Blackpool is one of the classic family seaside holiday resorts in the UK. It definitely has a lot of family friendly attractions. But it’s a great place to visit as adults as well, with lots of fun things for couples to do. Here’s my guide to visiting Blackpool as an adult, with the top 10 things to see and do in a day in Blackpool.
Blackpool is one of the most famous seaside resorts in the north of England. It’s about an hour outside of Manchester. You can get to Blackpool by train from Manchester, or drive if you’d prefer. There are plenty of car parks in Blackpool. But it’s best to explore Blackpool’s top attractions on foot. There’s loads to do in Blackpool for several days, but you can have a great day out here as an adult and have lots of fun in just one day. Here’s my guide to visiting Blackpool as an adult, with the top 10 things to see and do. My list is in order of where things are in the city, so you can follow the list to see everything in order.
1. Walk along Blackpool North Pier
The first of my top things to see when visiting Blackpool as an adult is North Pier. This pier is closest to the city centre, so it makes sense to start your day in Blackpool here. The pier is free to walk onto, and you can get some lovely views and photos of the pier. When you walk out along the pier, you can also see some great views back towards the beach and the town.
2. Look up at Blackpool Tower
One of the most famous sights in Blackpool is the iconic Blackpool Tower. When you’re visiting Blackpool as an adult, you’ll definitely want to take some photos of this iconic landmark. It’s free to look at from outside, but you can also pay to go inside for various things. There’s a circus inside, or Blackpool Tower Ballroom which is an impressive ballroom. You can also go up to the top of Blackpool Tower in the summer for views across the city. This tower is a great centre for lots of fun!
3. Laugh at the jokes on Blackpool Comedy Carpet
In front of Blackpool Tower is the Blackpool Comedy Carpet. It’s out in the open so completely free to visit. It’s a huge area of ground where there are loads of jokes. A lot of kids would just run across, but as an adult it’s worth taking your time to read the jokes. Some of them are familiar from TV shows. It’s fun to laugh at the jokes and see if you recognise any of the famous TV shows that some of the jokes reference.
4. Eat Fish and Chips at Harry Ramsdens
No trip to the seaside in the UK is complete without eating fish and chips. Harry Ramsdens is a famous fish and chip restaurant, right next to Blackpool Tower. It’s a great place to stop for lunch on your day in Blackpool.
5. Watch sharks and rays at Blackpool Sea Life Aquarium
The aquarium at Blackpool is really impressive, and it’s definitely not just suitable for kids. When visiting Blackpool as an adult, I’d recommend visiting the aquarium and taking your time to look at the fish and read all about them. My favourite part of the aquarium was the rays. They were really active on the day I visited, meaning you could see them swim around and see their cute faces underneath!
There’s also an impressive tunnel in the aquarium where you can see sharks and a huge turtle. And the smaller animals are lovely as well, including seahorses, and of course a Nemo clown fish.
6. Play arcade games on Blackpool Central Pier
Blackpool has three piers, and each has their own selection of classic arcade games. And these arcade games definitely aren’t just for children! Plenty of adults play as well. You can play the 2p machines, video games, shooting games, and even play mini bowling. Try to win as many tickets as you can, and exchange tickets for a prize so you’ve got a souvenir of your trip.
7. Walk along the beach to Blackpool South Pier
For a more peaceful afternoon after the arcade games, go for a walk along the beach. At low tide the beach is huge, with plenty of space to get away from the crowds. The sand at Blackpool is fairly easy to walk on. It’s a lovely place for a walk, enjoying the sun and the sea with seagulls flying around.
8. Ride the rollercoasters at Blackpool Pleasure Gardens
Next to Blackpool South Pier is the Blackpool Pleasure Gardens. This small theme park has lots of rides, including some quite big rollercoasters. You need to pay to go in and go on the rides. But if you enjoy the adrenaline rush of theme park rides, then there will be plenty here to enjoy. There are more rides on Blackpool South Pier as well, so you’ll never ben far away from an adrenaline rush.
9. Ride the tram along the seafront
From Blackpool South Pier, it’s about a 30-40 minute walk to get back to North Pier and the city centre. So it can be nice to ride a tram along the seafront instead of walking back. Trams are regularly, with easy to find tram stops. You can get back up to North Pier in about 10 minutes, with lovely sea views along the way.
10. Take photos of Blackpool Tower at night
The last of my top 10 things to do when visiting Blackpool as an adult is to take photos of Blackpool Tower at night. Blackpool Tower looks really nice when it’s all lit up at night. The lights change colour as well. If you’re visiting Blackpool as a couple, it can be really romantic to go for a night time walk to see the tower and also the piers all lit up across the sea. It’s a great way to end your day in Blackpool.
Hope you enjoyed my guide to visiting Blackpool as an adult! While you’re in the north of England, make sure you check out the nearby city of Manchester, with my guide to the top 10 free things to do in and around Manchester in a day. You can also check out my guide to spending 3 days in and around Manchester, as well as my guides to other places in the UK.
