The Blackpool Tower is not just an icon; it’s the beating heart of one of the U.K.’s most iconic seaside resorts. Dominating the Blackpool skyline The Blackpool Tower is 518ft tall. A visit to the tower, it’s ballroom with that springy dance floor, the circus and Jungle Jim’s are attractions not to be missed! Acclaimed as the Magnificent Tower Top Destination, The Tower has attracted millions over the years since it opened in 1894 and not just to gaze at the view but for a unique collection of attractions held within its impressive red-brick base.
A Triumph of Victorian Ambition: History and Construction
History The inspiration for the Blackpool tower was the Eiffel Tower in Paris, which opened in 1889 and was a great success. On viewing this French masterpiece, a company headed by former mayor John Bickerstaffe was incorporated in 1890 with the outrageous goal of creating something similar, if slightly shorter, for Blackpool to ensure tourists had somewhere to go on those oh so charming rainy days synonymous with British seaside holidays.
Laying the foundation stone on October 21, 1891 and opening on May 14, 1894. The building, designed by architects James Maxwell and Charles Tuke who both unfortunately passed away before it was built, was a feat of civil engineering. It was built with 2,533 tons of steel and 94 tonnes of cast iron in the new mode of hydraulic riveting. It cost about £290,000 — a staggering amount in its day (millions at today’s prices) — showing the scale of investment and faith that was put into it.
A neat structural point is its stability: the main tower has four mighty legs, each with lattice girders set between them. The confidence of the designers in their work was such that stories have persisted to this day that even if it fell, which was highly improbable (in the event of a collapse, the Tower would topple into the Irish Sea rather than onto bystanders anyway).
The Tower, however, was not without its early problems. For its first three decades, it wasn’t painted correctly and began to corrode in a way that led people to contemplate demolition. ” Fortunately, it was eventually decided to rebuild all of the steelwork between 1920 and 1924 so the disaster would not happen again. Today it would take seven years to paint the entire thing top to bottom with all rusty steel replaced.
The Five Main Attractions: A World of Entertainment
What really makes Blackpool Tower stand out from the rest of the observation decks is the multi-attraction complex at its base. Twins known as Tower Buildings, we are a house of fun and happiness for all ages to come and enjoy themselves on a budget.
The Blackpool Tower Eye
Of course, anyone dreaming of reaching great heights can kick off their ascent of the Tower with a trip to The Blackpool Tower Eye. Guests begin their journey by visiting the amazing glass sky walk and 4D cinema which will take you back through 1000 years of history of Blackpool and The Tower with spectacular views of the surrounding area, a unique experience.
The main lift subsequently raises guests 380 feet (120 metres) to the observation deck. From here the views are simply amazing – and with 360-degree panoramic views from the highest observation deck in North West England – you can see everything. On a crisp day one can see beyond the Fylde Coast, over towards the Lake District and as far as the Isle of Man and North Wales.
The most dizzying blast of fun is the SkyWalk, a section of reinforced grass flooring where you can literally walk out onto the viewing platform then look straight down below to the promenade and famous Comedy Carpet. The iconic Blackpool Illuminations – lit up during late summer and autumn – are also viewed at their best from the famous Tower.
The Blackpool Tower Eye
The Tower Ballroom is known around the world and widely regarded as one of the most spectacular ballrooms in the world, opening its doors in 1899 and replacing a previous cheaper pavilion. The ballroom itself was mostly designed by the prolific theatre architect, Frank Matcham.
The Ballroom is a masterpiece of ornate Victorian architecture, featuring richly decorated plasterwork, opulent murals, and sparkling crystal chandeliers (each of which can be lowered to the floor for cleaning—a week-long process). The Tower Ballroom is famous around the globe and is widely regarded as one of the world’s most stunning ballrooms. Its most distinctive aspect is the beautiful sprung dance floor measuring 120 feet by 102 feet and made up of more than 30,602 individual pieces of mahogany, oak and walnut. This provides a touch of spring underfoot when you are dancing.
The most unique feature of the room is the stunning Wurlitzer organ which elegantly rises from below the stage. This was played for 40 years by the iconic Reginald Dixon until 1970 and it is still played by resident organists today as they provide musical accompaniment for the daily tea dances. The Ballroom is also enhanced by being the annual home of the BBC’s hit television show, Strictly Come Dancing, which all helps to endorse its reputation for being the capital of dance, and it always looks magnificent! Above the stage is the famous quote, “Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear,” from Shakespeare’s Venus and Adonis.
The Blackpool Tower Circus
Situated snugly and permanently between the four enormous legs of the Tower’s base, the Blackpool Tower Circus has been entertaining audiences since the Tower first opened in 1894, and has never missed a season since it was established, including during both World Wars. A permanent circus arena still operating today is the oldest of its kind in the world.
The circus was redeveloped by Frank Matcham too, and features a stunning unique finale, where the entire circus ring floor disappears and fills with 42,000 gallons of water in less than a minute to provide thrilling aquatic stunts and water features. The circus is a non-animal circus and features fantastic circus performers, including acrobats, clowns (such as Mooky the resident clown), illusionists and aerialists.
The Blackpool Tower Dungeon
The Blackpool Tower Dungeon is a walking theatre and immersive attraction that first opened in 2010 on the site of the former aquarium. It combines live action, special effects and theming, to present the gruesome (and often humorous) history attached to Lancashire.
The guest journey takes in a number of scenes arising from the troubled histories of the area – such as the notorious Pendle Witch trials, the Viking raids and the plague! Guests can expect dark humour, that it is very interactive and the thrilling ride – which drops vertically at the end. Overall, this attraction is a popular option for older families and thrill-seekers.
Dino Mini Golf
The Dino Mini Golf, a new addition to the Tower complex that opened in June 2023, is found on the base of the tower and offers an themed, indoor mini-golf experience. Along with the original Jungle Jim’s Adventureland mini-golf course that has transitioned to different events and different play areas, Dino Mini Golf gives younger visitors more options and helps keep the Tower a family-focused experience and the Tower attracts visitors year-round regardless of the weather.
A Cultural Cornerstone
The Blackpool Tower is far-reaching in impact, existing in a number of films and programs, most famously with the annual Strictly Come Dancing special, and known across the UK. Its resilience and impact of the original Victorian inventiveness of beauty, durability, and multifunction that was meant to entertain remains unchanged.
From the tranquil grandeur of the Ballroom’s tea dances to the exhilarating heights of the Tower Eye, the Blackpool Tower continues the time-honored ritual of being an indispensable British seaside tradition that implores visitors to look up and be dazzled by its magnificent location on the Lancashire coast.
Conclusion
The Blackpool Tower is a grand reminder of Victorian ingenuity as well as a rich history of entertainment on the seafront. Towering at an impressive 518ft above the Fylde Coast, the Tower took the dream of the Eiffel Tower and made it a distinctly British feature.
The Tower offers much more than a viewing platform; it’s a well-maintained multi-attraction experience that invites you to take an extraordinary historical journey, past the high quality attractions on offer. From the stunning architecture and competitive ballroom dancing of the Tower Ballroom, to the unpredictable non-stop water-finale tradition of the Tower Circus, and finally the exhilarating 360 panoramic experience tough of the Tower Eye’s SkyWalk, the Tower delivers an incredible combination of its past with the modern and has an appeal to all ages.
As one of the resort’s benefitting icons, it still serves a cultural and economic purpose. The fact that the Tower has been open and a tourist spot for (well) over a century is enough proof that it is more than simply a landmark, it has lived on as a funhouse, entertaining millions for more than a hundred years, it is a pilgrimage that cannot be missed as a visitor on the British coast!
FAQs
What is the full height of the structure, and what famous French landmark inspired its creation?
It stands 518 feet (158 metres) tall. It was directly inspired by the design and success of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
When was the Tower officially opened to the public, and who were the original architects?
It opened on May 14, 1894. The original architects were James Maxwell and Charles Tuke, both of whom sadly died before it was finished.
What is the most unique feature of the Tower Ballroom’s sprung dance floor, and what material is it made from?
It is made from over 30,000 blocks of oak, mahogany, and walnut. It also features the magnificent Wurlitzer organ.
Name the feature of the Tower Eye that allows guests to look directly down to the promenade, and what experience precedes the lift?
The thrilling SkyWalk is a thick glass viewing platform. The visit begins with a multi-sensory 4D cinema experience.