1,082,357,104 visitors served.

Blackpool

Seaside resort and administrative centre of Blackpool unitary authority, in northwest England, 28 mi/45 km north of Liverpool; population (2001) 142,300. The economy is based on tourism, with the service and tourism industries providing over 86% of local employment. There is some light industry. Known for its 11 km/7 mi of promenades, the resort is also famous for its ‘illuminations’ of coloured lights.

History

Blackpool developed as a seaside resort in the 18th century. With the opening of the railway in 1846, workers travelled to the town from all over Lancashire and Yorkshire for ‘Wakes Week’, when factories and mills closed for the annual holiday. The first promenade opened in 1856, the north pier in 1863, and the outdoor Pleasure Gardens in 1872. The town was granted a Charter of Incorporation as a Borough in 1876. In 1879, Blackpool was the first place in the world to have electric street lighting, when eight arc lights bathed part of the promenade in what was referred to as ‘artificial sunshine’. After 1879 the town grew rapidly, with large hotels, guest-houses, and lodgings being built to cater for the growing number of visitors. In the late 20th century, despite competition from cheaper holidays abroad, the resort still attracted over 8 million people a year.

Features Blackpool Tower (1894), incorporating the Grand Theatre and Sealife Centre, modelled on the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, is 157 m/518 ft high and has a glass walkway, known as the ‘Walk of Faith’, over the town below. Blackpool's 9.6 km/6 mi of illuminations are switched on from the end of August until the beginning of November, extending the peak tourist season into the autumn. There are three 19th-century piers that dominate the seafront. A tram system dating from 1885 runs the length of the promenades. The Pleasure Beach (1872) is an amusement park that includes one of Europe's largest and fastest roller coasters, ‘The Big One’, which is 75 m/235 ft high and 1.6 km/1 mi long. There are also many theatres and other attractions open for the holiday season. There is a 13-ha/32-acre Zoo Park, containing 400 animals.

Blackpool has its own airport, which caters for around 350,000 passengers a year. The airport also has a purpose-built helicopter terminal, providing offshore support for the Morecambe Bay Gas Field.

Industries Most work is in the service sector; manufacturing accounts for less than 10% of jobs, and includes light engineering, food and drink, plastics, and aircraft components.

Blackpool (authority)