Museums and Galleries in Blackpool
Creative TouristIt might be known – tongue firmly in cheek – as the Las Vegas of the North, but Blackpool is a town steeped in art, culture and heritage.
Its historical assets are well known, from the famed 130-year old Blackpool Tower to one of the oldest electric tramways in the world, which still glides along the seafront to this day. A similar history underpins the Blackpool Illuminations, which have been lighting up the promenade for some 140 years, owing to the town being the first in the world to have electric street lighting.
The town’s more recent, showbiz history is well documented too, written into the promenade itself as part of the Comedy Carpet installation, and brought to vivid life at Showtown Museum, one of the town’s most popular family attractions.
But there’s a different, more artistic side to Blackpool. Complimenting the historic yet future-facing Grundy Art Gallery, a vibrant community of local artists have developed creative hubs in recent years, with Aunty Social and The Old Electric doing brilliant things to support and spotlight Backpool’s creative community.
The not-for-profit Abington Studios and The Hive Cafe, with its free-to-exhibit ‘GuggenHive’ wall are brilliant, too, encapsulating the spirit of a town that genuinely supports local artists, no matter what point they’re at in their creative journey.
Covering arty escapades, family adventures and everything in between, here’s our round-up of Blackpool’s best museums and galleries.
