Jump to content
  • entries
    7
  • comments
    15
  • views
    19713

Creaking North part 4 Merpool's Tower Of Terrific-ness


Matt 236

1580 views

Hi and welcome to Part 4, the final instalment of Creaky Northern Adventure. After a pleasurable day at the pleasure beach, a night of exploring two of Blackpool's [best] piers and a not so bright Coral Island, the trip was set to continue on the 2nd day which would conclude the trip. The big question, where would be heading to next?

1782542_817301654987199_4216780625040299058_o.jpg

With so much to do at Blackpool, you'd struggle so much to find any exciting attractions and ones that stand out from the others, after all it's not there's any other tall landmarks on the seafront.

10687338_817301688320529_906085548913967143_o.jpg

10012753_817301718320526_2083518082575833090_o.jpg

10714559_817301738320524_8972820210317729182_o.jpg

10697372_817301794987185_7114147646485569371_o.jpg

Of course, there's one thing there we should visit. The Blackpool Tower AKA Merpool Tower, because of the fact it's located in Blackpool and owned by Merlin, it even holds two typical traits two by having not the longest of opening hours and includes it's own bed of scaffolding.

1941356_817301761653855_527593862971584730_o.jpg

However before we go up to the eye of the tower, I think it's time to go and explore a pretty common Merlin chain attraction that seems to be getting around a lot of places these days. This place is, The Burger Kitchen :rolleyes:

Of course it wasn't [although FYI there actually is a Burger Kitchen on the 2nd floor of the tower] as we explored Blackpool's take on the Dungeons. So, What did I think? I thought they were actually very good actually, a lot of the scenes have the same high quality, gross, immersive experience the ones in London have [and in some ways a little better too]. The drop tower was certainly better at this one and despite getting more of a ride at the London one, it certainly feels a lot more coherent here as it feels like you're actually going up to be executed and then dropped when you're sentenced.

A very decent attraction, not to be helped by the wonderful Natalie on tickets ;). The only flaws in the whole attraction for me was the bit with the Saxons/Vikings felt a bit meh due to it mostly being a cinema screen with things going and bits moving [though it's good they added that bit of history though], the stairs going down in the forest which detracted things a little, I'm sure not much could've been done in the building, but still not forest in the world has stairs [a slope would be a better option IMO] and the arcade at the entrance which just detracts a little [there's video arcades everywhere].

10694465_817301824987182_3692254908979064017_o.jpg

A tasty Fish & Chips for lunch and admiring of the sea front and it was time to experience the Blackpool Circus. Unfortunately cameras/photos were not allowed [another typical Merlin trait] and anyone was caught with one, they would stop the show and get a staff member to take it off you and give it back at the end ;) .

The circus was great fun, filled with humour, excitement and amusement throughout. I did particularly enjoy Mooky the clown with his funny jokes and interactions, especially at the end when they got members of the audience involved to act out a simple silent movie/play which was such fun to watch [WHY WHY WHYYYYY Delilah].

The rest was good too. With BMX cyclists, strong man, motorbike ball racers, synchronised swimmers/acrobats, beautiful gorgeous showgirls and even a working fountain :o [Merlin aren't good with working fountains], it made an amazing show to experience that definitely reflected and summed up the life, soul and atmosphere that Blackpool provides. I can definitely see why they call it Vegas of the north now.

10333246_817301874987177_4235037764825717218_o.jpg

Once we fountained out of the fairly big top [but it's actually on the lowest level of the tower], it was time to have a look at the Blackpool Ballroom, which despite not being the cup of tea for most of group was certainly a grand gem located there, with it's grand old fashioned decor, sea side/old time atmosphere and the grand Wurlitzer with it's distinctive rich tone playing out throughout the dance floor. Tpm's Mer and Peaj even took a dance on the floor of this famous ballroom.

10688396_817301944987170_7662932489174820959_o.jpg

Waltzing away from the ballroom now and it was time to complete the tower's attractions with a flight to the top of the tower itself. Built in 1894 [100 years before Nemesis was awakened back down at Towers], the tower was born. Standing at a staggering 518ft [480 accessible to the public], the tower can be seen for miles. It's design was also inspired from the Eiffel tower in Paris too [near Euro Disney].

10479927_817301968320501_7648847142609570144_o.jpg

The tower offers some simply breathtaking views from above giving sights for many miles of the surrounding area which is so beautiful to see. I'll let you see for yourself rather than bore you with more talking.

10694248_817302001653831_2563893951681026661_o.jpg

10628660_817302024987162_8327070442319002350_o.jpg

10694298_817302048320493_6010918121690523985_o.jpg

10626246_817302084987156_1037745130279653242_o.jpg

You can even see the big One.

10380845_817302108320487_8360490055332877202_o.jpg

10557763_817302148320483_6382816770833946231_o.jpg

10620147_817302174987147_1511708718309332975_o.jpg

10680094_817302208320477_4429990142327883857_o.jpg

10644532_817302234987141_7113506506504211774_o.jpg

10486243_817302264987138_5202633923580841125_o.jpg

10631269_817302288320469_2228165455628832812_o.jpg

10712406_817302324987132_4564501137962756490_o.jpg

You get some beautiful views, until the [Merlin] safety net obstructs [for safety of course] and getting good pics is then a lot harder to achieve.

10636910_817302348320463_2985001401750740779_o.jpg

10680014_817302374987127_5445944108724368771_o.jpg

10648320_817302491653782_8638205117781387488_o.jpg

10683538_817302594987105_5604729457396750053_o.jpg

10629346_817302648320433_5460644552258548185_o.jpg

1077246_817302671653764_4552677211482257045_o.jpg

10580849_817302711653760_2391447638436903640_o.jpg

10623764_817302751653756_2835716481380351615_o.jpg

10688152_817303158320382_1812579229683970100_o.jpg

1074629_817303184987046_2273397566026675482_o.jpg

1909307_817303221653709_2675505542218346864_o.jpg

10700470_817303248320373_4840210252980091359_o.jpg

The viewing platform

10662191_817303284987036_996302512682000586_o.jpg

10661619_817303334987031_6920579741298820802_o.jpg

10669044_817303418320356_2848366906586876882_o.jpg

It's a bit like a prison. A pretty prison in the sky.

10633359_817303471653684_7974211555863631431_o.jpg

1932627_817303488320349_8606409658243933601_o.jpg

10699811_817303531653678_8789157773156495427_o.jpg

1795163_817303551653676_8132818505634449423_o.jpg

10700498_817303584987006_6168418185663050828_o.jpg

And that was it! Blackpool tower offers some truly remarkable views of the whole surrounding area. I may have wandered back to the Merlin circle, but it was well worth it for this jewel and new credit, not to mention I've now got myself another new resin and souvenir from my fantastic trip here. Legoland Discovery Centre & Warick Castle are now the only unique Merlin attractions I'm yet to do in UK aside from the countless Dungeons and Sealifes [JoshC].

Blackpool also has a sea life and Madame Tussauds I hear you say? Unfortunately we didn't manage to try these attractions as not everyone in our party had a MAP at the time and also it was time call Blackpool time as it was getting late and as most had school, uni or work the next day none of us wanted to be too late! These weren't the big losses at the end of the day as the Sealife is probably similar to the one in London and much of the Madame Tussaud's material are items no longer needed from the London attraction.

Once walking back to our cars, we said our farewells and it was time to say goodbye to Blackpool and hello to the long journey home with hours of motorway, traffic, seating with only company, ride themes and a cheeky mcdonlads on the way to keep me going.

I had a fantastic trip in Blackpool and thoroughly enjoyed it. The Pleasure Beach was brilliant, The tower was Brilliant, The Cirucs was brilliant and the Dungeons, Ballroom, Piers and the rest were also very good, not to mention the great company I had up here that weekend too, with some great laughs, TPM Twister, Late Dominoes pizza etc. If amusement parks, Video arcades, sea sides, exciting nightlife and impressive shows,illuminations and random midway attractions are your thing, Blackpool is the place for you!

It would be very easy to spend a week or even a fortnight out here as there's so much to do. Two days at the Pleasure Beach, One day at the waterpark and Piers, two at the Tower and surrounding midways along with another two chilling, visiting the arcades and more of the night life and culture and you're easily already got plenty to do with a week's visit here, plus there's plenty of hotels and BNB's near or along the seafront.

One day I hope to return here again for another visit and re-experience the great things I did on the last trip and some ones I didn't do last time, including the missed out ride creeds at the Pleasure Beach [River Caves, Flying Machines, Nickland etc.] among others. The only problem with Blackpool is it's such a b**** to get to as it takes 4-5 hours each way to get as it's so far away, not to mention the horrendous traffic on the road and you need to really stop a couple of times on the way to get food rest your legs and use the facilities once in a while, but apart from that, it's good.

Big Thanks goes to Peaj, Scary Coasterboy, Mr Fish and many others for making this trip possible and helping arrangements towards the fantastic weekend it became. Hopefully I'll be reporting on another major park someday outside the Uk Merlin circle again, although if it's a while then it could well take the Mickey ;) .

0 Comments


Recommended Comments

There are no comments to display.

Guest
Add a comment...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...