Shops in Blackpool

There’s a great range of shops in Blackpool. Big names and independents, chains and complete one-offs. Find them in the town centre and in outlying districts. In small streets and big retail parks.

The unitary authority area of Blackpool covers an area of about 14 square miles but the population per square kilometre is more than 10 times the England and Wales average! Perhaps that’s why there are so many shops in Blackpool and the surrounding area!

Shops in Blackpool

Obviously there are lots of shops in Blackpool Town Centre. And much more than a shopping area, it’s a place for leisure and entertainment – with plenty of attractions, theatre, bars and things to do. The town centre sprawls across the resort. But there are loads of places outside the main central space with even more shops in Blackpool, from mini-high streets to big retail parks.

Town Centre Shops in Blackpool

Here at Live Blackpool we like the town centre shops in Blackpool. Mostly sited close together, you don’t waste miles of energy walking from one to another. And if it’s raining you don’t get too soaked wet through because it’s easy to dodge from one to another!

The majority of the town centre shops can be found in a big block – between Talbot Road and Bonny Street and inland towards Coronation Street/King Street. Bank Hey Street/Church Street/Victoria Street is where most of the usual town centre shops are. Take a look at a few of them –

Enjoyed this video? Why don’t you subscribe to our Visit Fylde Coast YouTube channel – make sure you don’t miss out!

Bank Hey Street

Bank Hey Street is the long street which runs past the back entrance of The Blackpool Tower. All the way from Albert Road near Coral Island to Church Street. There’s a variety of shops here, next door to attractions like the Tower, Blackpool Amusements and Hole in Wand! It’s also where you’ll find the towns huge, four floor Primark. Other high street names at Bank Hey Street include TK Maxx, Waterstones, Boots, Bon Marche, HMV and H Samuel.

Church Street

Church Street (below) is another long street, this time running inland from the coast. And another place where theatres neighbour shops, you can visit Marks and Spencer, The Works, B&M and Beaverbrooks. Plenty of independent stores sell clothes, homewares, food and toys – and there’s a Toyland toyshop.

Abingdon Street / Talbot Road

Blackpool town centre continues along Abingdon Street and if you’re looking for food there’s a Co-op there with a nearby local bakery and butchers shop. Also where you’ll find Abingdon Street Market with its food hall – and the legendary Abingdon Barbecue! There’s numerous independent clothes shops and a well stocked Rymans.

Near to Blackpool North railway station at Talbot Road there’s the big Sainsbury’s supermarket and the nearby Post Office.

Houndshill Shopping Centre

At the heart of the town centre is the Houndshill Shopping Centre – with 50+ shops inside it’s packed full of big name brands and a few independent retailers. In October 2023 a brand new Frasers/Flannels/Sports Direct department store opened in place of the former Debenhams. There’s Skechers, Build-a-Bear and Superdrug. JD Sports, New Look, Yours and River Island.

Markets

Abingdon Street Market reopened in 2023 after a complete refurb and make-over. Gone are the stalls selling underwear and seaside nick-knacks in exchange for a food hall and trendy retailers. It’s got a great vibe, live music and is championing local makers. Bonny Street Market also closed in 2022, to make way for the new Blackpool Central development.

Elsewhere across the town these are some of the markets for you to explore:

• Beach Market at Station Road South Shore, opposite South Pier.
• Foxhall Market at the junction of Foxhall Rd, Dale Street and Cragg Street.
• Springfield Market opposite the Metropole, adjacent to the tramway near the Cenotaph and North Pier.
• Victoria Centre Market at Waterloo Road.

Vintage and Charity Shops

If you love to find something unique and unusual one of the shops in Blackpool you must visit is The Regent. It’s a converted 1920’s cinema – see its silver dome past the Winter Gardens as you look inland along Church Street.

Inside you’ll find floor-to-ceiling stalls packed with everything that you can imagine. Clothes, household items, furniture, bric-a-brac, collectables – you name it. Open seven days a week there’s also a tea shop – and most Friday nights you can even watch classic films in the cinema.

Like most towns, there’s also a fair representation of charity brands among the shops in Blackpool. They have their place in the high street and serve a great purpose. It’s somewhere to take all of the perfectly good things that you no longer want instead of sending them to landfill. Charity shops are a great place to bag a bargain and pick up a rare find. They also raise significant amounts of money for the charity which they serve. Win-win all round!

Outlying Shopping Areas

Blackpool is a densely populated area and to cater for all these residents (and holiday makers) there are loads of little shopping areas across the borough.

For example, Anchorsholme is just on the edge of Blackpool as it meets Cleveleys and there’s a small area of shops at Anchorsholme Lane East. Over the not-quite 14 square miles of town there are numerous small shopping streets like this one.

There’s a number of ‘village’ type areas too, like at Bispham. There’s shops along Red Bank Road from the seafront and a small shopping centre at Bispham Village. Between the two areas there’s a Sainsbury’s supermarket, Tesco Express, Post Office and numerous restaurants and independent stores.

South Shore shopping area isn’t anywhere near as busy as it once was, but there’s still a vibrant area of shops in Blackpool here, around Waterloo Road (above).

Streets of Blackpool

You can find out a lot about an area from trusty old Google maps, but we’ve gone one step further. Here at Live Blackpool we’ve been exploring some of the oldest and most well known streets of Blackpool. We’ve uncovered interesting history, walked the streets for vlogs on our YouTube channel and shared it all online. There are still plenty to do, but have a look around the Streets of Blackpool here.

Retail Parks

The shops in Blackpool don’t end with the town centre and local high streets. In and around the area are a number of retail parks. These are ideal for large and voluminous purchases – simply wheel your goods back to your car in a trolley. Parking is generally free too!

Blackpool Retail Park

Blackpool Retail Park off Squires Gate Lane – postcode FY4 2RP – is one of the main out of town retail parks.

Home to a large Morrisons supermarket and petrol station. There’s an Iceland Food Warehouse, TK Maxx, Poundland and Dunelm. Plus Pets at Home and Aldi Supermarket, Bensons for Beds and Currys. Halfords is at the entrance to the site, with a Costa Coffee next door.

Cherry Tree Retail Park

Find it at Sandersons Way off Cherry Tree Road, Blackpool, FY4 4TH. Large Asda supermarket and petrol station. Plus Carpetright and Terry’s Carpets, Home Bargains, Smyths Toys and Poundstretcher.

Vicarage Lane Retail Park

This is adjoining Cherry Tree Retail Park, at the end of Sandersons Way. Here you’ll find a B&M Home Store, Halfords Autocentre, Screwfix, Topps Tiles and Euro Car Parts. Use the postcode FY4 4XW.

Clifton Retail Park, Marton

You can see Clifton Retail Park from the end of the M55 as you approach Blackpool. The address is Sandhams Way at Marton, FY4 4UJ. This is home to the huge Tesco Extra (and a Tesco petrol station). Neighbours are Matalan, Next and a Clarks Factory Shop.

Holyoake Avenue Retail Park

The former B&Q adjacent to Crossley’s Bridge was converted into an Aldi supermarket and a B&M Bargains. Next door is a Pets at Home. For DIY enthusiasts there’s also a Celplas building supplies unit here. The address is Holyoake Avenue, Blackpool, FY2 0BQ.