Abingdon Street, Blackpool

Abingdon Street, right in the heart of Blackpool, blends over a century of civic history with a lively modern vibe. Once home to the town’s original police station-complete with a courtroom, cells, and even a mortuary-the building at 16–20 Abingdon Street dates back to 1862. The old "Police Station" sign still stands over the door, a quiet nod to its past. After the station relocated in 1893, the building morphed through several uses-from a joiner’s workshop to a motor garage-before becoming the Abingdon Street Market in 1925.

For nearly a hundred years, the market was a community staple, offering everything from local produce to handcrafted goods. It was also the launchpad for Jean Robinson, who went on to become Blackpool’s first female mayor in 1968. In 2020, Blackpool Council acquired the market with government funding, and after major renovations, it reopened in May 2023 as a modern food and retail hub featuring street food vendors, a coffee shop, bars, and boutique shops.

Landmarks around the street include the historic Saint John's Church and a proud row of red K2 telephone boxes outside the former General Post Office. These touches of heritage sit comfortably alongside Blackpool’s Creative Quarter-of which Abingdon Street is a part. Above the market, Abingdon Studios offers a workspace for local artists and regularly hosts exhibitions, adding a cultural pulse to the area.

Easily accessible and full of character, Abingdon Street is where Blackpool’s layered past meets a fresh, creative future-making it a great spot to browse, bite, and soak in the town’s evolving story.