To: Blackpool Council and Merlin Attractions
Protect Blackpool Tower’s Heritage and Restore Year-Round Pride
Blackpool Tower should be managed in a way that respects its historic and cultural significance, supports year-round tourism, and restores the sense of pride that once surrounded it.
Why is this important?
Blackpool Tower is not simply an attraction — it is the defining symbol of Blackpool and a nationally recognised heritage landmark.
Under current management by Merlin Entertainments, the Tower has steadily lost the character, dignity, and sense of occasion that once made it special. Long-standing traditions that reflected pride and heritage have been removed, presentation has been standardised, and key parts of the Tower are no longer reliably open throughout the year. These decisions may reduce operating costs, but they have also weakened the Tower’s identity and diminished the visitor experience.
The Tower’s decline does not exist in isolation. When its presence is reduced or hollowed out, Blackpool itself suffers — through loss of atmosphere, reduced off-season tourism, and damage to the town’s reputation. A landmark of this cultural importance should not be treated as a generic, seasonal attraction.
We call on Merlin Entertainments, working with Blackpool Council, to:
We call on Merlin Entertainments, working with Blackpool Council, to:
- Publicly recognise Blackpool Tower as a heritage landmark, not a standard attraction
- Restore heritage presentation, atmosphere, and standards that reflect the Tower’s historic importance
- Commit to reliable, year-round opening of core Tower experiences wherever safety allows
- Engage openly with the public and local community about the Tower’s long-term future
- Prioritise long-term cultural and economic value over short-term cost cutting
Blackpool Tower matters. Protecting its heritage is not nostalgia — it is essential to the future of Blackpool itself.
“Local issue with national heritage importance”
Blackpool Tower is more than a tourist attraction — it is the heart of the town’s identity and a symbol recognised across the UK. Its heritage, traditions, and unique atmosphere have drawn generations of visitors, supporting local businesses, jobs, and the wider tourism economy. When the Tower loses its character, closes off key experiences, or strips away its historic presentation, it is not just the attraction that suffers — Blackpool itself loses a core part of its cultural and economic vitality. Protecting the Tower’s heritage ensures the town remains a place people want to visit, preserves jobs and revenue year-round, and safeguards a landmark that is central to Blackpool’s story and pride. This is not just about Blackpool though. This is a landmark and part of the heritage of the whole of the UK... Could you imagine the Eiffel Tower being taken over and run down so badly that it made Paris into what Blackpool has become?
Blackpool Tower is more than a tourist attraction — it is the heart of the town’s identity and a symbol recognised across the UK. Its heritage, traditions, and unique atmosphere have drawn generations of visitors, supporting local businesses, jobs, and the wider tourism economy. When the Tower loses its character, closes off key experiences, or strips away its historic presentation, it is not just the attraction that suffers — Blackpool itself loses a core part of its cultural and economic vitality. Protecting the Tower’s heritage ensures the town remains a place people want to visit, preserves jobs and revenue year-round, and safeguards a landmark that is central to Blackpool’s story and pride. This is not just about Blackpool though. This is a landmark and part of the heritage of the whole of the UK... Could you imagine the Eiffel Tower being taken over and run down so badly that it made Paris into what Blackpool has become?
How it will be delivered
The petition will be delivered to Merlin Entertainments and Blackpool Council to make clear public concern about the Tower’s heritage. We will share it with local community groups, link it to online platforms, and reach out to media to ensure it is seen and taken seriously. Supporters will be kept updated on progress and responses.
