Showtown Blackpool is proudly 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. 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 that allows young people to explore Blackpool’s history through creativity and play.
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.
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.
Building on the same creative, people-centred approach that has earned Showtown national recognition, its schools offer places children at the heart of the story. 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.
Teachers consistently praise the quality of Showtown’s sessions, highlighting high levels of engagement and the impact of live interpretation. Feedback includes comments such as “the children have not stopped talking about the visit – how it has been their favourite trip in a long, long time” and “you really do have a special team at Showtown and, as someone who has visited many venues and museums over the years, yours really does top the list for so many reasons.”
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.
As schools begin planning educational visits for 2026, Showtown is encouraging teachers to book early, with strong demand and limited capacity for this highly sought-after learning experience. Spaces are filling up quickly, and schools are advised to secure their preferred dates by contacting the Learning & Engagement team at:
Email: learning@showtownblackpool.co.uk
Phone: 01253 478 624