Best Winter Activities in Blackpool | SEA LIFE Blackpool Aquarium

Wrap up warm and take yourself off to the seaside this winter. There’s an abundance of activities to enjoy in Blackpool in winter from crisp walks along the seafront to exploring the magic of the world’s oceans at SEA LIFE Blackpool. Many of the fun things to do are open all year round such as the Piers, the beach and seafront.

Below we’ve created a list of all the best things to do during winter in the vibrant town of Blackpool, there really is something for everyone to enjoy!

Blackpool Illuminations light the longer nights

Enjoy a walk along the Golden Mile

Blackpool Tower Dungeon is fun for all the family, whatever the weather outside

Ride the historic trams

Visiting around Christmas? Check out some of the festive events Blackpool has to offer

Winter shows and events in Blackpool

Blackpool is a great destination in all seasons

FAQs about winter in Blackpool

Blackpool Illuminations lights the longer nights

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.

And that’s not all! Once November arrives watch as the Tower Festival Headland is transformed into a magically merry village, complete with an ice-skating rink, simulated snowfalls, log cabins, luminous light installations, breath-taking light projection shows and festive-themed fairground rides. Enjoy a tasty treat from one of the delightful cabins in this stunning festive outdoor experience as you enjoy Blackpool in winter.

Enjoy a walk along the golden mile

With Blackpool Promenade stretching 7 miles end to end it really is the perfect place to walk off those winter blues and feel refreshed.

The northernmost end of Blackpool seafront is the highest part of this coast with great views across the Irish Sea. Walk a little further south and you will come to an array of spectacular illuminated tableaus where the bright lights of the Illuminations begin.

To your left you’ll see North Pier and to the right Bispham and Cleveleys. Over the water to the right hand-side you can see all the way to the Lakes on a clear day and out to see the offshore windfarms.

Once you reach the Tower Festival Headland you have arrived at the pinnacle point of the Golden Mile. With the Comedy Carpet and iconic Blackpool Tower standing tall against the backdrop of the glorious Irish sea, you can sit back and relax as you soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the views.

Blackpool Tower Dungeon is fun for all the family, whatever the weather outside

The Blackpool Tower Dungeon brings together an amazing cast of theatrical actors, special effects, stages, scenes and a ride in a truly unique and exciting walkthrough experience that you see, hear, touch, smell and feel. No matter the weather, the creatures of the Dungeon will welcome you with (not so open) arms into the scary but fun realm of the Dungeon world from Plague Street to Lytham Priory to the caves of Skipool Creek.

Ride the historic trams

Blackpool’s famous tramway which dates back to 1885, runs the full length of the promenade and is a fun and convenient way of navigating the town. The heritage trams which were once in day-to-day use over the past 100+ years have been well preserved with some still running to this day.

Blackpool’s historic tram experience begins at the Pleasure Beach Heritage Tram stop and runs along the promenade past all three Piers concluding at the end of the lights where you then return to where you started.

Visiting around Christmas? Check out some of the festive events Blackpool has to offer

Feeling festive and looking for the best Christmas things to do in Blackpool? Well look no further! There’s an abundance of magical activities and festive entertainment to enjoy by the sea this winter.

Where fresh air and fun days out go hand in hand, there’s no better place to wrap up warm and celebrate the most wonderful time of the year than the vibrant seaside town of Blackpool.

Click here to find the best things to do during Christmas in Blackpool, from ice skating by the sea, magical and musical festive productions, winter grotto wonderlands and festive fun! There really is something for everyone to enjoy!

Winter shows and events in Blackpool

If it’s magic and music that set you alight, then Christmas in Blackpool will be just up your street with an array of seasonal shows that are guaranteed to make you jump with joy and laugh your seasonal socks off. Experience sensational tricks and illusions, juggling, escapology and much more at the magical High Jinx Christmas show at the Blackpool Tower Circus.

Winter Gardens Blackpool has a real treat in store with the heart-warming story of Buddy the Elf in this spectacular feel-good family show Elf the Musical, featuring a fantastic flying sleigh, twenty feet high growing candy canes, a giant LED screen with Pixar style animated backgrounds, and amazing aerial stunts.

Don’t miss the spellbinding tale of Sleeping Beauty at The Grand Theatre with festive fun and belly laughs-a-plenty, starring Dancing On Ice Champion and Soapstar Hayley Tamaddon as Good Fairy, Comic and Britain’s Got Talent Finalist Steve Royle as Silly Billy, and dame extraordinaire Philip Meeks as the one and only Nursie!

World Firework Championships

Every September Blackpool experiences four weeks of jaw-dropping fun for all the family with the arrival of the World Firework Championships.

Teams from all over the world wow crowds of over 50,000 each year with incredible displays of sound and light over the seafront each Friday evening as spectacular fireworks are launched from the beach in front of the iconic Blackpool Tower.

Halloween in Blackpool

Blackpool is the place to be during the creepiest time of year, whether you’re a family, a couple of part of a group looking for a fun-filled frightful experience!

There’s always something for the little ones to enjoy across most of the visitor attractions from SEA LIFE Blackpool’s spooky quiz trail ‘Ascarium’, to Blackpool Zoo’s Skeleton Trail to Peter Rabbit’s ‘Halloween Tails’ event.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach and The Blackpool Tower Dungeon are renowned for bringing the big scares to older children and adults with their annual ‘Home of Halloween’ Dungeon campaign, late night riding and ghost train.

New Year's Eve in Blackpool

If you’re looking to bring in the New Year with friends and family, then Blackpool is the place to be! With an abundance of organised events to keep the whole family entertained there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

The annual New Year's Eve Family party at Blackpool Winter Gardens has become a tradition for many families over the years with children’s entertainment, DJ, party bands and much more.

Viva Blackpool’s New Year’s Eve Gala Show provides a 3 hour gala show including a 3 course Show & Dine experience, midnight hour with much-loved host Leye D Johns, sensational vocalists, Showgirls and dancers!

Blackpool is a great destination in all seasons

Following the annual Illuminations Switch On Blackpool is not only dazzled with the world famous Blackpool Illuminations but is swiftly followed by the incredible Lightpool light and sound Festival throughout October, making winter in Blackpool the place to be when the temperature drops and the lights go out!

For a touch of retail therapy and fun Christmas shopping Houndshill Shopping Centre is home to more than 50 stores, including Primark, New Look, Footasylum, Sketchers, Jack Jones and River Island. There’s also Boots and Superdrug for all your beauty needs and Build-a-Bear Workshop too.

It’s the perfect place to get those all-important Christmas presents ticked off the list in a fun, festive environment against a dazzling festive backdrop.

And that’s not all, late night shopping runs until 9pm every Thursday throughout December to allow time to get those last-minute presents whilst enjoying the festive treats on offer outside of the shopping centre walls.

FAQ's about Winter in Blackpool

What is there to do indoors in Blackpool?

Blackpool offers a number of fun filled indoor activities from experiencing the magic of the world’s oceans at SEA LIFE Blackpool, exploring the iconic Blackpool Tower to the surprise and delight of the town’s theatre shows at The Winter Gardens and Grand Theatres.

Burst into the action with The Marvel Super Heroes at Madame Tussauds Blackpool then dance the day away in Festival Fields with brand new You Tube and music star KSI who you’ll find rocking away with music sensations Ed Sheeran and Olly Murs. The iconic Rovers Return offers a fully working bar where you can relax and have a drink amongst Coronation Street favourites from Bet Lynch to Jack and Vera Duckworth to the attractions latest figure David Platt.

And for the littler explorers Peter Rabbit™: Explore and Play is just next door, a 45 minute long interactive multi-sensory family attraction based on the beloved award-winning animated TV series.

The world-famous Blackpool Tower offers an experience like no other including the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom. It truly is a sight to behold, breath taking in its splendour, this world class experience is perfect for both old and young visitors alike.

The Blackpool Tower Ballroom is known and celebrated throughout the world for both its stunning architecture and fantastic dance floor, but now you can enjoy a delicious Afternoon Tea too as you take in the wonders of the Wurlitzer organ in the most breath-taking environment.

The Afternoon Tea experience includes all-day admission to The Blackpool Tower Ballroom where you can enjoy live music from the mighty Wurlitzer and watch the dancers on the world's greatest dance floors, and even join in yourself!

Head down the Promenade to SEA LIFE Blackpool where you are invited to explore the magic of the world’s oceans and journey from the coast and sandy shallows of the great British shoreline. Showcasing over 2,000 remarkable aquatic creatures including tropical sharks, colourful reef fish, rays and sea horses not to mention our majestic green sea turtle Phoenix; SEA LIFE Blackpool is the perfect day out for all the family.

If a day at the theatre is more up your street, then look no further than Blackpool’s historic Grand Theatre which offers several theatrical and musical productions throughout the year and into the winter period. This year see’s the Pantomime classic ‘Sleeping Beauty’, ballet’s ‘Swan Lake’ and ‘Giselle’ and killer drag comedy ‘Death Drop Back in the Habit’.

Just a 5 minute walk away you’ll find the Winter Gardens entertainment complex boasting the iconic Opera House Theatre which is one of the largest in Europe. This winter shows include ‘Elf the musical’ a ‘Queen Extravaganza’ tribute show and for a more relaxing time Festive Afternoon Tea offering a decadent selection of festive delights.

What attractions close for the winter in Blackpool?

The Blackpool Tower Eye will close for maintenance from December to March 2023. The Blackpool Tower Dungeon concludes its 2022 season in December and will re-open in time for February half term 2023.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach will also close from mid-December and will re-open in March 2023.

Is Blackpool good to visit in winter?

Yes, there are lots of fun and exciting things to do in Blackpool in winter with an abundance on indoor attractions and shows and activities to enjoy.