We know just how excited you are to come to Blackpool. Whether you’re a seaside regular or this is your first exciting trip to the resort, we want to make sure you have a safe and enjoyable time in this new normal.
Soon you will be able to feel the sand between your toes on our beautiful beaches, delight in our award-winning attractions, experience some of our amazing shows and incredible free events, and relax and recharge in our quality accommodation suited to all budgets.
Before you do that though, you will find some handy tips below to ensure you’re in the best position when booking your staycation or day trip, as well as some useful pointers to consider when you arrive in resort.
Before you come to Blackpool
- Plan ahead – earlier in the year, it was widely reported that there will be a surge in summer staycations due to the number of travel restrictions being enforced for a holiday abroad. In fact, Blackpool was recently named the third most popular place in the UK to staycation this summer according to a Travelodge survey. If you have an accommodation provider in mind, we advise to start planning your trip now as demand is expected to be high. The resort offers a wide-ranging mix of accommodation, from self-catering options, cosy B&BS to luxurious seafront hotels. Take a look at your options here.
- Check what’s open – back in February 22, the Prime Minister announced his roadmap out of lockdown that will see a gradual return to normal life – and a phased reopening of our tourism and hospitality industry. If you’re planning a long-awaited trip to Blackpool, make sure you familiarise yourself with the Government’s four-step plan for easing restrictions and you’re aware of the different stages of reopening. You can find out what is expected to be open when you visit here.
- Flexible booking options – if there’s a change in circumstance relating to COVID-19, many of our accommodation providers and attractions should be happy to move your existing booking to a later date. This means you can book with confidence, knowing that if your plans change, so can your booking. As always, we recommend reading the T&Cs and booking policy.
- Look out for the Good to Go sign – last year, VisitEngland launched a UK-wide 'Good to Go' industry standard and supporting mark to provide a ring of confidence for visitors. More than 300 Blackpool businesses signed up to the scheme, demonstrating that they have all the necessary COVID-19 measures in place and have carried out a risk assessment. Look out for the green tick throughout our website or displayed in the windows or entrances of approved premises in resort. You can read more on this here.
- Decided on dates? Secure your attraction tickets – last year, a number of our attractions, such as The Blackpool Tower and Sandcastle Waterpark introduced time slots, allowing them to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines through managing capacity levels. Because of this, time slots were booked up quickly, especially at the weekends or during the school holidays. With capacity measures in place again this year until June 21 at the earliest, we advise booking ahead of time to avoid disappointment. Take a look at all of our attractions here.
When you’re in Blackpool
- Stop by our Tourist Information Centre (TIC) – our Tourist Information Centre is located at Festival House on the Promenade, a short two-minute stroll from the world-famous Blackpool Tower. Our friendly assistants can offer their expert knowledge on all our attractions, places to eat, events and travel information. You can even purchase discounted tickets for some main attractions and shows. Plus, there is plenty of Blackpool merchandise on offer, along with souvenirs to remind you of your holidays. Find more details on our Tourist Information Centre.
- Protect our beautiful landscape – Blackpool is blessed with many open spaces, including six miles of promenade and 390 breath-taking acres of green land at Stanley Park. More than ever, people want to head to the great outdoors, especially now that travel restrictions have eased. All we ask is that you follow the Government guidance, as well as taking your litter home with you or placing it in one of the bins provided. Help us keep Blackpool clean and tidy.
- Explore more of the coast - In peak times, the beach between North and Central Pier is a popular beach spot for tourists. If it’s difficult to maintain social distancing, we recommend taking full advantage of our spectacular coastline and find another beach spot further along. If you walk south past Central Pier, you will find a wide stretch of beach with glorious views. This location is ideal for those instagrammable moments as you can take a photo of Central Pier’s Big Wheel and The Blackpool Tower together, giving you a postcard perfect snap. Further along towards South Beach, you’ll even find one of the best areas to go rockpooling which hosts a variety of marine life to sensibly explore when the tide is out. For more information, you can read our Beach Safety guide here.
- Not a fan of using cash? Use contactless instead – the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the shift of cash to digital payments. While we still recommend carrying a bit of spare change with you (an ice cream is a must!), many of our businesses offer card machines with contactless options. If you’re travelling around resort, Blackpool Transport offer contactless payment on their buses and it will soon be rolled out to our famous trams too. You can also use Pay by Phone for all Blackpool Council owned car parks, except Talbot Road multi-storey, providing you with a cashless and contact-free payment option across almost 5,000 parking spaces in the resort. Find out more here.