What to do in Blackpool for a few hours in October?

[tulletilda]

Circumstances have worked out that I'm going to be in Blackpool with teen daughter next week, and we'll have a few hours to spend there during the day.

The pleasure beach is closed, and I'm not sure of tides, as I thought a long walk along the beach might be nice.

I'd be grateful for any suggestions please. I thought of visiting nearby Cleveleys or Fleetwood by tram, but I haven't visited the area in years, decades more accurate.

Costs money but there's an aquarium or Madame Tussauds if that's up your street. Is there anything to do in the tower now- visit the ballroom or something? The illuminations will be on so not sure if you'll be late enough to see them lit up?

Thanks

No, unfortunately we won't be able to see the illuminations as we're only staying until around 5pm

Go into the dungeon and madame taussauds. That’s a couple of fun hours done.

Trip up the tower?
If the weather is decent you could certainly take a walk but it's not the most scenic of places. Either going north to Cleveleys or South to Lytham/St Annes is prettier and you could take the tram either way I think.

We live in the general area and would usually go to Lytham or St Anne's rather than Blackpool. We used to enjoy the zoo though of course that's not cheap.

Tide times should be available online, I can't remember if the beach is ever fully covered but iirc there's a lot of prom.

I would go to Madame Tussauds then a round of mini golf

Thanks for the ideas everyone. Lots to consider there.

St Anne's might be an idea. I was last there just a few years ago, comparatively.
Would there be anything to do in Cleveleys or Fleetwood, too? My only recollection of those places are that one had a pebble beach and nothing much at all about Fleetwood.

There's not really anything to do in Fleetwood as such, but it's (in my opinion) a nicer place to walk than the middle of Blackpool. Though St Anne's is nicer still. There's quite an interesting little museum in the windmill on the front at Lytham too, though that may only be open in the Summer.
My DS has been doing a regular sports thing near Blackpool this year so we have spent a lot of time walking up and down the prom etc! The sessions are annoyingly not quite long enough to justify paying for the rest of us to have a proper day out like the Zoo, but too long to just sit in a cafe for the duration so I can relate to your problem!

I’d go to the ballroom and have afternoon tea

Wouldn't walk along the beach in October, even assuming the tide's down. Take a tram ride-I don't expect you'll be late enough to see the illuminations.

What about the zoo, or Stanley Park? They're a bit out of town but not ridiculously so.
There's quite a nice walk along St Anne's prom. See if you can find the old paddling pool and go along the stepping stones. The dc used to love those.

Depending on the weather, the bottom end of the prom (by the Pleasure Beach) has a sculpture trail, including the worlds largest glitterball. Take the tram down and back or walk/tram.

Grundy art gallery often has interesting exhibitions. And the library next door is worth popping in if you like historic buildings.

The Tower Ballroom is lovely as PP says.

The market hall by St John's Sq (by the Winter Gardens) is now a food hall with different food traders - I've not been but know people who have and say it's nice.

The TK Maxx and Primark in Blackpool are decent if you wanted a bit of a mooch.

We visited Stanley Park recently. There is a nice tea room that I think serves afternoon teas.
Otherwise I would go to Lytham for the nice shops and restaurants.