Your current location:HOME >entertainment >Blackpool rocks! Inside the coastal town brimming with old 正文
TIME:2024-05-22 06:30:40 Source: Internet compilationEdit:entertainment
There’s something disorientating about parking beneath the soaring loop of the UK’s tallest rollerco
There’s something disorientating about parking beneath the soaring loop of the UK’s tallest rollercoaster.
But since Blackpool’s uber-luxe Boulevard Hotel (styled as BLVD) is owned by Amanda Thompson, whose family have run the Pleasure Beach amusement park for four generations, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that guests leave their cars within touching distance of The Big One.
What’s more of a revelation is that this Lancashire seaside resort — a traditional semaphore for chip shops, slot machines and bawdy entertainment — has a very different side.
Of course the so-called Golden Mile, a lung-buster of family attractions such as Sea Life, Madame Tussauds and Coral Island as well as Blackpool’s three piers, still draws in the crowds. While the Pleasure Beach is one of the UK’s most visited tourist attractions (Boulevard guests can access it via a VIP entrance).
But to box in Blackpool as a 3D saucy seaside postcard is to miss so much about its heritage.
Angela Epstein visits Blackpool (pictured) where she explores its heritage sites and learns about the town's future plans
Certainly, there are plans to attract a more discerning visitor. Marco Pierre White is even opening a restaurant here. Of course, the most obvious expression of the town’s heritage is the Grade I-listed Blackpool Tower (recently in the news for a fake fire, which turned out to be orange netting).
Opened in 1894 and soaring 518ft, it’s half the size of the Eiffel Tower, which had inspired Mayor of Blackpool Sir John Bickerstaffe to commission the project.
It’s hugely impressive. On the one hand, you’ll find the oak, mahogany and walnut wooden ballroom designed by Victorian architect Frank Matcham plays host to daily tea dances. But take a lift to the summit for a panoramic view of the Fylde coast and a chance to squeal in fear when gingerly stepping on the 5cm-thick glass viewing platform.
Above is one of Blackpool's vintage trams, pictured along the promenade
Blackpool’s Comedy Carpet (pictured) is a huge piece of artwork that features jokes, songs and comedy catchphrases
Outside the tower, we browse a huge grid of public art. Known as Blackpool’s Comedy Carpet, it immortalises and celebrates the jokes, songs and comedy catchphrases of Britain’s most well-loved comedians and writers (some better than others). Meanwhile Showtown, a new museum showcasing how the town became a hub for bright lights and entertainment, will open next month.
The genesis of Blackpool’s tourist heritage began with the expansion of the railway network in 1840. Following this came the building of the three piers, the tramway and the illuminations (which by the time Princess Louise — the town’s first royal visitor — arrived in 1912 to open a new section of promenade named after her, totalled around 10,000 lights).
As we put our shoulder to the brisk wind coursing in off the Irish Sea we found another vestige of Blackpool’s past on its lengthy promenade. Five curved bays of Grade II-listed colonnades, which join other listed buildings including The Grand Theatre, as well as the cast-iron promenade, most of which are more than 100 years old.
Angela stays at the Boulevard Hotel, which lies beneath the UK's tallest rollercoaster
Above is one of the rooms at the Boulevard Hotel, which Angela describes as 'uber-luxe'
Even in winter there’s no getting away from the lights and colour.
So, for a more genteel diversion, we head to Stanley Park — designed by Thomas Mawson & Sons in 1922 — to admire its bandstand, Italian gardens, art deco cafe and boating lake crested by ornamental bridges.
Back in the comfort of the BLVD lounge, we enjoy the strangely therapeutic view of unforgiving brown waves curling up towards the beach. Clearly, Blackpool is trying hard to serve all tastes. And, like the fake fire at the tower, all is definitely not what it seems.
The Boulevard Hotel has double rooms from £120 per night, boulevardhotel.co.uk, 01253 336073. Pre-book tickets for Blackpool Tower at theblackpooltower.com. For more information, visitblackpool.com.
Proposed $2.77 billion settlement clears first step of NCAA approval with no change to finance plan2024-05-22 06:14
The Guess Who and B.T.O. rocker Randy Bachman has prized instruments up for auction2024-05-22 05:58
A Palestinian baby in Gaza is born an orphan in an urgent cesarean section after an Israeli strike2024-05-22 05:55
Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department is dismissed as 'flat and cringe2024-05-22 05:38
Germany and Real Madrid great Toni Kroos to retire after Euro 20242024-05-22 05:23
Colleagues, family react to death of AP reporter Terry Anderson2024-05-22 05:21
Sam Taylor2024-05-22 04:58
2 brothers condemned to die for the 'Wichita massacre' want a new sentencing hearing2024-05-22 04:44
Election 2024: Biden and the Democrats raised far less in April than Trump and the GOP2024-05-22 04:35
A Palestinian baby in Gaza is born an orphan in an urgent cesarean section after an Israeli strike2024-05-22 04:00
Australia as Bangladesh vow to boost trade as foreign ministers meet in Dhaka2024-05-22 06:27
Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department is dismissed as 'flat and cringe2024-05-22 05:41
Rafael Nadal poised for Laver Cup swansong in Berlin in September2024-05-22 05:12
Harmonious picture of human and nature in China's coastal city Xiamen2024-05-22 05:09
Fake elector case: Former Arizona GOP chair Kelli Ward and others set to be arraigned2024-05-22 04:55
Armenia asks UN court to throw out Azerbaijan’s claim alleging racial discrimination2024-05-22 04:45
3 Germans arrested on suspicion of spying for China, transferring info on potential military tech2024-05-22 04:39
UK prosecutors charge 2 men with spying for China, including a parliamentary researcher2024-05-22 04:39
UK court rules that extension of UK police powers to intervene in protests is unlawful2024-05-22 04:17
Tesla cuts the price of its "Full Self Driving" system by a third2024-05-22 04:03