Showtown bosses say upturn in footfall sees thousands of children learning about Blackpool’s past

Bosses at Showtown Blackpool say they have improved footfall at the visitor attraction – including bringing in thousands of school children.

The venue is celebrating the exceptional impact it has made on school groups, with 2,500 school children visiting as part of organised school visits since opening, and over 10,000 children engaged overall through workshops, visits and learning activity.

This success builds on Showtown’s growing national profile as an award-winning attraction, including being named Permanent Exhibition of the Year at the Museum & Heritage Awards and being a finalist for the international Children in Museums Award, recognising excellence in engaging young audiences.

The venue has gone from strength to strength since early last year, when there was a significant management shake-up.

Following a review of operations, the museum announced a restructuring in February 2025, which included the departure of its chief executive and the transition to oversight by Blackpool Operating Company Ltd, now rebranded as Blackpool Tourism Limited).

Blackpool Tourism Ltd a wholly-owned subsidiary company of Blackpool Council. 

In its successes with school parties, much of this work takes place in the Sir Ken Dodd Learning Space at Showtown, a dedicated setting for hands-on workshops and curriculum-linked sessions.

This allows young people to explore Blackpool’s history through creativity and play.

Through its bold, playful and curriculum-linked schools programme, Showtown is inspiring young people from Blackpool and beyond to discover the town’s rich and surprising history, from the Victorian seaside boom and the Industrial Revolution to wartime Britain and modern-day entertainment.

A recently launched Key Stage 2 World War 2 workshop looks at the unique role Blackpool played during wartime, exploring the experiences of evacuees and the role of the military.

What they say
Kari Singleton, Learning & Engagement Officer at Showtown, said: “Schools were always at the heart of our vision for Showtown. Since opening, we’ve been incredibly proud to welcome so many classes through our doors.

“We know how much effort goes into organising a trip, which is why we’ve made sure every visit delivers a memorable, hands-on experience that brings learning to life for the whole class.

”With a focus on social value and civic pride, workshops are priced to be affordable for schools from £4 per child, with self-led visits also available, giving schools flexibility to shape a visit that suits the needs of the school. “

Rather than just hearing about history, pupils are immersed in it, meeting characters from the past, getting up close with objects and learning through hands-on, curriculum-led activities.

Blackpool’s history and heritage is deeply rooted in Northern identity with school sessions exploring how Blackpool evolved from an early health resort to a vibrant leisure destination.

Since opening, Showtown has welcomed both local schools and schools from across the region, including as far afield as Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

Just a few of Showtown’s current school workshops include: Blackpool in World War 2 (KS2) (an immersive session meeting a 1940s landlady and exploring evacuees and wartime life); Beside the Seaside (KS1 & KS2) – a lively exploration of Blackpool’s seaside history with a 1950s walkies photographer and Selling the Seaside (KS3) – a creative challenge focused on tourism and the evolution of Blackpool’s entertainment industry.

For more details on Showtown visit https://www.showtownblackpool.co.uk/