Blackpool Pleasure Beach
The big one. Nickelodeon Land covers the primary ages properly while the Big One and the wooden coasters wait for brave older kids. August queues are real; go in expecting them and it is a great day.
Blackpool South Pier
- Cost
- Pay per ride, prices not listed
- Ages
- 2 to 12
- Where
- Blackpool, Lancashire
- Weather
- Mostly outdoors
- Booking
- Just turn up
South Pier is the shortest of Blackpool's three, built shorter and wider than North and Central back in 1893 so it could carry pavilions. These days that width is given over to a family rides arena. The pier company lists a carousel, teacups, dodgems, a waltzer, Mini Miami, a bouncy slide, Crazy Coasters, the Breakdance and the Cliffhanger, plus the South Pier arcades at the front.
It is open every day. The pier deck and rides open daily, the arcade runs from 10am on weekdays and 9am at weekends until late, and The Gin House and Players Sports Bar open from 11am. Everything with wheels or a motor runs weather permitting, which on a Blackpool pier in October is a real condition. Wrap up, because there is nothing between you and the Irish Sea.
The catch is money. The pier company publishes ride lists but no South Pier prices, so you find out at the booth. Set a budget before you walk on, because the teacups lead to the dodgems and the dodgems lead to the arcade. The carousel, teacups and bouncy slide make it workable with a three year old; the Breakdance and Cliffhanger are for the older ones.
What it costs: The pier company does not publish South Pier ride prices online. Rides are paid individually on the day.
Know before you go
- Rides stop when the wind gets up, and the pier company says weather permitting for a reason. Check the sky before you promise anyone the waltzer.
- The arcade opens at 10am on weekdays and 9am at weekends, ahead of the bars, so an early start gets you the rides and machines before the day trippers.
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