30 minutes to BLACKPOOL

Britains greatest seaside resort. Turn off the M6 at Junction 32 onto the M55 and drive into the centre of Blackpool along Yeadon Way which was the old railway line that went to Central Station.

2010 is 125th year of Blackpool Trams

Celebrations are being prepared focussing on 23rd to 29th September.

August 2009 Blackpool Air Display

Wing Walking

Vulcan over Central Pier

Tour of Britain Cycle Race, 15th Sept 09 - leaving Blackpool

Tour of Britain after 3 miles of the North West leg - Poulton Le Fylde

 

Volleyball International Championship 2009, 16th Sept 09, Blackpool South Shore

Volleyball Stadium on the promenade between matches

Australian Volleyball Team practising

Lonsdale Road Coach Station, Blackpool - Where is it? What is it like?

I recently, Sept 2009, had cause to take someone to Lonsdale Road Coach Station in Blackpool. I looked at the map and couldn't find it. So I decided to take the obvious route and go along Lonsdale Road to the end. Lonsdale Road is close to the prom off Lytham Road. Surprisingly coming from the prom direction there seemed to be no signs. Also when you get to the Coach Station the sign is fairly well hidden.

It is next to Blackpool FC, Bloomfield Road football ground. The ground has been rebuilt, there is a large new metallic looking Travelodge next to it. The coach park and it's associated car park is part of what I have heard is the largest car park in Europe that runs for about a mile along the ex-railway line from South Shore up to Central all smartly newly done.

The coach station building is quite small but is fairly modern and has a waiting room, shop and toilets and covered areas. When we were there at 7.30am it seemed closed and there were no coaches and hardly any cars. Although it looked like there is space for 40 coaches and a number of covered loading bays.

Map and Directions to Lonsdale Road Coach Station, Blackpool

Note Central Pier is just off the top of the map. From Lytham Road turn into Lonsdale Road and it takes you straight onto the Car Park which has restricted height access. You can also access the car park from Seasiders Way. I'm not sure you can turn into Seasiders Way from Bloomfield Road. There seem to be a lot of arrows that people ignore although it was deserted when we went.

 

Prom Walk August 2008

We walked from Bispham to Central Pier, about 2 miles, on 21st September 2008 and it was a beautiful day. North Shore always looks good from the cliffs although it was a bit misty. At Central on the beach there were still lots of donkeys seeming to be doing a good trade and the horse drawn Landau's were looking good. The sand and the new promenade wall was looking clean, I often think Blackpool has good, golden sand great for walking and there were a few making castles. After the walk we went to Barista in Birley Street for a coffee and a Baklava and then walked back, it was getting warm in the sun at that time. There was an old soldiers ceremony (Aden Veterans) at the Cenotaph with the Brindle Brass Band - I recall the band playing before the match at PNE in the 1950's. The band started leading the old soldiers along towards the Imperial but we were walking faster so don't know what happened. Jubilee Gardens just past Gynn Square was pleasant as it's a bit of a sun trap. The tram track at North Shore has now been replaced. We'd parked our car across from the illuminations tableaux so had a good close look at them before going home.

The central area is being re-developed into a grand gateway entrance. Central promenade is being extended by 60 metres into the sea to create a curved shoreline and provide long term flood protection. South Shore promenade has been rebuilt with a raised promenade and furnished with modern statues. North Shore retains its genteel elegance with Edwardian front hotels and its triple level promenade reaching up to the cliff top.

Blackpools resources are second to none. Most of them were built during Blackpools heyday but new investment is gradually bringing them up to date. Although at least two of them are needing too much investment. Not many places have; 7 miles of well paved promenade with tram service, 3 piers, tower with ballroom, pleasurebeach; Pepsi Max Big One, Zoo, Stanley Park, Grand Theatre, Winter Gardens, international airport. Hotels and B&Bs by the hundred to suit all pockets. The beach has excellent quality of sand and at low tide the sea varies from about 200yds out at North Shore to much more at the southern extremities. It's downside is a large number of low quality shops in the holiday areas.

Stanley Park has had £5m spent on its rejuvenation and is almost complete. There are groups and bands playing there in the summer (list of events). Blackpool is also a famous name in ballroom dancing with the Winter Gardens hosting world competitions.

In 2007 the government decided Blackpool would not get a super casino, it would go to Manchester. In May 2007 the PM announced that the super-casino might not be built at all.

In August 2007 Blackpool council approved plans to redevelop the Blackpool Central Station site. These will need government approval. The application includes:

- A 35,750 square metre conference centre at the southern end of the site able to cater for 1,500 delegates and an exhibition hall with room for 150 stalls. - A 12,556 square metre central casino in the middle of the site including amusement arcades, nightclubs and some retail. - A 12,247 square metre north casino in the north eastern corner of the site including amusement arcades, nightclubs and some retail. - A 300-bedroom four/five-star star hotel in the south western corner of the site. - A 324-bedroom three-star hotel on the eastern side of the site. - A 145-bedroom five-star hotel at the northern end of the site. - 2,805 square metres of office space. - A Winter Promenade on the Promenade frontage to include eating, drinking, retail and leisure, with facilities such as a three-screen cinema.

Why not walk from South Pier to Fleetwood along the promenade and get the tram back. If you have the strength, allow about 4hrs non-stop including return. You can also stop at Bispham or Cleveleys and get the tram back. Cleveleys is having its promenade developed with modern features, Cinema, cafes etc.

In August 2008 the extension to the Houndshill Shopping Centre opened and it is a big improvement. The flagship store is a Debenhams and a number of other new shops have come to Blackpool and others have re-located from the surrounding area. At the moment (Sept 08) there are 3 large corner shops empty with Clarks opposite the Grand Theatre, Next opposite the Wintern Gardens and Harveys opposite the old Post Office all having re-located. Harveys has gone to Squires Gate.

Birley Street is now a large pavement cafe and there are plans to illuminate several town centre buildings at night, eco-friendly it says. In 2009 Birley Street is due to complete it's light and sound experience which is looking quite extraordinary.

Also the promenade is progressing well with the 'lagoons' now nearing completion and plans for the extended land areas being made. In 2009 areas of grass have been planted on the prom - that's new.

List of listed buildings and blue plaques in Blackpool on the Blackpool Civic Trust website.

Good link to read HISTORY OF BLACKPOOL

This is quite a long page, please view down.

 

BLACKPOOL 1ST MAY 2005 USING MY MOBILE PHONE CAMERA. Had a great walk at about 10am from Gynn Square, under North and Central Piers then to South Pier and back into town for a coffee and Baklava at Barista in Birley Street, the nicest coffee house in town.
	BLACKPOOL TOWER. From close to Central Pier. Look at those sands so beautiful it makes you want to return.
	Same view as above but with a bit of North Pier.
	Big Wheel on Central Pier. Big One at South Shore in the distance.
	Close up of the Central Pier Big Wheel. Look at the sky so blue it makes you want to return.
	Donkeys on the beach, having a good time.
	Walking along North Shore towards Gynn Square along the lower promenade of the 3 levels. North Pier and tower.
	Looking towards the Lake District from North Shore. Look at the sea so blue it makes you want to return.

Photographs of the annual Blackpool Totally Transport Show. June 2005, South Shore.

Totally Transport 2006 photo's, please return to this pageclick here

BLACKPOOL CIVIC TRUST

Blackpool Civic Trust has a list of heritage buildings, blue plaques and a Heritage Trail Walk on their website.

www.blackpoolcivictrust.org.uk

To celebrate 125years of trams in Blackpool special events and a special website have been set up. This includes trams driving lessons, a gathering of special trams between 23rd and 29th September 2010.

www.blackpooltramevents.co.uk

BLACKPOOL GRAND THEATRE

A Matcham designed pearl of a theatre, recently renovated and showing a wide range of presentations. Join Friends of the Grand. August 2007 new seats are being installed to give more leg room.

www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/

BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH

From their website 2009: Pleasure Beach Theme Park / Amusement Park, Blackpool is Britain's top, tourist attraction and welcomes nearly 6 million visitors annually. It lies in 42 acres, started with just one ride in 1896, and celebrated its Centenary in 1996.

There's something for everyone at Pleasure Beach Theme Park / Amusement Park, Blackpool. There are over 125 rides and attractions.

Get ready to immerse your senses as Pleasure Beach Theme Park / Amusement Park introduces Infusion, the brand new white-knuckle wave. Five incredible loops and rolls plus a double line twist all in one suspended looping coaster. Dare to leave behind dry land and duck and dive around a spectacular starburst fountain, dodge cheeky wet jets and dart through a heart-stopping, curved cascading waterfall as it gushes breathtakingly close to riders.

Click here to go to the Pleasure Beach Site

BLACKPOOL STANLEY PARK

Stanley Park is a Grade II listed park of local, regional and national significance. Designed by the well respected landscape architect T H Mawson in the 1920s and opened by Edward George Villers Stanley (from whom the park gets its name) in 1926.

The parks importance stems from the quality of the original design as T H Mawson had a great affinity for the Arts and Crafts movement in vogue in the 1920s and the fact that the overall layout has changed little since its opening. Although some significant assets came later, such as the cafe building, (a fine example of the Arts and Crafts style of architecture) and Cocker Memorial Tower, being built in the 1930s. These elements are regarded as integral features of the park that add to its value.

The park has recently been granted a large sum to restore many of its features and work is now well underway. A new visitor centre has been built and the cafe is serving good food inside and 'al fresco'.

www.friendsofstanleypark.org.uk

To help on the park or other roles in Blackpool contact:

Blackpool Volunteering Centre link

BLACKPOOL ZOO

Just across the road from Stanley Park is the Zoo which has recently been modernised. Now open is the Dinosaur Safari.

http://www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk/

BLACKPOOL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Recently modernised and providing a range of scheduled and charter flights, international daily.

http://www.blackpoolinternational.com

The Three Piers in Blackpool

21st May 1863 North Pier, 1650ft.

The 'posh' pier built at the end of Talbot Road and next to the Clifton Hotel. Later fitted with a steamer jetty and an 'Indian Pavilion' destroyed by fire and replaced. It was hit by 2 ships in the second half of the nineteenth century and needed repair. Soon after opening nearly half a million people a year were paying the 2d entrance fee.

The pier theatre has been host to many well known names and is still open.

30th May 1868 Central Pier (originally South Jetty), 1110ft.

Set up by a breakaway faction of the North Pier owners it wasn't a success until streamer trips to Southport were begun with music and dancing on the pier. At that time this pier was thought too far away. The steamer trips increased until a peak in the 1930's.

A big wheel and other attractions are now on the pier.

31st March 1893 South Pier (originally Victoria Pier), 492ft.

The south pier opened with a fine theatre and buildings and proved very popular. The theatre was burnt down twice and then replaced by a white knuckle attraction. It is located across from the Pleasure Beach and a large open air pool was built next to it where beauty competitions were very popular. The open air pool was removed and an indoor water attraction, The Sandcastle, built.

Photo of South Pier from Central - June 2009