| Out on the town |
| With its Pleasure Beach, piers and lively cabaret scene, it's
no wonder Blackpool is the entertainment Mecca of the North |
If you've ever thought that the moniker 'Las Vegas of the North' might be ironic, then you've
obviously never visited Blackpool. Or Las Vegas. For while the Pleasure Beach and the Golden Mile will never match Caesar's Palace or Sunset Strip for out-and-out glamour, they perform the same functions in their own, English way. Blackpool is about pleasure, pure and simple, whether that's a mountain of candyfloss or a glitzy cabaret bar. We've picked a few of the highlights of this famous town.
GETTING THERE
Zero your trip meter at the exit of Marton Mere campsite, turn right into Mythop Road and at the traffic lights at 0.1 miles turn right again into Preston New Road (A583), signposted Blackpool. Go straight on at the traffic lights at 0.9 and 1.5 miles, continuing on Park Road (B5390) towards the Town Centre. Go straight over the sets of traffic lights at 1.9 and 2.1 miles, then turn left at the traffic lights at 2.6 miles, into Reads Avenue. Just after 2.8 miles turn right into Cental Drive, signposted Town Centre and Car Parks. Turn left at 3 miles into Central Car Park.
BLACKPOOL BY DAY
Blackpool has all the ingredients for a fun-filled family day out that can't be matched anywhere else
in the UK. So where should you begin? To make life easier, we've listed a few of the major sites
along the promenade so you can enjoy maximum pleasure with
minimum mileage - after all, having fun can be very tiring so you don't want to wear yourself out with too much walking.
1. BLACKPOOL TOWER
We compared this tower to the Eiffel in Paris - but the French folly doesn't even come close. To start with, Blackpool's is home to a circus; then, for those who remember the Golden Age of Swing, there's the Tower Ballroom with its assortment of Big Bands.
Our favourite feature, however, has to be the mighty Wurlitzer whose sound completely fills the room. There's also a new organ - 'The Wersi' - for 2002. And it
doesn't stop there: head up to the Tower Top and you'll find a kids' assault course and the UK's
highest gift shop. Back on the ground, check out Undersea World.
2. FISHY BUSINESS
You might be busy having the time of your lives, but there's still a chance to learn a bit about the world we live in. At the Sea Life Centre you can get right up close to the action on an underwater walkway, then feed some of the friendlier fish. Leave the big boys to the professionals, though:
experienced divers think nothing of leaping into the tank with some seriously scary sea-dwellers -
you can watch from terra firma.
3. PICK A PIER, ANY PIER
There are three piers in Blackpool, each a cracker in its own right with plenty going on, both day and night. We chose the Central Pier, partly because of its location, which makes it easy for day
visitors to reach, and for its 108ft high Big Wheel - you can't beat
the views from here.
4. THE PLEASURE BEACH
They reckon it's the UK's biggest tourist attraction, and we certainly struggled to do it all in a day. It's all about the rides - from the Pepsi Max Big One (Europe's tallest, fastest rollercoaster) to Ice Blast, which covers 20 storeys in two
seconds. There's plenty for younger kids, too, with Beaver Creek and a host of covered attractions if the weather turns bad. At night you can enjoy Mystique, a spectacular illusion show with the option of fine dining at the White Tower Restaurant beforehand.
BLACKPOOL BY NIGHT
Who can resist it? Bright lights, sea air and a host of stars to sing and dance the night away. There's so much here that we've just picked our favourites. But if you're
stopping for a few days, shop around as there's a wide variety to enjoy, from the big shows on the Golden Mile to the smaller cabaret clubs where you can spot the stars of tomorrow. Be sure to choose which one of you is going to drive before stepping out on the town.
5-6. WHEN IN ROME...
While there are plenty of places for gourmet dining, you can't beat fish and chips for classic British seaside fare. For the biggest and best, head to Harry Ramsden's, but for a more typical Blackpool experience head to The Cottage, where stars often pop in after a show. Even if you don't catch any showbiz faces you'll still see who has dropped by in the many photos that adorn the walls. As it's on the way out of town, make it your last stop.
7-9. TAKE IN A SHOW
Up and down the Golden Mile and in the centre of town are dozens of cabaret bars. The piers, the tower and the Pleasure Beach have the biggest shows but we preferred the ambience of three more intimate venues. The newest is the Joe Longthorne Music Hall (fig. 7 on our map); further north is the renowned Alabama Showboat
(fig. 8) and to the south the 'Talk
of the Coast' at the Viking Hotel
(fig. 9). Each venue has its own style, blending singing and
dancing with glittering spectacle.
1. TURNING IN
Zero your trip as you exit Central Car Park, turn left down Central Drive and right at 0.3 miles into Coronation Street. Turn left at the lights on Hornby Road and right at 0.6 miles onto Park Road. After five more sets of lights turn left at the lights at 3.2 miles, taking the feed lane into Mythop Road. At 3.3 miles turn left into Marton Mere.
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Distance Driving 6.3 miles, walking 2-3 miles
Time All day and as
much of the night as you
can manage
Start/finish Marton Mere caravan park
Suitable for All the family by day, grown-ups at night
REFRESHMENT
Harry Ramsden's
Tel 01253 294386
The Cottage
Tel 01253 694010
ATTRACTIONS
Blackpool Tower
Tel 01253 292029
Central Pier
Tel 01253 292029
Sea Life Centre
Tel 01253 622445
Pleasure Beach
Tel 0870 444 5566
Joe Longthorne
Music Hall
Tel 01253 297744
Alabama Showboat
Tel 01253 291155
Talk of the Coast
Tel 0845 458 4222
INFORMATION
Blackpool Tourist Information Centre
Tel 01253 478222
Email Click here
Website Click here
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