8 Interesting Facts About Blackpool Tower

One of the UK’s most popular seaside resorts is Blackpool, located in Lancashire in the North West of England.

The town attracts millions of visitors every year – it’s a family-friendly location with something for everyone.

A much-loved tourist attraction in the resort is the iconic Blackpool Tower.

And it’s not surprising that so many people visit the tower, as it’s home to several attractions, including:

Blackpool Tower Eye
Blackpool Tower Ballroom
Blackpool Tower Dungeon
Blackpool Tower Circus

With so much to do, it’s a really fun day out!

Let’s look at some fascinating facts about this much-loved landmark…

1. Blackpool Tower officially opened on 14 May 1894.

Over 3,000 members of the public queued along the Promenade, excited to explore the new attraction. Admission to the tower cost just sixpence, with people paying a further sixpence to take the lift to the top of the tower to see the panoramic views.

2. Blackpool’s popular landmark was inspired by the Eiffel Tower.

The Mayor of Blackpool, Sir John Bickerstaffe, attended the Great Paris Exhibition in 1889. He was so impressed with the newly constructed Eiffel Tower, he wanted a similar tower in Blackpool. The building of Blackpool Tower started in 1891, just 2 years after Bickerstaffe’s trip to Paris.

3. It cost almost £300,000 to construct the tower, the equivalent of more than £40 million today.

The construction started in September 1891 and it took three years to complete. When it was finished in 1894, it was the tallest structure in Britain, measuring 518 feet 9 inches to be precise (around 158 metres).

4. The tower is made up of more than 5 million bricks, 2,493 tons of steel and 93 tons of cast iron.

Detailed plans for the Tower were drawn up by Lancashire architects James Maxwell and Charles Tuke. Unfortunately, they both died in 1893, just before the construction was complete.

5. Blackpool Tower has featured in a number of movies.

The Tower Ballroom appears in the Oscar-nominated film, Phantom Thread which stars Daniel Day Lewis. The attraction also appeared in Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children, directed by Hollywood Film Director, Tim Burton.

6. The Blackpool Tower Circus is one of only four arenas worldwide to have a water feature finale.

The unique design of the arena features a hydraulic floor which sinks and fills with 42,000 gallons of water in just one minute. Audiences love this spectacular end to the circus performances.

7. The floor in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom comprises of over 30,000 blocks of oak, mahogany and walnut.

It’s a beautiful ballroom with a floor measuring 120 feet by 102 feet (around 36 metres by 31 metres). It was designed by Frank Matcham, an English architect who specialised in designing theatres and music halls.

8. Discover the only bar in Blackpool that provides views of the Fylde Coastline and beyond.

At the top of the tower, you’ll find the sky-high Bar 380. Enjoy a refreshing drink, watch the sun go down and take in the atmosphere within this stylish venue. And all whilst experiencing stunning views of the surrounding area, including the Lake District, Liverpool and the Isle of Man.