Filming Locations

What’s your first thought when you think of Blackpool? Is it the six-mile stretch of glorious coastline, three iconic piers, two opulent ballrooms or the world-famous Blackpool Tower?

Whether you are looking for a stunning seaside scene or a building that can be theatrically transformed into a different era or period, Blackpool Film Office would be delighted to assist you in finding a suitable location.

Blackpool Film Office is primarily responsible for outdoor public spaces, including the beaches, promenade, residential streets, and the town centre. Looking for locations outside of this scope? We maintain excellent relationships with our attractions, venues and organisations so please get in touch.

The team will work with you to find suitable locations tailored to your filming requirements, as well as offer accommodation recommendations, if applicable, and promotion via our social media channels with more than 200,000 combined followers across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Blackpool Beaches and Promenade

Blackpool proudly boasts six miles of spectacular coastline, four award-winning beaches and three iconic piers, making this area one of the most recognisable spots in Britain.

In the early 2010s, Central Promenade and its sea defences were transformed with a series of sweeping Spanish steps built into the esplanade, offering easy access to the beach along the Golden Mile. The bustling promenade was also widened to not only improve our sea defences, but to offer an enhanced experience for visitors and residents to enjoy the expansive area of open space.

Over the years, our beautifully regenerated seafront and award-winning beaches have been subject to a wide range of TV and film appearances from car chases to promenade parades.

The beach and promenade fall under Blackpool Film Office’s remit. As Blackpool is a tidal resort, we maintain a close relationship with the year-round Beach Patrol team and diligently liaise with productions who plan to film on the beach to carry out their activities during low tide.

Stanley Park

Twice voted the UK’s best park in recent years, Stanley Park offers an idyllic setting in the heart of Blackpool. This lush, verdant park features a tranquil boating lake, beautiful Italian Gardens, the impressive Cocker Clock Tower and a superb amphitheatre with a 93-year-old bandstand as its centrepiece– and that’s just to name a few stunning sights in the 390-acre park.

The Grade II listed park is split into four zones – the north and western formal gardens; the eastern area lake and woodland area; and the south stretch containing children’s play areas and sports facilities.

There’s also the beautiful Art Deco Café, a unique restaurant offering spectacular indoor and alfresco views of the park featuring two Medici lion statues standing guard outside.

This breath-taking park is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the town centre and promenade, offering a picture-perfect backdrop for your production.

Blackpool Town Centre

Blackpool Film Office cover filming in the town centre. From the exteriors of iconic buildings in the heart of Blackpool, including Blackpool Grand Theatre and the Winter Gardens, to vox pops with the friendly members of the public, the town centre is a lively amalgamation of independent and chain restaurants, shops, not forgetting St John’s Square, the bustling Houndshill Shopping Centre and Cedar Square.

Blackpool Film Office will liaise with Blackpool Business Improvement District (BID) to ensure filming does not coincide with any other town centre activities or events.

Residential Streets

Blackpool Film Office cover residential streets in and around Blackpool as part of the filming permit arrangements. We can work with you to ensure any disruption to the local community is kept to a minimum and the area remains film friendly at all times.

Blackpool Illuminations

Loved by millions, Blackpool Illuminations is often touted to be the greatest free light show on Earth. Stretching for six miles and comprising over one million bulbs, the dazzling display offers a dramatic, aesthetic backdrop for your scenes. Notable scenes include the promenade parade in Stay Close and the All Hallows’ Eve episode of Songs of Praise.

Alternatively, the home of the Illuminations, the Lightworks depot, offers an expansive area with equipment such as cherry-pickers available to use. 

Blackpool Tower Ballroom

It comes as no surprise that the Blackpool Tower Ballroom is one of our exquisite gems nestled in the heart of Blackpool. First opening in 1899, the ballroom is home to one of the world’s most famous dancefloors known for its spectacular annual showcase in BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. Hollywood came calling in 2020 when the ballroom became the heart of the ball in the new adaption of Cinderella. 

In early 2022, the famous dancefloor received its first extensive restoration in more than three decades, breaking down more than 100 layers of lacquer to reveal the original floor. The work follows a £1.1m restoration of the ballroom during the Covid-19 lockdown. One foot on the dance floor and you are immediately mesmerised by the breath-taking beauty of the ballroom.

Bonny Street Police Station

Built in 1971, Bonny Street Police Station is often a favourite amongst location managers. The original cells, custody suite and front desk remain unchanged since the police headquarters moved to a purpose-built facility near the M55 a number of years ago.

The rooms and cells within the brutalist police station can be dressed to suit and the upper floor levels offer unparalleled views over the resort.

Owned by Blackpool Council, the brutalist police station is only around for a limited time after the £300m Blackpool Central development was given the green light in late 2021. The building is set to be demolished in the coming years.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Blackpool wouldn’t be complete without the UK’s most ride intensive amusement park, Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Founded in 1896, the park is home to the oldest continuous working amusement ride, the Sir Hiram Maxim Captive Flying Machines, as well as other classic wooden coasters, family favourites and, most recently, the UK’s first double launch rollercoaster. Let’s not forget one of the most recognisable coasters in the UK, The Big One, which forms an irreplaceable part of Blackpool’s iconic skyline.

The park has accommodated an array of productions over the years, notably the comical Specsavers advert, The Harry Hill Movie, TV drama Waterloo Road and popular ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. The park serves as a fun, vibrant space for your filming location.

Blackpool Conference Centre

In March 2022, Blackpool’s Conference and Exhibition Centre opened its doors for the first time, offering a very different experience for event organisers and delegates alike.

The centre proudly boasts one of the largest venues of its kind in the north of England with a total of 2400 square metres of dedicated space.

The new Blackpool Conference and Exhibition Centre has been designed to link seamlessly with other venues within the complex, such as the Empress Ballroom, whilst also having the ability to be used in isolation. The layout can be arranged to suit the needs of most filming events and offers a flexible set-build space.

Winter Gardens Empress Ballroom

Another jewel in Blackpool’s crown, the Empress Ballroom is one of the most popular venues within the Winter Gardens complex. The magnificent ballroom was designed by renowned architects Mangall and Littlewood and opened in the summer of 1896.

The Empress Ballroom has been a stunning backdrop for an array of events over the years, including political party conferences, music concerts and it even plays host to the world’s greatest dance show competition – the British Professional and British Amateur Ballroom Championships.

The ballroom offers a flexible space where the layout can be arranged to suit the needs of any event. It can also be used in conjunction with their other venues within the complex, including the Olympia and the new Blackpool Conference Centre. Sound, lighting and rigging are available.

Event spaces within the Winter Gardens Complex

The Winter Gardens in Blackpool is a historic entertainment complex that features a variety of venues catering for all different types of productions.

The Opera House is a more intimate venue that is perfect for theatre productions and smaller concerts. The Pavilion Theatre is a versatile space that can be used for everything from conferences to comedy shows. Additionally, the complex includes the Spanish Hall, which is a stunning ballroom that is often used for weddings and other special events and, let’s not forget, the overpoweringly striking Galleon Bar, a spectacular recreation of an old Galleon ship from the Spanish Armada.

With its range of venues and beautiful architecture, the Winter Gardens Complex is a must-visit destination for productions looking to scope out a variety of locations.

Blackpool Grand Theatre

Hailed as Matcham’s masterpiece, Blackpool Grand Theatre opened on 23 July, 1894. Still to this day, the theatre strikingly shows off its incredibly ornate glided plasterwork, baroque ceiling and cantilevered balconies that provide a perfect view of the stage from every seat. 

The Victorian auditorium was almost lost to redevelopment in the 1970s but rescued by a charitable trust that continues to operate it to this day. The Grand welcomes productions and has been used as a location for a range of press and filming activities, including Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, The One Show, DODGER, John Richardson’s Old Man Live, ITV drama HIM, and Coast.

North, Central and South Pier

Blackpool is the only British beach resort to boast three piers, offering their own individual appeal. North Pier has retained its Victorian charm, offering a nostalgic experience for all visitors. Relax and unwind on the promenade deck or check out the Joe Longthorne theatre and the pier’s two bars, Bloom Bar and The Garden.

At the heart of Blackpool’s stunning coastline, Central Pier is the perfect place for family entertainment and is home to the resort’s world-famous Big Wheel, as well as amusements, games, rides and bars including The Terrace and Pirates Bay.

South Pier is known for being the activity pier and is the shortest of the three. Find the Crazy Coaster – the UK’s fastest spinning mouse ride – and the Adrenaline Zone, home to the Sky Screamer and Sky Coaster.

With each pier offering something unique with an array of different themes and settings, all three locations can serve as an adaptable backdrop for your project.

The Imperial Hotel

This landmark seafront hotel is one of the grand old dames of the Promenade. The 19th century hotel reflects the opulence and glamour of the resort’s Victorian heyday. Over the years, it has welcomed a host of royals, politicians, statesmen and stars of stage and screen.

Steeped in history, the Imperial offers suites and meeting rooms with beautiful backdrops that can be dressed to suit. Rooms that might be of particular interest include the Churchill Room where Winston Churchill used to sit in the Smoking Room, and the former Turkish baths which have since been meticulously restored. The hotel also offers accommodation to medium to large crews.