If you think of Blackpool as a land of deckchairs and sticks of rock then think again. Through a multi-million pound programme of regeneration, the town’s traditional seaside landscape is steadily being transformed. Emerging in its place is a spectacular, contemporary environment fit for residents and visitors well into the 21st century and beyond. It’s definitely worth a second look.
Blackpool is a seaside town located on The Fylde Coast in Lancashire, in the North West of England. It has excellent transport links, with its own airport and the dedicated M55 motorway leading directly from the M6 into the southern end of town. There are also good rail connections. As a guide, London is 241.2 miles away and Birmingham is 127 miles away (The AA Route Planner).
Blackpool is first and foremost a tourist resort, and the local industry has developed to support this. As a result, the town is home to a variety of hotels, entertainment venues, attractions, shops and eating places. Helped by the recent redevelopment of the town’s main shopping complex – Houndshill – the retail sector now offers enhanced employment opportunities. Other employers exist in light manufacturing and local government.
The fact that Blackpool is a town not a city and located in the North of England, makes it a relatively inexpensive place to live. House prices are a fairly good indicator of how much it costs to live in any given location – in Blackpool, a three-bedroom semi-detached property costs around £141,050* (April 2018).
*Source: www.lancashire.gov.uk
As well as Blackpool, The Fylde Coast offers a number of neighbouring villages and towns that are great places to live. They include St Annes and Lytham to the south, Cleveleys and Fleetwood to the North and further inland, Thornton, Poulton-le Fylde and the more rural Hambleton. Whether you’re looking to rent or buy www.findaproperty.co.uk and www.rightmove.co.uk are two good home-finder sites.
Schools on the Fylde Coast fall under two local education authorities: Blackpool and Lancashire. There are also a number of private and independent schools in the area. At www.findmyschool.com, you can assess primary and secondary schools based on performance ratings supplied by Ofsted.
Blackpool’s outstanding sporting facilities include three 18-hole golf courses, an athletics track and stadium, go-kart tracks, sea and fresh-water fishing, swimming pools, public and private gyms, more than 50 grass and hard tennis courts, two ice-skating rinks and many cricket, rugby and football pitches. Stanley Park, beautiful landscaped with its own boating lake, visitors centre and art deco restaurant, is well worth a visit.
The great thing about living in Blackpool is that at any time of year, you’ll never be short of something to do. A trip to the beach is a must but there’s also the Zoo, the Pleasure Beach, Sandcastle Water Park, Madame Tussauds, the Sea Life Centre and of course, the infamous Blackpool Tower. As the summer draws to a close you can look forward to the stunning World Fireworks Championships and the world-famous Illuminations.
The town and surrounding areas are served by a number of reliable bus routes – for timetabling information, go to www.blackpooltransport.com. Blackpool’s tramway is hugely popular with residents and visitors alike – currently, it’s undergoing extensive redevelopment as part of the town’s ongoing regeneration. If you’re feeling fit, you could always hire-a-bike from one of the many bike stations located throughout the area.
To discover more about Blackpool and the surrounding area, what’s going on and the services on offer, visit the following:
AoCJobs, part of the Association of Colleges, connects teachers and support staff with schools and colleges for online job opportunities.
