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Stanley Park, Blackpool

Parks and Gardens
Walk Leader
Alan Cameron ARPS
Saturday, April 26, 2025 - 10:45
Capacity
12
Stanley Park

The Grade II-listed park, which opened in 1926, has been voted the best park in the UK on at least two occasions in recent years. 

Stretching across 390 acres the park offers a blend of architecture, horticulture and recreation. Known for its bandstand, boating lake and Italian gardens, this beautiful, tranquil place is a world away from the hustle and bustle of Blackpool seafront.

Free parking is available on the roadway from the park gates and in the carpark just beside our meeting place. 

To start our visit we will enjoy the Art Deco Café one of England’s finest examples of Art Deco design which attracts much interest from period enthusiasts. It is a unique, historic restaurant offering spectacular indoor and alfresco views of the park.Cafe interior decoration

The park has four zones: the north and western formal gardens; the eastern area lake and woodland area; and the south stretch containing children’s play areas and sports facilities. 

Leaving the café, and crossing the carpark, beyond currently unused bowling greens, are the rose garden and remembrance gardens. These formal gardens are easy to miss but are well worth a visit. After leaving these gardens we return to the front of the café.

Directly in front of the building are steps leading towards the Italian Garden. The Italian GardenWatch out for the two Medici lion statues, which provide a great photo opportunity. These are replicas, the originals being at Wellington College from whence they came to be in the park. Some years ago they were given back to the school in return for the replicas. As a compensation people who are Council Tax payers in Blackpool are entitled to a free tour of the college.

The Italian Garden, in the centre of the park has many beautiful flowerbeds and a fountain made from marble with four surrounding sea horses. 

To the right is the impressive Cocker Clock Tower – a memorial to Blackpool’s first Mayor, Dr William Cocker. The tower’s faces are aligned with the cardinal compass points and on the east and west faces are two bronze lion head drinking fountains. 

Moving on from the formal gardens we approach the boating lake with its amphitheatre surrounding the well-known bandstand, while across the boating lake we see ornamental bridges over the water.The band stand and amphitheatre

Turning right at the bandstand will take walkers to the BMX track and skateboard/scooter park where one can capture spectacular (and not so amazing) tricks being practiced endlessly.

Turn away from the bandstand one can walk around the lake towards the woods at the east end of the lake. crossing the ornamental bridge to a lakeside path.

Stanley Park abounds in wildlife and its features appeal to the naturalist, the plant lover or those who want to enjoy the landscape. 

There is a heronry at the east end of the lake complex and the trees afford cover for bluebells at the right time of year. The lake and bridgeWe will be walking in late April and we may be arriving at the best time. Also within this are there are native woodland birds and a colony of ring necked parakeets, though a recent outbreak of bird flu will have affected all species. There are bird feeders here that attract the local grey squirrels which mischievously steal the nuts.

This large and varied park affords participants the chance to exercise many of their photographic muscles; from landscape to nature, architecture to macro and flower to people subjects abound. Late April will see many of the aspects of the park at their best.

https://www.visitblackpool.com/detail/stanley-park-17396/

Walk Location

Stanley Park, Blackpool

Walk Directions

The address of the park is: Stanley Park, West Park Drive, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY3 9HQ

By car from Preston leave M55 at It is best approached via Junction 4 and Preston New Road. Follow the signs for the hospital on the A587, turning left at West Park Drive. Follow West Park drive past the cricket ground to a  roundabout where you can turn right into the park. Parking is available on Mawson Drive as you enter the park and at the side of the Cafe where disabled spaces are to be found.

By public transport from the centre of Blackpool are the routes 5, 5A and 5B all of which pass the main gate. Detailed bus map is here.

 

Accessibility

Near the park centre all paths are tarred and ramps are available to avoid the steps to the Italian Garden and beyond it to the bandstand and the edge of the pool. The path round the  eastern end of the pool (Salisbury Woodland) is not surfaced though it is flat. Care should be taken here if using a wheelchair or if you are unsteady on your feet.

Distances are not large with ample seating available for resting.

 

Feedback Meeting Type
Decide At Walk
Feedback Talk Date and Time
Saturday, May 24, 2025 - 11:00

Webform

Please note:

  • There is no charge for RPS members, non-members are charged £10.
  • You are booking the initial Zoom talk, the walk and the follow up discussion.
  • You will receive a link to the initial Zoom talk which will be recorded, a link to which will also be sent to you.
  • You may only book one person at a time using this form. If you wish to add several people, ensure you have all of the information you need at hand and visit this page for each person in turn.
  • If you book more than one person using the same email address then you will only receive one invitation to the initial Zoom talk because Zoom works on email addresses and not names.
  • You do not have to belong to either the Digital Imaging Group, Landscape Group or the RPS to take part. These events are jointly organised by DIG and Landscape.
  • A confirmation email will be sent to the address given here. Ensure that it is correct. If you don't receive a confirmation within 24 hours please check your spam folder and if it's not there use the contact form and we will investigate.
  • Either use the contact form or email TWT [at] rps.org (TWT[at]rps[dot]org) (include the walk title) for any enquiries you may have.
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Selected Image(s)

Kelly and Rob
Roger Styles

Walk Zine

  • Stanley Park, Blackpool

Recording

The Zoom talk will be recorded and everyone who is booked on or leading a walk will be sent the link a day or two after the talk takes place.

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