Princess Parade

The 1912 colonnaded promenade from North Pier to Cocker Square, where the Illuminations began and Pride has set up its stage.

Princess Parade is the stretch of promenade that sweeps round the seaward side of the Grand Metropole Hotel, from North Pier to Cocker Square. It is the Rainbow Quarter's front garden: the guest houses of Lord Street are a few minutes behind it.

A royal opening, and the first Illuminations

The parade opened on 2 May 1912, during Blackpool's first royal visit, and is named after Princess Louise. The engineer John Shanks Brodie built a 174-metre sea wall topped by a reinforced-concrete colonnade, moving about 250,000 tons of sand with a temporary steam railway. On the opening night 12,000 electric lights were switched on, and that night is seen as the start of the Blackpool Illuminations.

What to see

Blackpool War Memorial, a white granite obelisk about 30 metres tall, stands in a sunken garden on the parade. It was unveiled in 1923 and is Grade II* listed.
Two Grade II listed cast-iron shelters from 1904 were moved here in 2012.
The colonnades continue north as the Middle Walk and Lower Walk towards Gynn Square. In 2026 the council bid for government money towards a repair of the colonnades, aiming to finish by 2030.

Pride on the parade

In 2018, after Pride left the Winter Gardens, the festival was held on Princess Parade and at the top of Queen Street; nearly 5,000 people came.
In 2024 the main stage was on Princess Parade beside the Metropole, at the end of the parade from the Sandcastle.

See 20 years of Blackpool Pride.

Getting here

The North Pier tram stop is beside the Metropole. From Blackpool North station, walk down Talbot Road or Springfield Road to the sea.

More about Princess Parade on this site

Sources

More streets

Banks StreetThe quarter's car park street, a minute from the station, with guest houses, Welhorny's and a Progress Pride street sign.Springfield RoadHome of the rainbow crossing junction with Dickson Road, Acqua sauna and Gin & Bear It, running up from the Metropole.Cocker StreetNamed after Blackpool's first mayor, with Chaps, Evanescent, Secrets, The B&B Blackpool and two small car parks.Cocker SquareWhere Cocker Street meets the sea, at the end of Princess Parade, with a 24-hour car park.Yates StreetA short side street off Lord Street with the Neon cocktail bar and hotel and the men-only Prince Albert.Pleasant StreetThe northern edge of the quarter, where Lord Street ends, with The Dame Lane bar and B&B.General StreetA quiet street just back from the sea, linking Springfield Road, Banks Street and Cocker Street, with Lawrence House.High StreetThe street behind Dickson Road, starting by Blackpool North station, with Pride Lodge and guest houses.Egerton RoadJust past the quarter in North Shore, home to St Paul's Worship Centre and the LGBTQ+ inclusive Liberty Church.Talbot SquareWhere Talbot Road meets the sea, with the Town Hall, North Pier and a tram stop.Every streetThe full list, from the quarter to Bispham and South Shore.

Last checked 10 October 2026. Prices, opening times and services change, so check before you travel.