Blackpool Heritage Tours and Talks

Blackpool has a long and fascinating past to celebrate, share and be proud of. Find out more about it with Blackpool Heritage Tours and Talks.

Embark on your journey through the jewels in the crown of Blackpool’s Heritage with a nationally accredited guide. It’s a truly one-off experience leaving you with magical memories of the past and the future.

Blackpool Heritage Tours and Talks

Tours are available for:

• Lightworks, the Blackpool Illuminations Depot at Squires Gate
• Stanley Park
• Cinema Heritage
• Promenade History

Blackpool Heritage Tours of Stanley Park

Take a guided Heritage Tour of Blackpool’s beautiful Stanley Park. The classic Stanley Park tour was relaunched in 2018.

This tour includes a rare chance to go inside the Cocker Clock Tower and a presentation on the history of Stanley Park. It then ends with a tea or coffee and cake in the historic Art Deco Cafe.

Dating back to 1926 Stanley Park is in a conservation area. It includes many substantial properties built to a high standard with many features. Such as the Visitor Centre, the Art Deco Cafe, Italian Garden, Cocker Tower, Bandstand, Lake, Floral Clock and Rose Garden. Plus of course, the boats, islands and the model village.

Stanley Park- Scheduled Heritage Tour dates for 2019

• All these days are Thursdays, tours start at 1.30pm
  16 May, 13 June, 11 July, 8 August, 5 September

Tours last for approximately 2 hours. Meet outside the Visitors Centre, located next to the café. (Please note, the stairs in the Cocker Clock Tower are steep and may not be suitable for visitors with mobility problems.) Tickets – £8 each, includes a cup of tea/coffee. Book your tickets online at the Blackpool Heritage website – link is below. If you go, please mention that you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!

Lightworks, Blackpool Illuminations Depot Guided Tours

Blackpool’s World famous Illuminations have captivated audiences for over one hundred years. The first Royal visit by Princess Louise in 1912 was celebrated with 10,000 lamps. Today, miles of digitally controlled features illuminate Blackpool’s promenade for almost 3.5million visitors every year.

Join the Heritage Guides as they introduce you to the fabulous Illuminations Collection. See some of the 20,000 pieces from the 1920s to the present day, including photographs, diagrams and beautiful original artwork. Through them you’ll see the evolution of our beloved ‘Lights’.

Then enjoy a tour of Lightworks, the home of the Illuminations. See how they are made, from initial design to final construction. Be amazed at the scale of some of your favourite features and perhaps see some new ones in production. For those with illuminated autumn memories of Blackpool this is a tour not to be missed!

Lightworks – Scheduled Heritage Tour dates for 2019

• Saturday 27 April at 11.30am
• Wednesday 22 May at 2.30pm
• Wednesday 19 June at 2.30pm
• Saturday 26 October at 11.30am

Tours last around 90 minutes. Meet at the main entrance. Please note that Lightworks is a working depot, so depending on the time of year, large scale models may be out on display.

Tickets: Adults £8, under 16’s £4 (accompanied by an adult). Book your tickets online at the Blackpool Heritage website – link is below. If you go, please mention that you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!

Cinema Heritage Tours

An enjoyable guided walking tour looking at the cinema heritage of Blackpool.

Visit the sites of cinemas from the past while learning about their history. Finish the tour with afternoon tea at The Regent. Please note that there are stairs to the first floor where afternoon tea will be served.

Dates for Cinema Heritage Tours 2019

• All these days are Thursdays, tours start at 1pm
  9 May, 6 June, 4 July, 1 August, 22 August, 12 September

Tickets: Adults £12.50, under 16s £6.50. Book your tickets online at the Blackpool Heritage website – link is below. If you go, please mention that you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!

Promenade History Tours

In this tour you’ll cover just one of Blackpool’s seven golden miles! Walk from the Imperial Hotel to the Comedy Carpet, learning about the history along the way.

Find out about the heritage of 23 historic landmarks of pleasure, leisure and architecture from the Victorian era to the present day.

The meeting point for this tour is opposite the Imperial Hotel. Tickets £5 each, tour lasts approx 90 minutes. Book your tickets online at the Blackpool Heritage website – link is below.

Dates for Promenade History Tours 2019

• All these days are Fridays, tours start at 11am
  3 May, 31 May, 26 July, 16 August

Community Heritage Talks

The Blackpool Heritage Champions have created a series of talks which bring the past onto your doorstep.

Suitable for community groups, organisations and societies, they give an insight into Blackpool’s fascinating heritage.

Themes include:

• Blackpool Tower
• Blackpool Sideshows
• Winter Gardens
• Saucy Blackpool postcards
• …and many more

The talks last approximately an hour and cost £30. Please contact Heritage Blackpool on 01253 476633 for more information and to book. Please mention that you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!

More about Blackpool Heritage Guided Tours and Talks

Heritage Blackpool is Blackpool Council’s Heritage Service and exists to celebrate, embrace and promote Blackpool’s exciting past.

The Blackpool Heritage Guided Tours are delivered by Community Heritage Champions who have been trained to know all the history and trade secrets of Blackpool locations.

Volunteers have been through rigorous training and deliver tours across the town every summer.

Find out more and book your tour here