Hy’s Take – Blackpool Tower

Our Hy Team member, Esther, was tasked with experiencing and reviewing Blackpool’s top tourist spots. Taking her mission seriously, she brought along Woody and his mum—a local mother-and-son duo who recently made the big move from London to Blackpool.

The decision to visit Blackpool Tower came about last minute as we walked from the Hy carpark to the car. It was a beautiful day, with a cloudless sky and a crisp bite in the autumn air. At 10 a.m. on a Tuesday, Woody was all buckled in, ready for the adventure.

Twenty minutes later, we arrived at Houndshill car park, conveniently located next to the Houndshill shopping centre, right in the heart of Blackpool.

We could have booked our tickets online, but we wanted to chat with the Blackpool Tower staff to get their recommendations on the best attractions to see. When we arrived, the ticket master advised us to buy a pick-and-mix pass instead of the 3-in-1 package—it ended up being cheaper, so we took his advice!

The Blackpool Tower was our first stop. Miranda and I agreed that, with multiple activities on the agenda, we’d start with something light to ease Woody into the experience.

When we arrived at Blackpool Tower, we took the elevator to the 2nd floor. There, we had the option of taking a tourist photo, but we passed on it (not really our thing). After checking in our Buggie under staff supervision, we were led into a dimly lit room with a box of 3D glasses. With our glasses on, we moved into the next room to await the start of the 3D cinema experience.

The movie itself was… well, campy, to say the least. Miranda and I found it amusing—a stylized ad for Blackpool that reminded us of an early 2000s perfume commercial. It felt like an attempt to add some extra value to the tower experience, but we both agreed it could have used a bit more substance. A historical touch—perhaps showing the building process or sharing stories from the people involved in creating Blackpool Tower—would have made it more engaging, especially for kids.

After the movie, we joined another queue to catch the elevator to the top of the tower. Once we got there, the view was absolutely stunning! Seeing Blackpool from that height, especially on such a clear day, was wonderful. The glass floors were a hit with the kids, who found it thrilling to look down below. For anyone who enjoys beautiful views and a gentle activity, we’d definitely recommend this part of the tower.

Woody was still all smiles, so Miranda and I decided to take him up one more level—to the open deck with a protective mesh. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. The strong wind up there started to overwhelm Woody, and he quickly decided he’d had enough of the heights. With snack time now firmly on his mind, we made our way back down.

Pros:

• Beautiful view
• Not very time-consuming, great for a filler activity
• Helpful staff
• Blackpool History
• Snacks bar at Top
• Glass floors

Cons:

• Old structure, not push chair-friendly
• The movie could have been better
• The waiting lines could have been an opportunity for an interactive learning experience about the history of the building rather than just text on the walls or Blackpool experience adverts
• Not for kids scared of heights (but that’s a given)

Price:

Adults: Around £16.50

Children (2-14): £15.00