T

he thought of one million bulbs coming on at once is enough to send Al Gore into shock as well as the National Grid for that matter.

But thankfully Blackpool’s Illuminations are powered entirely by green electricity from renewable resources. With your environmental conscience appeased all that’s left is to head to the UK’s answer to Las Vegas and enjoy the spectacle.

Between September and November each year, Blackpool’s promenade comes alive with a plethora of brightly coloured lasers and light features. Yes, on paper it might sound strange, but when you’re bathed in the glow of the Blackpool Illuminations, it’s impossible not to be moved by their brilliant luminance.

Since opening in 1879, the Illuminations have expanded year on year, getting progressively more insane. You can’t imagine how a Victorian gentleman would react upon coming face to face with a seven foot flashing Dalek or any one of the giant characters that move and dance around the iconic seafront.

You can squeeze onto one of the illuminated trams to experience the six miles of displays in style, but we recommend taking a stroll instead. With the sea wind in your face, screams swirling up from the Pleasure Beach, and two giant spaceships shooting at each other across the promenade, it’s then that you feel the Illumination’s true magic.