Activities in Blackpool

When the sun is shining, it’s tempting to just flop on the sandy beach. But that would be missing a trick, because Blackpool is brimming with exciting outdoor activities to tick off your bucket (and spade) list.

Both your head for heights and your thirst for adventure will be tested to the max at the Blackpool High Ropes obstacle course. This adventure-lover’s dream in leafy Stanley Park costs £12 per adult and £8 per child over five, with all safety equipment included. Once you’ve got your hard hat on, friendly staff will help you scale a rock climbing wall, perch on top of a tower of crates and attempt a heart-stopping leap of faith. There are two ropes courses to tackle, both low and high, and while the high course may look a little scary, the zip ride down at the end makes it worth a go.

Staining Lodge Golf Course is just three miles from the centre of town (and close to our Blackpool East hotel), but with its 160-acre rural setting and views that stretch as far as the Pennines, you’ll feel you’re playing a round deep in the countryside. This pay and play course has some easy fairways that are great for beginners, alongside some trickier holes that will prove a great test for experienced golfers. The other big draw at Staining is the fantastic Club House. Its bar and restaurant are incredibly popular with Blackpool residents who give it rave reviews for its breakfasts.

Whether you want to learn to wakeboard or just want to watch the professionals from the comfort of the licensed bar, the Blackpool Wakepark makes a fun day out. And it’s not just wakeboarding on offer at the aquapark - there’s kayaking, paddle-boarding and open water swimming too, not to mention an inflatables course for the kids. You’ll need a wetsuit to take part, but these can be hired if you’ve forgotten to pack your own.

Of course, the sun is always shining in the Las Vegas of the North! But just on the very slim off-chance it’s looking a little bit inclement out there, these indoor activities are just the ticket.

Forget taking a dip in the sea and take a trip to Sandcastle Waterpark instead. Just opposite the Pleasure Beach, it’s the UK’s largest indoor waterpark and boasts some beautifully tropical temperatures inside. There are 18 attractions, including a wave machine, lazy river, the world’s longest water slide and a spa for the adults. There’s so much to do that you could easily spend a day, here, plus it’s so warm that you don’t even need a towel to dry off. You’ll think you’re on a tropical island as you watch the swimmers from the bar or cafe - it’s fine to sit there in your cossie, too. The best rides are in the Hyperzone which require a separate (more expensive) wristband.

Unleash your inner Torvill or Dean at Blackpool’s Ice Arena, part of the Pleasure Beach theme park. One of the oldest purpose-built rinks in the world, there are sessions available for all the family, from lessons for novices to parent and toddler classes. Just fancy doing your own thing? Go for the family disco session.

Perfect your double heel-flip at Ramp City, a 29,000 square foot indoor skatepark near our Blackpool East hotel. This huge space full of skateboarding fun has four halfpipes to try out, from the the micro mini spine right up to one of the UK's largest ramp. Great for kids young and old, the centre welcomes skateboards, scooters, rollerblades and even BMXs after 4.30pm.

Blackpool has plenty of hidden gems just waiting to be uncovered. To find them, all you need is a little local knowledge - and a guided walking tour will give you just that.

Blackpool Heritage Guided Tours offer a variety of different tours aimed at giving you an insight into the town’s history and tradition. And one of the most fascinating has to be the walk around the Lightworks Depot, home of the Blackpool Illuminations when they’re not in use. You’ll find out how the displays are made, but the best bit has to be getting up-close to some of the exhibits in storage – those Daleks really are huge!

Take a spooky stroll around town on a Blackpool Ghost Walk. Your guide is none other than Haunted Blackpool author Stephen Mercer, and to say he knows a little about the town’s supernatural side is an understatement. Dressed as a Victorian ghost hunter, Stephen will lead you to the town’s most haunted locations, where you’ll hear all about local legends, from floating apparitions and scary shipwrecks to a menacing man in black.

Blackpool is great for cyclists. It has a dedicated Wheels For All centre based at Stanley Park where you can try out hand cycles, trikes and quads. Brought your own bike? There are plenty of cycling routes that will take you from the city centre out to the countryside and all our Blackpool hotels are bike-friendly, too.

A 30-minute drive from Blackpool takes you to the Forest of Bowland, a stunning Area of Natural Beauty full of mountain biking opportunities. And if you don’t like the look of those hills, you can cheat. Electric bikes are  available to hire at the Dalesbridge Centre in Austwick.

Lucky cyclists can get a preview of the Blackpool Illuminations at the Ride the Lights event, held at the end of August. Adorn your bike with fairy lights then get ready to join the party! You can cycle onto the route at any point and ride as much or as little of it as you want. Detour onto the Pleasure Beach for live DJ sets and the chance to meet some Blackpool Pleasure Beach characters.