Blackpool Tower

Suzy King
May 1
2 min read

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.