Best Things to Do in Blackpool for Families
- Monday 13th February 2023
- thingstodowithfamilies, familydaysout, blackpoolfamilyday
Looking for great activities for kids in Blackpool? Check out our list of the top child-friendly activities for a great family day out.
There are loads of great, child-friendly activities in Blackpool
The iconic Blackpool Tower has plenty to appeal to kids and parents alike
Try a family day out to the Blackpool Sea Life Centre
Children will love the Peter Rabbit™: Explore and Play Blackpool experience
Enjoy the amusements along the Golden Mile
Rides the whole family will love
Marvel at the Blackpool Illuminations
Places to eat in Blackpool for families
FAQs about child-friendly activities in Blackpool
There are loads of great, child-friendly activities in Blackpool
There is an abundance of family-friendly things to do in Blackpool, from the thrills of the rollercoasters at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, to exploring the miles of beach along the golden mile, to getting up close and personal with the creatures of our amazing rivers and oceans at SEA LIFE Blackpool.
Blackpool really is the perfect place to be if you have little ones to entertain, with day and evening activities for children of all ages from babies to teenagers and young adults.
The iconic Blackpool Tower has plenty to appeal to kids and parents alike
The Blackpool Tower Eye offers the best views across the North West of England from the top of the iconic Blackpool Tower. Begin your journey at the incredible 4D cinema where the special sensory effects and sensational filming bring the history of the Blackpool Tower to life in front of your eyes.
Explore Blackpool through the eyes of a child as you take a trip through the ages before travelling 380ft into the sky to the top of The Blackpool Tower where you will experience the thrilling floor to ceiling viewing platform showcasing views across the North West. Step out if you dare onto the breath-taking SkyWalk and gaze down at the resort below you!
Enjoy the wonders of the Blackpool Tower Circus
Dating back to 1894, The Blackpool Tower Circus is the oldest permanent circus arena in the world and has been at the top of the list for things to do with children since it first opened its doors over 100 years ago.
Famous for being the home of laughter and fun, it’s resident clowns Mooky and Mr Boo bring belly laughs a-plenty each year alongside a host of new acts from around the world!
Strap in for the performance of a lifetime with laughter, suspense and awe when the show climaxes with the amazing water finale.
The Blackpool Tower Dungeon offers a frightfully good time
The Blackpool Tower invites families with older children and young teens to journey into the belly of The Blackpool Tower for a fun experience packed with laughs and frights!
With a full cast of brilliant actors, a whole host of authentic sets, amazing special effects and an exciting drop ride, The Blackpool Tower Dungeon is renowned for being the best attraction for those who like a mix of fun and fear.
Guests will experience 1,000 years of Lancashire’s gruesome and funny history starting at the famous Lytham Priory and concluding with an exciting drop ride.
Travel back in time for a Dino Mini Golf adventure
Roar like a Dinosaur at The Blackpool Tower's Dino Mini Golf attraction! A fun ‘roarsome’ game with prehistoric theming throughout, perfect old-fashioned fun for the whole family to enjoy.
Try a family day out at the Blackpool Sea Life Centre
Experience life under the sea with the ocean tunnel
SEA LIFE Blackpool is home to an incredible walk-through ocean tunnel and floor to ceiling viewing window. Families can explore some of the ocean’s greats including black and white tip sharks, rays, shovel nose sharks, nurse sharks and they’re beautiful green sea turtle Phoenix.
Meet the astonishing underwater residents
There is an abundance of majestic creatures to meet within SEA LIFE Blackpool from
tropical sharks, colourful reef fish, rays and sea horses to the majestic green turtle Phoenix.
Get up close and personal with creatures in the rock pool
The rockpool is home to native creatures such as molluscs, crustaceans and other creatures, as well as seaweed, sponges, urchins and anemones.
Visitors are invited to get close to the creatures in the rock pool by a staff member, who will then talk through the different species and happily answer any questions that you or your little ones may have.
Children will love the Peter Rabbit™: Explore and Play Blackpool experience
Peter Rabbit™: Explore and Play Blackpool is a rabbit-sized 45-minute adventure located right next door to Madame Tussauds Blackpool on the world-famous Blackpool Promenade.
It is a new interactive multi-sensory family attraction based on the beloved award-winning animated TV series where young children and toddlers are invited to use their rabbit-like skills to complete challenges within the themed zones throughout the exciting walk-through attraction.
Visit Blackpool Beach
The iconic Blackpool Pleasure Beach is home to an incredible ride intensive amusement park, including the UK’s only Nickelodeon Land, offering the ideal family day out with some of the most exciting theme park rides, attractions, and shows.
The UK’s first ever double-launch rollercoaster ICON propels riders at speeds of up to 85 kilometres per hour during an intense, jaw-dropping two and a half minutes of thrills and spills.
Nickelodeon Land boasts 12 exciting rides across some of the world’s most popular cartoons, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Avatar Airbender, Dora’s World Voyage, and Rugrats Lost River.
Within the Pleasure Beach, you can find also family theme park rides for all ages, like Wallace & Gromit’s Thrill-O-Matic, Tea Cups, Thompson Carousel, Dodgems, and a super scary Ghost Train. In addition, there is an abundance of pulse racing thrill rides for the older children and adults, including the world famous Big One, Big Dipper, Infusion, Valhalla, Ice Blast, and the most recent addition Red Arrows Skyforce.
Enjoy the amusements along the Golden Mile
Blackpool Arcades and Gaming
Blackpool is home to several amusement arcades, with many dotted along the legendary golden mile.
Coral Island is one of the most famous and much-loved amusement arcades within the seaside town. It’s pirate themed interior features holds an abundance of arcade machines and family games. There’s something for family members of all ages to enjoy, plus the advantage of their ‘Kids Eat Free’ policy making it the perfect place to stop and enjoy with little ones in tow.
Ten Pin Bowling and Laser Tag
MFA Bowl in Blackpool is located centrally on Market Street and provides family bowling for up to 6 players along with a food and drink space to ensure you keep your energy levels high during those family bowling battles!
If it’s action-packed fun that you’re looking for then Laser Quest is a great activity to enjoy with family. Described in essence as a ‘game of tag with a twist’, points are awarded every time you 'zap' another player, with points then deducted every time you are 'zapped'. At the end of each game, scores are displayed on the plasma score screen and each player receives an individual card that has a breakdown of their score.
The minimum age to play Laser Quest is 6 years and a minimum height of 1 metre (3ft 4in) is recommended.
Kid’s Soft Play
There are several children’s soft play centres within the surrounding Blackpool areas for younger children and toddlers. Blackpool Zoo’s PlayBarn has been recently refurbished and includes a huge threelevel playbarn with giant slides, ball cannons, ball showers, multi-level play opportunities and a new dedicated toddler area.
Ascent Trampoline Park has a state-of-the-art soft play area suitable for those aged 0-7 years and features a number of fun features including an interactive keyboard where children child can record their own song with their feet and then play it back to their audience!
Bounce Play Centre is an indoor inflatable park in Blackpool for children between the ages of 0-11 years old. It is the largest of its kind in the North West and offers full disabled access with a handy cafe on site where you can enjoy a bite to eat or a nice drink whilst the little ones blow off some steam!
Rides the whole family will love
Blackpool is renowned for its fun atmosphere and amusement parks, with everything on offer from white knuckle rides such as the famous Big One or ICON, to the smaller more sedate teacups and carousel for younger children at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Blackpool’s South Pier provides a fun-filled day out for all the family. It is the most adrenaline-powered of the three piers with an array of thrill rides including the UK’s fastest spinning wild mouse ride and SkyCoaster.
If it’s a more leisurely ride that you’re looking to enjoy, then perhaps Central Pier’s Big Wheel is one for you. Installed in 1990 it has quickly become an iconic part of the Blackpool skyline providing unmissable views from the top!
Marvel at the Blackpool Illuminations
Light up your nights with a trip through the iconic Blackpool Illuminations.
Starting over the August Bank Holiday weekend, the Blackpool Illuminations now run throughout the autumn and winter period lighting up the promenade and creating a magical display of sound and light.
Places to eat in Blackpool for families
There are a number of attractions to enjoy a bite to eat in throughout the day, including Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s Big Pizza Kitchen, Coasters restaurant, Burger King and Ice Lounge.
Coral Island offers a ‘Kids Go Free’ promotion every day at their Buccaneer eatery.
Outside of the attractions, the resort also boasts many cafes and restaurants , including the stunning Beach House Bistro and Bar, Slug and Lettuce, Pizza Express and Nando’s, to name but a few. It really does just depend on what you and the little ones fancy eating.
FAQs about child-friendly activities in Blackpool
Is Blackpool child-friendly?
Blackpool is a renowned family-friendly resort and most certainly suitable for families of all ages.
Is Blackpool Tower child-friendly?
The Blackpool Tower prides itself on creating fun experiences and memories for children which they will remember for years to come. It offers an array of family-friendly experiences and caters for the practical needs of young toddlers and babies with children’s changing facilities on site.
What can you do with toddlers in Blackpool?
There are plenty of activities and attractions suitable for toddlers in Blackpool including SEA LIFE Blackpool, Peter Rabbit™: Explore and Play Blackpool, The Blackpool Tower Circus, Nickelodeon Land at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Zoo not to mention the Blackpool Piers and amusement arcades such as Coral Island.
What can you do with under-5s in Blackpool?
Under 5’s would enjoy The Blackpool Tower Circus, SEA LIFE Blackpool, Peter RabbitTM: Explore and Play as well as the smaller rides at Blackpool Pleasure Beach and the Piers. On top of this the ‘littler’ little ones will love with the Blackpool Zoo and the amusement arcades, such as Coral Island.
What can you do with teenagers in Blackpool?
Madame Tussauds Blackpool and The Blackpool Tower Dungeon are perfect experiences for teenagers and young adults to enjoy here in Blackpool along with the larger fright-filled rides at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Activities such as Bowling at MFA Bowl and Lazer Tag at Laser Quest would also suit this age group whilst enjoying a family holiday here in Blackpool.
