The Blackpool area might not have a gigantic national museum like London does. But it does have some local gems which are well worth visiting. Add them all together and there’s a few days worth of exploring, with these Fylde Coast Museums.
Fylde Coast Museums
Inhabited for many thousands of years, the Fylde Coast is full of history. The 12,000 year old Poulton (or Carlton) Elk is preserved in the Harris Museum, nearby at Preston. Killed by a hunting spear it proves human habitation dates back to 10,000 years BC.
Our Fylde Coast museums preserve the social history of our ancestors. How hundreds of years ago people eked a living out of the land. Milling grain from the agricultural lands in the many local windmills. The dangerous occupation of deep sea fishing, with catches landed at the bustling port of Fleetwood. After that came the booming years of tourism and a multi-million pound entertainment history and the Illuminations. This area also has a firm attachment to the military and aerospace. Once a major centre for wartime activity, the industry still continues here today.
How many of these Fylde Coast Museums and heritage attractions have you visited? They’re all worth a look! In alphabetical order…
Brooks Collectables Toy Museum
The personal collection of the owners, the Brooks Collectables Toy Museum is arranged in a first floor display. It’s well worth a look for those ‘I had one of those’ moments and blasts from the past! Also includes loads of local memorabilia from the Blackpool and Fylde Coast area.
Fylde Country Life Museum at Farmer Parrs
Part of your entry to Farmer Parr’s Animal World, presented by Fylde Country Life Preservation Society. See 26 major exhibit areas set out in rooms covering living, working and leisure. A proper trip down memory lane!
Fleetwood Museum
Visit the old Custom House, one of Fleetwood’s oldest buildings, and full of fascinating information from the town’s past. At Fleetwood Museum you’ll learn about the fishing industry, founding of the planned town and the world famous Fisherman’s Friend. Well worth a visit and very reasonably priced.
Fylde Spitfire Memorial
This is a free-to-access outdoor exhibit, rather than a museum. At the Spitfire Memorial, a full size replica spitfire flies high above Fairhaven Lake at Lytham St Annes. With it are information panels explaining how the people of St Annes fundraised and paid for a plane to fight in WW2.
Hangar 42 Spitfire Visitor Centre
People in the much larger town of Blackpool funded three Spitfires for WW2. The contribution of planes and pilots is remembered at Hangar 42 Spitfire Visitor Centre. This fascinating aircraft hangar is full of memorabilia, including a full sized plane. The Fylde Coast made a major contribution to the war effort and this is also remembered.
Joe Longthorne Museum
The legendary Joe Longthorne had a close affinity with Blackpool. North Pier Theatre was a favourite where he performed many times. The theatre is now named in his memory with the show-bar set out as a museum dedicated to his life.
Little Marton Mill
A prominent landmark as you arrive in Blackpool, Little Marton Mill is one of three remaining Fylde Coast mills. Go inside on special open days and see how this building once ground the grain to feed generations.
Lytham Hall
Well worth a visit to see how the upper classes of the Fylde Coast once lived. Enjoy a guided tour of Lytham Hall to explore the 1800’s & 1900’s of the Clifton family. Look around the Grade I listed house and grounds.
Lytham Heritage Centre
Just off Clifton Square this interesting building is the hub for Lytham Heritage Group. They also look after the Windmill and Lifeboat Museum plus the Archive Centre at the old library at Clifton Street. The original interior space and features of Lytham Heritage Centre host exhibitions throughout the year.
Lytham Windmill Museum and Lifeboat House
Another of the three Fylde Coast windmills, Lytham Windmill has a full exhibition inside. It depicts local life across the centuries, including farming and fishing and much more. Well worth a visit which takes you up through the floors of the mill itself. Next door is the old Lifeboat House and inside a restored Chapman lifeboat.
Marsh Mill Windmill
The other Fylde Coast windmill, Marsh Mill is at Thornton, a couple of miles inland from Cleveleys and Fleetwood. Open on special days only when you might also see the sails turning. Visit the shops and pub of the surrounding Marsh Mill village at any time to look around the mill from outside.
Showtown Blackpool
Blackpool’s only museum, Showtown opened in March 2024. Charting the entertainment history of the town, it’s packed full of lively exhibits and interactive displays. See yourself appear in the street scene, have a go at magic tricks and roll up to the circus. It’s full of fun!
Tramtown
Tramtown is a new attraction under development at the Rigby Road Heritage Tram Depot. Eventually it will be a full tramway museum, but for now you can enjoy a depot tour. See inside the workshops and how they look after the towns original heritage trams – which still run in Blackpool today.
While you’re here…
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