Top Tips for Visiting Blackpool Illuminations 2025

Last Updated on 29 January 2026 by Colette

We first took the kids to see Blackpool Illuminations about ten years ago and it quickly became a family tradition – we’ve only missed one year since when the weather was just awful on the night we had planned to go and then of course the year when local lockdowns meant we couldn’t travel! Over the years, we’ve honed our Blackpool Illuminations experience and I wanted to share some hints and tips we’ve learned along the way!

This year’s Blackpool Illuminations will start on Friday 29th August 2025 and run through till Sunday 4th January 2026

The big switch-on event for Blackpool Illuminations 2025 has yet to be announced.

In a change to recent years, the whole event will be free to access with no tickets required.

The Blackpool Illuminations switch on event is completely free to access with no tickets required.

The world-famous Blackpool Illuminations are a free light show along six miles of the Blackpool seafront and are lit through the autumn, typically from the very end of August through to early November – however, for the fifth consecutive year, this year’s Illuminations have been extended by two months following “expectational growth in visitor numbers” and will start on Friday 29th August 2025 and finish on Sunday 4th January 2026.

Blackpool’s award-winning Lightpool Festival has been extended and will return from Wednesday 15th October to Saturday 1st November 2025 with a free-to-see programme of 3D projection shows, a spectacular light trail, installations and live performances.

Top Tips for Visiting Blackpool Illuminations

1. Go Mid-Week

We usually visit Blackpool Illuminations in October – the days are shorter and so the evenings are darker earlier meaning you can really see all the lights properly! Over the years we’ve tried a few different days of the week to visit – we thought a Friday night would be good because it would mean that it didn’t really matter if the kids stayed up late but actually it meant that Blackpool was absolutely heaving. We’ve found that things are a little calmer mid-week – I mean Blackpool Illuminations are rarely quiet, but mid-week in October half-term is definitely our favourite time to visit!

2. Wrap up warm

This goes without saying – you’re going to be outside, on the seafront, at night, in late autumn / winter – it’s not going to be warm. We bundle the kids up in lots of layers, hats, scarves, gloves and their big winter coats (think dressing for Bonfire night!) – whilst you will likely be doing plenty of walking, it’s easy for little ones to get cold and that will spoil your night no fear. I tend to find myself stripping off layers as we walk around and then putting them back on again if we stop for a rest!

3. The best way to see the Blackpool Illuminations is a combination of walking and trams

The best way to see the Illuminations is on foot – but 6 miles is a long old way to walk especially if you’ve got little ones with you! When it comes to planning your trip to Blackpool Illuminations, if you’re only going for the evening I recommend parking at one end of Blackpool and then getting the tram down the front.

Finding parking for Blackpool Illuminations can be a challenge – the earlier you get there the easier it will be. Being prepared to walk a little bit helps too as obviously the closest car parks to the Illuminations will be heaving. We find the best place to park for the Blackpool lights, is on a residential street (obviously being careful to park respectfully of local residents!) either at Starr Gate or Bispahm as this means you’re at the end of the tram line where it is quieter to get on! (You don’t want to be trying to get on a tram in the middle of the Illuminations if you can help it as they will be rammed.)

When the kids were younger we would get the tram from Starr Gate to Blackpool, looking at all the lights along the way, and then walk part of the way back again. As the kids got older and more able to walk the distance, we would get on the public service tram at Starr Gate and stay on it right to the end at Bispham then walk back again to “the middle” – by which we mean the tower, before jumping back on the tram again for the last stretch back to the car as the kids were normally shattered by then! For the last couple of visits, we’ve parked at Bispham and walked down to just past the tower and all the way back again! This is about 5.5 miles but they are more than capable of doing this now.

As well as the public service trams (which will be very busy but are well managed!) you can also get a Blackpool Illuminated Tram – we’ve never bothered as we’re quite happy to just watch them go past and the public service trams are obviously a much cheaper option.

For a special treat, you can take a horse and cart ride down the front but these are expensive! The prices are set by the individual horse and carriage owners so it’s important to check the price before you board. I believe you’re looking at around £30 from an overheard conversation but do let me know if you have been on one recently!

Can you drive through Blackpool Illuminations?

It is possible to drive through the Illuminations, but expect this to be slow! In the past, Blackpool operated a one way system down the prom during the Illuminations but now the roads are open as usual, however it can take a really long time to cover the six miles of the Illuminations – and you won’t get half as good a view as if you’re walking anyway! If you are going to drive through the illuminations you want to start at the Starr Gate end of Blackpool and drive through to Bispham so that the Illuminations will be on your left – this will give you the clearest view of them. As you leave or enter the Illuminations at Bispham there is a collection point for donations – there is a suggested donation of £5.

4. There are different things to see at each end of Blackpool

The Illuminations are different at each end of Blackpool – at the Bispham end coming back into central Blackpool you’ll find an area of tableaux installations and even some interactive light set ups – if you’re only going to walk one section of the Illuminations, this is the one I recommend. At the other end, from central Blackpool out to the South Shore the lights are mostly strung across the road – festoon lights, lit up lamp posts and more twinkle than your eyes can take in! Most of the lights are the same year on year, but actually this just means we like to spot the familiar favourites and pick out new additions!

5. Chips are a great way to warm up

You haven’t been to the seaside if you haven’t had fish and chips have you? We usually give the kids a snack before we set off to Blackpool then have a late tea of sausage and chips on the front.

Previously, on recommendation from a friend, we had an early tea at Bispham Kitchen. Bispham Kitchen is a really popular sit-down chip shop – they are busy for good reason though! We arrived shortly before 5pm and got sat down quickly but by the time we had finished eating there was a queue at the door.

However, a couple of years ago we stumbled across a new favourite. Papa’s Fish and Chips, not far from Blackpool Tower on the main drag has both sit down and take away options. On our first visit there was a queue out the door for sit down and service was painfully slow for take away meals, however they were more than worth the wait and we made sure we visited again last year. A generous portion of chips to take away was just shy of £2 and they were honestly the best chips I’ve eaten in a really long time so I fully recommend them – and need to make sure I remember this myself for this year as we always forget where we’ve been!

(Ooh and while we’re on the subject of food, freshly made donuts are pretty good at tummy warming too!)

Have you got any tips for visiting Blackpool Illuminations with kids?

Have a read of these posts next:

While you’re there, why not visit Coral Island? Read this post first: Top tips for visiting Coral Island, Blackpool

Why not book in a visit to the new Gruffalo and Friends Clubhouse.

I’ve got a great list of free things to do in Blackpool too!

Don’t forget to check out this list of our favourite beaches in the North West.

What to do in Blackpool when it’s raining

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