Bank holidays were practically invented for Blackpool. The town has been pulling in visitors from across the North of England for well over 150 years, and a long weekend here still delivers what it always has: sea air, proper entertainment, good food, and the kind of stories you tell for years. Whether you are making a day trip or booking a few nights, here is how to get the most out of your Blackpool bank holiday weekend.
Start Where Every Visit Should Start: The Promenade and the Beach
There is no better way to arrive in Blackpool than walking the promenade. The seven-mile stretch runs the full length of the seafront and takes in all three of the town’s Victorian piers: North Pier, Central Pier, and South Pier. On a bank holiday weekend, Central Pier is particularly lively, with its famous Ferris wheel, amusement arcades, and fish and chip stalls doing brisk business.
The beach itself is wide and sandy and free. If the weather plays ball (and in May it often does, at least for part of the weekend), it is worth spending a morning here before the crowds build. Trams run up and down the promenade if your legs need a rest, and Victorian horse-drawn carriages still operate along the front, a genuinely old-fashioned touch that somehow still works.
Blackpool Tower: Worth Every Penny
The tower turned 130 years old in 2024 and shows no signs of losing its appeal. At 518 feet tall, it remains one of Britain’s most recognisable landmarks. The Blackpool Tower Eye sits at 380 feet and includes an indoor and outdoor observation deck, a glass Skywalk that puts you directly above the promenade, and a 4D cinema experience covering the town’s history.
Down at the base, the Tower Ballroom is something else entirely. The ornate Victorian interior, with gilded balconies, a sprung maple dancefloor, and a massive Wurlitzer organ, hosts ballroom dancing displays that feel genuinely special. Afternoon tea dances run on certain weekends; check the Blackpool Tower website for current bank holiday schedules.
Book tickets online before you go. It is cheaper than paying on the door, and queues on a busy bank holiday weekend can be long.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach: The Big Rides
If you want to spend a day riding roller coasters, Blackpool Pleasure Beach is still one of the best places in the UK to do it. The Big One at 235 feet, one of Europe’s tallest and fastest coasters, has been running since 1994 and remains a rite of passage. The Icon, which opened in 2018 as the UK’s first multi-launch coaster, is the park’s most technically modern ride.
The park covers 42 acres and runs from late March through October, so the full main season is open for both May bank holidays. Buying tickets in advance online saves money and sidesteps the box office queue. Bank holidays are among the park’s busiest days, so arriving early makes a real difference.
Things to Do in Blackpool on a Bank Holiday: Culture and Quirks
Madame Tussauds Blackpool
This is the only Madame Tussauds branch outside London, and it covers a range of exhibits with a northern entertainment slant. It sits on the promenade near the tower and works well as a rainy-day option or a break from outdoor activities.
SEA LIFE Blackpool
Located directly on the promenade, SEA LIFE houses over 2,000 sea creatures, including sharks, rays, seahorses, and turtles. It is a good option for families with younger children who need a calmer counterbalance to the Pleasure Beach.
The Grand Theatre
If you want something more theatrical, the Grand Theatre on Church Street is one of the most beautiful working Victorian theatres in England. It hosts touring productions throughout the year; check the current schedule when planning your trip as bank holidays often bring one-off shows or matinees.
Where to Eat in Blackpool This Bank Holiday
Rock, candy floss, and chips with curry sauce have their place. But Blackpool’s food scene has expanded well beyond the seafront staples.
The Clifton on Talbot Square is a solid option for a proper pub lunch with good cask ales. For seafood, several restaurants on the promenade offer fresh, locally-caught fish. The town centre has a broad mix of restaurants covering Italian, Indian, and British menus, most within easy walking distance of the main attractions.
If you are heading to a show in the evening, more on that shortly, it is worth booking a pre-theatre dinner rather than trying to grab something rushed between the afternoon and evening.
The Best Night Out in Blackpool: Funny Girls
Here is where the bank holiday weekend gets properly memorable.
Funny Girl has been running since 1994 and is now rated in the top 10% of attractions worldwide on TripAdvisor, with over 35,000 reviews. It has been voted the best show in Blackpool for five consecutive years. That is not marketing copy; it is a track record.
The venue itself is a stunning 1939 Art Deco theatre. The shows are full-scale cabaret productions featuring drag artists, dancers, comedians, and live entertainment. Think sequins, Broadway-level choreography, quick-fire humour, and audience interaction that keeps the crowd on their toes from start to finish. The cast includes performers trained in musical theatre and professional dance, alongside long-standing crowd favourites who have become Blackpool legends in their own right.
What makes Funny Girls stand out as a Blackpool bank holiday weekend activity is the format. Doors open at 6:30 pm, the restaurant serves a three-course dinner from that point, and the show runs from 8 pm to 11 pm. You can book dinner and a show together, which turns the whole evening into a proper event rather than just a night out. Garbo’s, the in-house Art Deco-themed restaurant, handles the food side, and the menu is a genuine three-course.
The shows change throughout the year, spring, summer, and seasonal specials, so even regular visitors see something new. For bank holiday weekends, it is worth checking the shows in Blackpool page directly to see what is running during your visit. Tickets sell out on bank holiday weekends, so book ahead rather than turning up on spec.
The audience is deliberately mixed, couples, groups of friends, hen parties, families, first-timers, and people who have been coming for years. It is inclusive by design and works well for almost anyone looking for a big, warm, chaotic night of entertainment.
A Quieter Side of Blackpool Bank Holiday Activities
Not everything in Blackpool needs to be at full volume. Here are a few lower-key options worth considering:
- Stanley Park sits about a mile inland from the promenade and is a genuinely lovely Italianate park with a boating lake, Italian Garden, café, and tennis courts. It is a good place to start a morning before the afternoon crowds arrive.
- The Grundy Art Gallery on Queen Street is free to enter and houses a permanent collection of Victorian and Edwardian works alongside changing exhibitions. Not many visitors know it is there, which means it is usually quiet even on bank holidays.
- Blackpool Zoo in Stanley Park makes for a solid half-day with kids. It covers 32 acres and is home to over 400 animals across a range of habitats.
Getting Around Blackpool on a Bank Holiday Weekend
The town is compact and walkable for most of the main attractions. The promenade tram runs the length of the seafront and is the easiest way to travel between the piers and outlying areas like Bispham to the north or Starr Gate to the south.
If you are driving, expect parking to be busier than usual on a bank holiday. The multi-storey car parks near the town centre and Pleasure Beach fill up quickly on peak days, so arriving before 10 am makes the whole thing considerably less stressful.
Blackpool North and Blackpool South both have direct train links to Preston, Manchester, and Liverpool, making a weekend break without a car perfectly doable.
How to Plan Your Blackpool Bank Holiday Weekend: A Simple Itinerary
Saturday
- Morning: Walk the promenade, grab breakfast, visit Central Pier
- Afternoon: Blackpool Pleasure Beach
- Evening: Dinner and show at Funny Girls
Sunday
- Morning: Stanley Park or the beach
- Afternoon: Blackpool Tower Eye and Tower Ballroom
- Evening: Explore the town centre, try a local restaurant
Monday (Bank Holiday)
- Morning: SEA LIFE or Madame Tussauds
- Afternoon: Grundy Art Gallery, a final walk along the front, then head home
FAQs: Blackpool Bank Holiday Weekend
Q: What are the best things to do in Blackpool on a bank holiday weekend?
The Blackpool bank holiday weekend covers a wide range: Pleasure Beach for the rides, the Tower for the views and ballroom, the beach and piers for a classic seaside feel, and Funny Girls for an unforgettable evening of cabaret and drag entertainment. There is genuinely something for every type of visitor.
Q: Do I need to book Funny Girls in advance for a bank holiday weekend?
Yes, you do. Bank holiday weekends are among Funny Girls’ busiest times of year, and shows sell out regularly. Book tickets throughfunny girls website in advance to avoid disappointment. Dinner and show packages also need to be booked ahead of time.
Q: Is Funny Girls suitable for all ages and groups?
Funny Girls is aimed at adults and older teens, and it works for a wide range of groups, couples, friends, hen parties, birthday groups, and first-timers alike. The show is inclusive by design, and the atmosphere is welcoming. Check the specific show description when booking for any age guidance.
Q: Is Blackpool Pleasure Beach open on bank holidays?
Yes, Blackpool Pleasure Beach runs through its main season from late March to October and is open on bank holidays. Bank holidays are among its busiest days, so booking tickets online in advance and arriving early both help significantly with queues and parking.
Q: What is the best way to get around Blackpool over a bank holiday weekend?
The promenade tram is the easiest option for getting up and down the seafront. Most of the main attractions are within walking distance of each other in the town centre. If you are driving, book parking in advance where possible and aim to arrive before 10 am to avoid the busiest periods.
