It’s Britain’s favourite resort, popular with generations of holidaymakers and famous across the world for its vast golden beach, tower, piers, amusements and entertainments. It continues to attract huge numbers of visitors and from next year they will have another reason to visit.
Showtown is Blackpool’s new museum of fun and entertainment. Designed to celebrate the greatest show town on earth, through fun, laughter and stories – sharing what makes Blackpool special.
Set to open in spring 2024, the museum is expected to welcome over 290,000 visitors each year who will be able to discover the backstage secrets of the people who put Blackpool on the map: the comedians, dancers, acrobats, performers and larger-than-life characters who turned a seaside resort into the world capital of show business. They will be able to see objects and take part in interactive experiences and activities related to six key themes; seaside, magic, shows, illuminations, circus and dance.
The history of Blackpool is fascinating, from the rapid rise of the resort as a seaside town in the 1800s, providing recreation and relaxation for workers across the north’s industrial towns to a modern holiday destination today. Blackpool’s appeal is still as strong as ever thanks to the traditional seaside offering and the incredible role it has played in hosting and celebrating entertainers of all kinds over the years.
Some of the greatest comedians have visited and performed at the Grand Theatre, Winter Gardens and other venues in Blackpool over the years and are now celebrated on the town’s ‘Comedy Carpet’, over the road from the iconic tower.
The tower, circus, pleasure beach and famous illuminations mean Blackpool stands out as a unique destination and with further regeneration projects planned across the town it’s exciting to see what the future holds for Blackpool.
And while most visitors gravitate to the seafront, those who head a little way inland find plenty more to see and do. Stanley Park covers more than 300 acres has won Best UK Park twice. As well as a large play area and sports facilities, there are Italian gardens, water fountains, statues, and a Remembrance Garden. There’s also a boating lake and woodlands to explore and lots of wildlife – including resident nesting herons. And if wildlife is your thing, Blackpool Zoo is just over the road. It is home to more than 1500 animals and a huge range of species in spacious enclosures, including a new £1.5m big cat habitat.
Jennifer Tegg from Showtown. showtownblackpool.co.uk
