Showtown | Wartime Blackpool

Wartime Blackpool Exhibition

Join us on a journey of discovery exploring Blackpool in the 1940s.

Delve deeper into the untold story of a town brought to life by wartime entertainment and performance.

Wartime Blackpool uncovers unique stories, never-before-seen objects and reveals the crucial role the town played in the war effort.

Wartime Resources

Blackpool was a unique place during the Second World War. There are many resources available to find out more about our local area, its people and their roles in the conflict.

Take a look at some of the books in our shop or browse through the information and useful links here.

Download Resources
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Wartime Blackpool’s national loans are supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund. Created by the Garfield Weston Foundation and Art Fund, the Weston Loan Programme is the first ever UK-wide funding scheme to enable smaller and local authority museums to borrow works of art and artefacts from national collections.

What's On

Create your own Wellington Aircraft Model

Wed 16 April 2025, 11:00am - 2:30pm

Join us for this family fun craft session, as we celebrate the amazing aircraft that helped us to win the Second World War.

Stars of Wartime

Thu 01 May 2025, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Join producer and performer Beryl Johnson as she presents clips of wartime icons including George Formby, Al Bowley, Gracie Fields, Rob Wilton, and Tommy Trinder.

Grand Victory Show Poster

Sat 10 May 2025, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Take a look inside the collections, as the Grand Victory Show poster for the Blackpool Tower Circus 1945 season comes out of the stores.

Wartime Typography Masterclass

Sat 21 June 2025, 1:00pm - 4:30pm

Join artist Lisa Wigham to discover the town's unique signage and typography.

Wartime Exhibition Tour

Sat 13 September 2025

Join Showtown curators as they give you a unique insight into the objects and collections on display in the Wartime Blackpool Exhibition.

Escaping the Blitz: Blackpool’s Air Raid Experiences in WWII

Thu 03 July 2025, 6:00pm - 7:00pm

In this talk Dr. Tom Carter will discuss Blackpool’s experiences of air raids in the Second World War.

Jitterbug and Jive: Family Dance Workshop

Sat 12 July 2025, 11:00am - 3:30pm

Get into the swing of 1940s Blackpool with our Jitterbug and Jive workshop. Perfect for the whole family!

Theatreland in Blackpool

Thu 04 September 2025, 6:00pm - 7:00pm

During the Second World War, West End’s theatrical stars, producers and agents had relocated to Blackpool, making it the headquarters of Theatreland. This talk looks into some of the history surrounding this aspect of Wartime Blackpool.