Central Pier in Blackpool

A brief history of Central Pier

The Central Pier isn't the oldest of the Blackpool Piers. That honour goes to the North Pier, which was actually the inspiration behind the drive to build a second jetty in the Victorian-era resort in the 1860s. It took 2 years of planning and building, which was all done to designs drawn up by a lieutenant-colonel by the name of John Isaac Mawson. 

The Central Pier has focused on good-time enjoyments since its very earliest days. It hosted a dance hall and steamboat docks in the 19^th century, but then added carousels and roller-skating rinks after a reconfiguration in the 20^th century.

The Golden Age of the Central Pier is widely considered to be between the 1970s and 1980s. Those decades saw legendary nightclubs and dance bars like Oz and Peggy Sue's Showboat take over from the family enjoyments. They hosted big-name singers and gave the pier a slightly hedonistic edge.

What are the highlights of Central Pier in Blackpool?

Today, Blackpool's Central Pier has made a return to its roots. It's now a family-fun hub that sits right at the heart of the resort's Promenade.

The most obvious attraction along its 339-metre length is surely the colossal Ferris wheel. It's known here as, simply, the Big Wheel because…well, it's big. At 108 ft high and with a capacity for 216 passengers, it's a top summer draw that offers sweeping views up and down Blackpool Beach.

You can add to that the jolting rides of the bumper cars and the whirling carousels, which all combine to make the Central Pier essentially a fairground on the water.

There are food options too. The most famous of the lot is the swashbuckling Pirate's Bay Family Bar. That hosts everything from kids' karaoke to mind-boggling magic shows, but also comes with a buccaneer theme that'll help you get in tune with that inner seadog.

Good to know about Central Pier in Blackpool

Most people walk to Central Pier from basically anywhere in Blackpool. That's easy because the attraction is linked directly to the main promenade that runs up and down the Blackpool seafront. The site is midway between the resort's 2 main train stations, Blackpool South and Blackpool North.

Central Pier is free to enter but individual rides cost money. You'll need to buy your tickets for those at the kiosks at the end of the pier. Tickets remain valid for the day of purchase and the following day.