Blackpool Ballroom

The Blackpool Tower Ballroom is one of those places where it doesn't matter if you are a dancer or not, it's an amazing experience just being there. It’s not just a dance hall, it’s an experience that makes you feel part of something timeless.

💃 The Blackpool Tower Ballroom: A Dance with History

Step inside the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, and you’re instantly transported to another era. The chandeliers sparkle, the gilded balconies curve elegantly around the room, and the polished wooden floor seems to whisper stories of dancers that have glided across it's boards. It’s no wonder this ballroom has become a bucket-list stop for visitors to Blackpool. I lost track of time just by looking up and admiring the beautiful architecture.

🕰️ A Touch of History

• The original ballroom opened in August 1894, the same year the Tower itself was unveiled.

• The current design was created by Frank Matcham, one of Britain’s most celebrated theatre architects, who gave the ballroom its ornate, theatrical flair.

• The dance floor is a marvel in itself, made up of 30,602 individual blocks of mahogany, oak, and walnut, carefully arranged to create a surface that’s perfect for gliding across.

• Above the stage, you’ll spot a Shakespearean inscription: “Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear” a nod to the ballroom’s blend of art and performance.

• The ballroom has hosted countless events, from local dances to the dazzling Strictly Come Dancing specials, cementing its place in British pop culture.

🎶 The Sound of the Wurlitzer

No visit is complete without hearing the famous Wurlitzer organ that we were glad to see was being used the day that we visited. Since 1975, organist Phil Kelsall has been filling the ballroom with music, creating the soundtrack for dancers twirling across the floor. The sound is rich, nostalgic, and instantly makes you want to join in.

🌟 Why Tourists Love It

Visiting the ballroom isn’t just about watching, you can:

• Sit back with tea and cake while the organ plays because you can book to afternoon tea and sit on either the blue or red tables that are at the sides of the dance floor. If you don't want to have afternoon tea, there is a counter to get hot drinks and snacks.

• Step onto the floor yourself and try a waltz or foxtrot. I really enjoyed sitting and watching people dancing, some were dressed up very smartly or dressed up like they were about to enter a dance competition. Then there were some who were in jeans and t-shirts, but I loved that no one cared who was wearing what, they were all there to dance.

• Simply soak up the atmosphere, imagining the generations who’ve danced here before. Which is what we did, we watched the dancers, listened to the music and just took in the room.

It’s casual, welcoming, and surprisingly affordable, making it a perfect stop whether you’re a dance enthusiast or just curious about Blackpool’s heritage.

🎫Tickets

The Blackpool Tower Ballroom is another attraction on the Merlin Attraction Pass so the ease of booking is a really big bonus.

Blackpool Tower

There’s something magical about spotting the Blackpool Tower as it rises above the promenade. Whether you’re arriving by tram, car, or on foot, it’s impossible to miss that iron giant standing proud since 1894 above the buildings, a Victorian dream inspired by Paris’s Eiffel Tower, but with a distinctly British seaside twist.

🎡 The Adventure Begins at the Base

Your journey starts at ground level, where the Tower buzzes with energy being filled with tourists going to one of the many attractions that lead off from the lobby. Step inside and you’re greeted by a mix of history and fun:

• The Tower Circus has been entertaining crowds for over a century, with acrobats and clowns delighting families since the day it opened. I love that it is the same family that has been running the circus for all this time.

• The Tower Ballroom is pure elegance, think gilded balconies, chandeliers, and the sound of a Wurlitzer organ filling the air. It’s so iconic that Strictly Come Dancing regularly films here.

• For those who like a thrill, The Tower Dungeon offers a cheeky (and slightly spooky) dive into Lancashire’s darker past.

🚡 The Ascent: Lifts to the Sky

Then comes the climb. The lifts whisk you upwards through the Tower’s steel frame, and with each floor you’re leaving the bustle of the promenade behind. It’s a moment of anticipation, kids press their noses to the glass, adults clutch their cameras, and everyone wonders just how far they’ll see when they reach the top.

🌅 The Tower Eye & SkyWalk

At the summit, the Tower Eye delivers the payoff: sweeping views across the Fylde Coast. On a clear day, I've been told that you can spot the Lake District peaks, the Welsh hills, and even the Isle of Man off in the distance.

And then there’s the SkyWalk, a glass floor that lets you look straight down to the streets below. It’s equal parts terrifying and exhilarating, the kind of experience that makes you laugh nervously before snapping that must-have selfie. I'm not going to lie, it took me a few minutes to work my way out onto the glass to have my picture taken and then it took my longer to get Sean to walk out to have a picture with me. I was very happy to see there was a bar at the top so we could sit at a table with a drink and look out at the view.

🕰️ A Tower with Stories to Tell

What makes the Blackpool Tower special isn’t just the view, it’s the history woven into every level. I was built with over 2,500 tons of steel so it's not surprising that it was once the tallest man-made structure in Britain. Generations have danced, laughed, and gasped their way through its attractions, making it a living time capsule of seaside culture. As you are working your way up to the top, you go through amazing exhibits showing you the history of the tower, I found it so fascinating.

🎫Tickets

This is another attraction that you can get on the Merlin Attraction Pass so even more savings to be enjoyed.