Blackpool holds a unique place in the affections of generations of British holiday-makers and fun-seekers.
As well as its sandy beaches, piers, amusement parks and pleasure beaches, it has many extraordinary buildings devoted to entertainment and show business, including the Grand Theatre, the Winter Gardens and the Blackpool Tower. Connecting these places together is the promenade known as the Golden Mile which stretches the length of the town.
While you are here, explore and enjoy all the activities in our area.
The Pleasure Beach
Literally a happy hop-skip-and-a-jump from the Hotel, there’s something for everyone at Britain’s favourite amusement park. From white-knuckle rollercoasters, to fantastic shows and the UK’s only Nickelodeon Land, there are plenty of exciting attractions to make your visit to memorable.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is known around the world for it’s the impressive collection of thrilling rides, from the majestic Big One and traditional favourites like the Grand National to the super-spooky Valhalla which sends you splashing around its dark corridors, where surprises lurk around every corner.
The Big One
Prepare yourself for The Big One, Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s biggest, fastest and scariest roller coaster! If you thrive on adrenaline you can also walk all 235ft to the top – something thrill seekers from all over the Globe come to experience.
Prepare for the rush as you climb to a nail biting height of 235f and the tummy-twisting first drop which boasts an incline angle of 65 degrees and at speeds of up to 87mph! This roller coaster is an experience like no other! The Big One is also one of the longest roller coasters measuring over a mile in length.
Don’t forget to smile for your picture near the end of the ride!
Sandcastle Water Park
The largest Waterpark in the UK, Sandcastle has over 18 slides and plenty of exciting attractions in an 84-degree tropical climate – slip on your swimmers and prepare for a whole heap of tropical fun, there is something at Sandcastle to entertain the whole family!
Relax in the free-flowing Ushi Gushi Action River or Thunderfall’s long but relatively gentle twisting slides or frolic in the froth of the Duelling Dragons, the tranquil Shimmering Shallows and the ever-popular Typhoon Lagoon Wavepool.
With an interactive adventure play area and the amazing Caribbean Storm Treehouse, the fun never stops!
The Blackpool Tower
The Blackpool Tower is a true British institution. It is the iconic feature of Blackpool’s famous seafront, and continues to bring as much joy to visitors as it did when it was first constructed in 1894.
Just across the road from your home-away-from-home Half Moon Bay Hotel, hop on a Blackpool tram and travel up the Promenade to experience the many delights offered within the Tower complex, with five stunning attractions for all the family to enjoy.
The Blackpool Tower Eye
For a truly spectacular view of Blackpool, you need to head to the top of the tower. At 518ft tall, you’ll be pleased to know that there are lifts to the summit, where you can immerse yourself in superb panoramic views. Take in the beautiful Irish Sea and get a unique perspective of Blackpool itself. On clear days you can see as far as North Wales, the Lake District and the Isle of Man and the truly brave amongst you can try out the glass floor, where you can peek straight down to the streets below.
Blackpool Piers
South Pier
South Pier offers everything from white knuckle rides to safe, secure and fun areas for children to play whilst parents recuperate with a frothy coffee.
The pier has a wide range of thrilling rides including dodgems, Crazy Mouse and a waltzer, the Laughing Donkey Family Bar, which has live entertainment as well as the Adrenaline Zone which houses the infamous Skycoaster, a freefalling swing at a height of 38 m, Skyscreamer, a Reverse Bungee ride and Maxibounce, an acrobatic, safety harnessed trampoline. Not for the faint hearted, but those who love the adrenaline rush will embrace them all!
North Pier
Blackpool’s North Pier is a real trip down memory lane with attractions which include a Gypsy palm reader and an ice cream parlour, the North Pier Theatre, a Victorian tea room, and the Carousel and Merrie England bars. The traditional seaside arcade, built in the 1960s, has approximately eleven million coins pass through its machines each year!
Central Pier
From its start on May 30th 1868, Central Pier’s emphasis has been on fun rather than the genteel relaxation provided at North Pier. From the Ferris Wheel and the Fairground to the Family and Show Bars there is plenty of action and activity for everyone.
The Ferris Wheel Gondolas allow you to rotate them to get a full panoramic view of Blackpool, on a good day views stretch from Wales in the South to the Lake district in the North and is just a little magical during the famous Blackpool Illuminations.
If you love nostalgia, you’ll love the family rides, with the traditional waltzer and some old fun favourites such as the dodgems, helter-skelter, and a carousel.
Blackpool Illuminations
The world-famous Blackpool Illuminations are the biggest FREE light show on earth, with a rich history and a secure place in iconic British culture. and have become somewhat of an iconic part of British culture. Celebrity luminaries include Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Burton, and the switch on is the biggest night in Blackpool’s event calendar. Pulling that famous brass switch marks the start of the Illuminations star-bright dominance of the skyline, stretching for six miles along the coast.
Blackpool Beach
Sun, sea and sand – with a little bit of famous Blackpool Rock thrown in for good measure! If you fancy spending a day at the seaside, Blackpool has one of the best beaches you will find in the UK. Recently awarded its first ever Blue Flag, it is on par with other world renowned sites including the Mediterranean Sea and the Pacific coastline.
Relax in the sun, take a dip in the sea and enjoying an ice cream along the promenade – there is plenty of space for sandcastles, sunbathing and family games, so you really can make a day of it. Blackpool is also the only British beach resort to boast three fabulous piers, so don’t forget to pay these a visit as part of your day at the beach.
Blackpool and St Anne’s water/wind sports
Loads and loads to enjoy on the vast and compacted sand of Blackpool`s South Beach and St Anne`s North Beach, including Windsurfing Kitesurfing, Kiteboarding, etc.
The scale of this vast sand dune landscape is enough to give you acrophobia!
Blackpool Tramway
What better way to explore the sights of Blackpool than a ride in one of the City’s beautifully restored historic trams, which operate over Bank Holidays and during the world-famous Blackpool Illuminations.
With lines dating back to 1885 the Blackpool tramway runs Blackpool to Fleetwood on the Fylde Coast and is one of the oldest electric tramways in the world.
For day to day travel, hop on and hop off the modern, comfortable and super-efficient trams that connect all the major attractions across the City – a fun, fast and friendly way to get around.
Madame Tussauds Blackpool
Join the millions of happy people who have passed through the doors of Madame Tussauds since they first opened over 200 years ago. Madame Tussauds Blackpool offers a celebrity experience unlike any other with stars from home and abroad there really is something for everyone.
Pose for a selfie with a whole host of famous faces. Pose with TV royalty like Sir Bruce Forsyth, Sir David Attenborough and Ant & Dec, alongside actual royalty in the form of Prince William, The Duchess of Cambridge and Her Majesty the Queen.
With music legends like The Beatles, Lady Gaga, Susan Boyle and Michael Jackson and sports stars like Wayne Rooney, David Beckham, Mo Farah, Lewis Hamilton and Tiger Woods, and super-star comedians like Tommy Cooper and Morecambe & Wise you can create a Gallery-of-Glorious-memories unlike any other. If you are a fan of Coronation Street you will enjoy the replica of the iconic Rovers Return. Not only are all your favourite characters such as Ken & Deirdre Barlow, Jack & Vera Duckworth, Bet Lynch and Hilda Ogden found around the bar, it is also a licensed premise, so you will be able to take the weight off your feet and enjoy a drink!
As you would expect, Madame Tussauds Blackpool is constantly looking to update its collection and ensure the biggest stars are on display for visitors. Recently added household names include One Direction, Justin Bieber and Swedish legends ABBA, while football fans will want to look out for England goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Blackpool
The only place in Blackpool to find shrunken heads, the fertility statue with over 1000 confirmed pregnancies and a two-headed calf!
Discover a unique collection of strange, unusual and extraordinary exhibits as you journey through eight themed galleries, across two amazing floors and witness the astonishing world of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! on ten screens.
Hundreds of exhibits of the odd, the unusual and the just plain bizarre – Seeing is Believing !
Sea Life Blackpool
Packed with fascinating species and showcasing over 1,000 spectacular aquatic creatures across 50 dazzling displays, Sea Life Blackpool will excite visitors of all ages.
Experience the Sea Stars exhibition, a brand-new attraction featuring a dazzling array of starfish from across the world’s oceans. Get up close and personal with a variety of species of these fascinating creatures, including the Brittle Star, Chocolate Knobbed, Common Starfish, Spine Star, Goose Foot Star, Red Knobbed and Sun-Star, which can have up to twelve arms!
Stop by the huge ocean tank, where a maze of tunnels allows you a unique view and whilst you are there, look out for Boris the Bowmouth Guitar Shark as he swims above you and see if you can find the reason for this species name. You might also spot Nobby, the Giant Lobster who keepers believe is over 100 years old! Elsewhere, highlights include Clownfish, Turtles, Rays, Seahorses, Jellyfish and Eels.
Nickelodeon Land
Experience Nickelodeon Land, a 6-acre area of the Pleasure Beach loaded with 12 rides, a gift shop, game stalls, a restaurant and a whole host of famous Nickelodeon characters.
Give your kids a day they’ll never forget as they enjoy exciting rides themed around their favourite characters, including Spongebob Squarepants, Dora the Explorer and The Rugrats.
Blackpool Zoo
Home to over 1,500 animals from all over the world Blackpool Zoo has been delighting and exciting families for 45 years. A leader in animal conservation, the Zoo offers more than just a day out.
Ever fancied feeding a Big Cat or monkeying around with the Primates? Get up close and personal with some incredible animals, whether you’re helping to feed them or talking on the role of zoo keeper for a day.
Blackpool Turner landscapes
The light in Blackpool can rival any situation that our greatest painter ever found himself in. Our light has real value and quality for the painter and photographer alike.
Blackpool winter gardens
Historic Blackpool Theatre and Entertainment Venue – as one of Blackpool’s most loved theatre and entertainment destinations, they have been delighting audiences for over a century. Throughout the years, their reputation has been forged as one of the leading purveyors of arts and entertainment in the region, bringing the best shows and events from around the world for you to enjoy.
The Grand Theatre
The Grand was opened on July 23 1894 by Thomas Sergenson, Blackpool’s first successful theatrical manager. Sergenson immediately dubbed the theatre ‘Matcham’s Masterpiece‘, a title that is even more merited now that there are few surviving examples of the work of Frank Matcham, the leading Victorian theatre architect. The theatre was used by top West End producers for British premieres and for forty years many plays and musicals were seen at The Grand ‘prior to London’. It still gives us wonderful entertainment today, with winter closures but plenty to enjoy in the summer months.
Blackpool Ice Arena
Get your skates on and speed down to Blackpool Ice Arena. This purpose-built rink is the oldest in the world and offers up hours of frosty fun. Open daily for ice skating and other activities, this world famous Ice Arena is the oldest purpose built ice theatre in the world (as recorded in the Guinness Book of Records), and is the home of the world famous Hot Ice show. A wonderful day out with the kids and just a stone’s throw from Half Moon Bay Hotel!
St. Annes Kite Festival
Held on the 2nd and 3rd September 2017, the skies above St. Annes seafront will be awash with colour as fabulous display kits take to the air on the beach adjacent to the pier. Just a few short miles down the coast from Half Moon Bay Hotel, if you are staying with us during the kite weekend, be sure not to miss such a colour spectacle! The kids will love it! Weather permitting, the event promises a thrilling and thoroughly enjoyable day for young and old alike.
Royal Lytham St Annes Golf Club
If you are a keen golfer, then the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club is only four miles in distance from Half Moon Bay Hotel. This historic club was founded in 1886 and the present Course constructed in 1897. The Clubhouse celebrated its Centenary in 1998. It is one of the premier links courses in the world, host to eleven Open Championships, two Ryder Cups and numerous other major tournaments including the Women’s and Seniors Open Championships and the Walker Cup in 2015. Northern hospitality has always been famous and Royal Lytham leads the way. You will be made very welcome. Visitors can book online with the golf club.
The Lake District
Within an hour’s driving distance you can find yourself in the heart of the famous and picturesque Lake District. Visiting the Lake District is one of the most popular breaks for people across the UK and from further afield. The Lake District National Park has a wide range of activities and attractions, as well as the natural beauty of the entire area.
No matter how you want to enjoy the area, you can walk, cycle and splash about here to your heart’s content! With 12 of the largest lakes in England and 3,105 kilometres of rights of way, this is truly one of Britain’s breathing spaces. And it’s right on the doorstep, just travel north from Half Moon Bay Hotel and either make a day trip to the popular Windermere Lake, or make Half Moon Bay Hotel and The Lake District visit part of your full travel itinerary.
The Yorkshire Dales
You may wish to take a day trip and head inland to the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. From pretty villages to stately homes, mighty abbeys to magical museums and of course, fabulous food and art, the Dales is full of special places with special qualities – that’s a huge part of the reason it’s a treasured landscape, protected for everyone to enjoy.
We think the whole area is all pretty fabulous and but there are some sights, towns and villages, views and experiences that you really wouldn’t want you to miss on your holiday – enjoy in this part of Yorkshire that is not far from Blackpool.
