Blackpool Destination Guide

Blackpool

Published: Tuesday, 22 January 2008, 11:49AM

When Judith Chalmers visited Blackpool in 1979, the resort drew in 16 million tourists with its landmark attractions and wealth of cinemas, ballrooms, cabaret lounges and casinos. Mark Durden-Smith is back to revisit the world-famous tower and Pleasure Beach, and discovers why the seaside town remains one of Britain's most popular resorts.

Mark's report begins with a trip to its iconic tower. First, he ascends 116 metres and tests his nerve on the “Walk of Faith”, just two sheets of laminated glass separating him from the promenade below.

Next, Mark joins the circus - literally. Back in the 1970s the circus was awash with camels and ponies. These days there's a new breed of animal, complete with latex costumes, to keep families enthralled. Mark has a close encounter with an 'elephant', before putting on his dancing shoes to indulge in a spot of nostalgia in the tower ballroom. He joins the regulars to take a turn around the dance floor.

The Pleasure Beach is one of the county’s most popular attractions with nearly six million visitors a year. Mark steels himself for a white-knuckle ride of the theme park's main attractions and tries out the more genteel rides that remain from the 70s.

We also meet Robert Evans who moved from London to Blackpool in 2002 to consummate a love affair with the resort which began during childhood holidays. He's now the proud owner of a B&B and offers up his top tips of things to see and places to visit.

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  Join in the debate

  Watch highlights of Britain's pemier afternoon chat show and check out recipes

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  Delicious dishes

  This Morning's Pudding Club has a whole range of tasty deserts for you to try out

Top Three Highlights

• Attend a circus workshop or brush up on your quickstep
  
• Ride the latest rollercoaster, Infusion, at the Pleasure Beach
  
• See over a million bulbs light up for the Illuminations