What is Blackpool known for?
Blackpool is a seaside town in Lancashire, northwest England, known for Blackpool Tower, its three piers, the Pleasure Beach amusement park and the Blackpool Illuminations, a huge autumn light festival.
Blackpool became a popular holiday resort in the 1800s, when railways brought workers from the industrial towns of northern England for seaside holidays.
Blackpool Tower, opened in 1894, was inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It stands about 158 metres tall and includes the famous Tower Ballroom, a venue for ballroom dancing.
Illuminations and fun
The Blackpool Illuminations, a display of lights stretching about six miles along the seafront, run from late summer to early winter. They were first held in 1879.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is an amusement park with roller coasters, including The Big One, once the tallest roller coaster in the world.
The town has three piers: North Pier, Central Pier and South Pier. Its trams have run along the promenade since 1885, making them one of the oldest electric tramways in the world. The Tower Ballroom often appears in the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing.