel funding and schemes to expand safe walking and cycling infrastructure, create low‑traffic neighbourhoods in parts of the town and add segregated cycle routes where feasible.
- Longer‑term proposals and feasibility work - Ongoing feasibility studies and strategic plans (subject to business cases and government/local funding) consider options such as improved rail/tram connectivity to Fleetwood, enhanced north–south public transport links, redevelopment opportunities around Blackpool Airport and multi‑modal interchange upgrades to boost tourism and local mobility.