Always worth a visit and free to see. Best seen by walking or on one of the many trams.

S1traight ass, boring every year with the same,e thing. Bring something new to Blackpool everytime I go I get so bored and wonder why I'm still in Blackpool. Seriously get some new illuminations. read more

Look let me tell you something, things are changing in Blackpool. Despite the fact its seemingly tarnished image over the last decade or so. The fact is it pulls in more punters all year round than any other beach resort in teh UK bar Brighton. The beach is going through a transformation to make it cleaner, and it already is!!! The lights themselves whilst being monotone to the average adult, the buzz created by the sheer mass of boddies, cars, trams, horse carriages, rides, arcades, neon lights, street performers, food stalls is something to be experianced by all. read more

Blackpool Illuminations - Hazy view from afar... Walking along the beach! - Local Flavor Near Me - Blackpool, BPL

Considered by many to be 'the greatest free light show on earth', Blackpool Illuminations are the primary reason Blackpool enjoys an extended season. The 'Lights' are switched on the Friday after August Bank Holiday and shine along 6 miles of Promenade for 66 nights. Dubbed 'Artificial Sunshine' by reporters when the first show shone in 1879, they have grown year upon year to become a mesmerising light, sound and special effects show which enthrals children and reminds adults of their own special childhood memories. Weekends, especially during school holidays and the beginning and end of the show can be busy leaving you sat in traffic for hours, so visit midweek if you can. If you do want to see them, but don't fancy sitting trapped in a car with your kids all night, buck the trend and drive along from the North to the South to avoid the queues. Another great way to see the Illuminations is on an open top tram - although it can be cold on the Prom so wrap up warm and cosy. Rainy nights may not seem the ideal time to head out, but the wet surfaces reflect the millions of lights and make the show extra special. On night like this, take a walk along the tableaux at Bispham and grab a great bag of chips at Bispham Kitchen on Red Bank Road to warm you up. Loads of events take place during the Illuminations and in the week prior to the Big Celebrity Switch On concert with BBC Radio 2 - World Fireworks Championships, loads of vehicle record attempts, Ride The Lights, Illuminated Beach Volleyball and much more. See the Visit Blackpool website for a full list and make the most of your visit - all the evets are FREE! One thing - don't let your kids stand up and stick their heads through the sunroof as you're driving along. I see this every night during the Illuminations, and I also see a lot of kids hurting themselves as the traffic is constantly stopping and starting. Everyone remembers the first time they saw Blackpool Illuminations, and if you haven't seen them yet, you should definately treat yourself to the memory. read more

Blackpool Illuminations - Local Flavor Near Me - Blackpool, BPL

I loved the illuminations as a child and took my daughter this year. We spent the day in Blackpool and then had fish n chips on the beach front and then drove through them from top to bottom not long after 730 which was when they came on earlier in the year. The traffic was fine with us being ready just after they came on and I think our direction of travel helped too as there were far more cars going bottom to top. Maybe it was because I was driving or just a bit more grown up but I was slightly disappointed this year, but my daughter liked them so thats the main thing I guess. read more

Blackpool Illuminations - Local Flavor Near Me - Blackpool, BPL

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I love the illuminations in blackpool, and I feel like a big kid when driving or walking along them all. Any time we go to blackpool I actually cant wait for it to get dark! I used to visit Blackpool all the time as a child and always remembered the postman pat and my little pony lights from about 20 years ago then when going back for the first time in years around 4 years ago I was delighted to see they were still there! My boyfriend thought I was crazy! I love spotting one of the lit up trams I think they are great and always wanted a ride on one of them! When it comes to blackpool illuminations, the tackier the better for me! read more

Blackpool Illuminations - Local Flavor Near Me - Blackpool, BPL

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For two years now, everyone has been clucking their tongues at me because I haven't been to see the Illuminations in Blackpool, so while I was showing visitors around this week, we made a point of going. Maybe I was just peopled out by this point, but overall, I found Blackpool to be a kind of depressing Never Never land. The Illuminations were definitely the high point but even so, they were just ok. They consist of strings of blinky, Vegas-style lights strung over the main seaside drag, and near the end is a big bit to the side with lit up scenes from things like Alice in Wonderland. It kind of feels like a cross between Reno and the old Electric Light Parade in Disney - totally cheeseball and tacky. Tacky, tacky, tacky. Saying that, if you are looking for a silly way to kill some time and want to see a life size Dalek hanging on a light post, you might enjoy it in that corny, Las Vegas kind of way. read more

When you ask people what they know about Blackpool there are 3/4 things they'd normally say. - Blackpool Tower - Pleasure Beach - Trams - Illuminations. Although they aren't on all year around the Blackpool Illuminations attracts a large amount of visitors each year. They really are quite spectacular. Some people visit in a coach/car and just drive the length of the golden mile to experience them, but i personally think walking the golden mile is a much better experience as there are so many cars/coaches on the road it is very very slow. We enjoyed them this year and it was great, we also had a treat as there was a Honda Goldwing convention in to so it was great seeing all these bikes fully kitted out with various coloured lights, they were an experience in themselves. When night falls and the illuminations are turned on it really does transform the golden mile into something else. read more

The Illuminations are a great sight, and with it getting darker earlier when they are displayed, you can easily take the kids without it being way past their bedtime. If you're willing to brave the cold you can walk down the promenade and see them, eating some fish & chips always makes it even better! And of course there are plenty of arcades and other things to do in Blackpool whilst you're there. But the Illuminations themselves are free to view. If you prefer you can drive through in your car, there may be a bit of a queue in traffic at peak times, but this only adds to the experience really as driving through slowly gives you chance to properly have a look and take some photos if you so desire. read more

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As a kid I loved the illuminations we used to spend the day in Blackpool then drive back home though the illuminations on the way home. There is no doubt that they are tacky and garish, but that is what the illuminations are all about. I love the sponsored ones such as McDonalds, This Morning (With Phil and Fern) etc. They have become a fantastic tourist attraction and they do bring a lot of money into the area. In my view, rather than driving through them, cut your carbon footprint, use the tram or better still walk that way you can take you time and get a bit of exercise. read more

Every year Blackpool illuminations getter bigger and better! If you've never been then you've got almost a year to plan a visit to Blackpool for next years illuminations season which runs every year from the end of August through to the beginning of November. Stretching from Starr Gate to the South of Blackpool through to Bispham at Blackpool's North Shore there are miles of fancy glittering lights to amuse young and old alike! My real highlight are the massive tableaus at the north end of the lights between Gynn Square and Bispham! read more

Blackpool Illuminations are always worth an evening out. It is completely free, and the whole family will love it - Even if you have been every year !! Drive through them in the car, and then park up and walk along the promenade to see them in greater detail. Excellent ! read more

Blackpool Illuminations are described as the greatest free show on earth. Well, they say never to be afraid to exaggerate I suppose. Don't get me wrong, I do still really like them, and of course it is nice to see something which is free, but I couldn't help feeling a bit underwhelmed by them. I love Blackpool anyway and the light certainly cheer up the dark evenings, and I enjoyed seeing the trams that were lit up going past, but otherwise they aren't all that impressive these days. I can't help thinking that when the illuminations first when up, electrical light was still quite a new thing and so they must have looked really amazing, but nowadays they do look a bit tired. I know they'll never have quite the same impact as they did back then, but with all the lighting technology available now, such as fibre optics, lasers and LEDs, I'm surprised they still stick largely to simple old-fashioned coloured bulbs, and the displays can get very repetitive after a while. It's worth seeing once but I do think they could make a bit more of an effort these days. read more

I went to see the illuminations for the first time ever this year -- my wife (who is more local than I am) has been coming most years since she was a kid and she wanted to take our two (now aged 4 and 5) to see them. We actually had to make two attempts to see them: the first time it was so windy and rainy it was virtually impossible to walk (I tried and my umbrella was history within 5 minutes) -- and then we got stuck in a grid-lock traffic jam when we tried to see them from the comfort of our car. Second time round was better, and I have to admit they were worth the return trip. They were spectacular and our kids loved them. We caught the tram down the line (another attraction) and then walked back -- it certainly made for a cheap treat for the kids. We didn't have fish and chips when we went (either time) but apparently that is all part of the ritual too. I daresay I'll be back next year. If you detect a slight degree of curmudgeon-liness on my part about the illuminations you'd be right: it's not quite my thing (I have a big aversion to tack, although there wasn't much on display): but if the kids enjoy it (and my wife wants to go) I'll happily tag along, and happily recommend the experience to anyone who reads this. read more

Blackpool Illuminations are the most famous part. This means two things. One, that you are going to expect more than you get, and two, lots and lots of other people there expecting more too. The lights are beautiful. There is no getting away from it, they are really nice to look at, especially from at the end of one of the piers, enshrined in the seas darkness, but do not drive the lights. Go on a tram, ride a bike, walk, even, given the time, but don't drive unless you're ready to sit in your car for six hours with people with shiny trinkets showing their wares. Gets very dull and fumeladen. Oh, and if you do drive, please please make the kids keep theseat belts on! read more

You have to walk through these atleast once a year, seeing them turned on is something special! Go on the big wheel on central pier too for a great view. But please if you drive with your kids in the car dont let them stand up through the sunroof or hang out the windows its so dangerous! read more

Blackpool Illuminations is in my opinion a good night out for the family. The lights are fairly intresting even if a little tacky. There's got to be about 3 miles of lights on the seafront. Had some nice fish and chips while I was there too. It's not somewhere to go reguluarly but if you've never been it's worth a butchers just to see a bit of classic Brittish culture, however tacky. read more

Blackpool Illuminations - Local Flavor Near Me - Blackpool, BPL

Some of the old illuminations features are still there but look a little shabby and unkempt. Unfortunately most of the rest of the illuminations are advertisements which seems something of a shame. The doctor who exhibits outside the museum are good though, especially the dalek illuminations which look like they are flying. For kids they are probably still sparkly and exciting, but for some a little older, they seemed a bit sad and unloved now. read more

I went last year and found them quite dissapointing, there all so high up so at the end of the night you have a stiff neck. You have to park miles away and then end up paying a fortune. read more

I think that the Blackpool light's are the most amazing thing I have ever seen in my life, I am only young but I have been to many places. I love the trams they are amazing, this is one of the best sites i have seen in a long. I love light's because they make me happy. I love the fact that there is such a variety of different shaped light's and that a lot of though has been put in to making the show fantastic. read more

Blackpool Illuminations - Local Flavor Near Me - Blackpool, BPL

They are free, garish and tacky. This year there are more sponsored ones than ever, which getting into the spirit of the whole thing are even more fun. The kids will enjoy the slow drive through, specially if you get them chips to eat in the back. Don't drive if you hate traffic jams. At points it is very slow. read more

The Blackpool Illuminations have been a major part of Blackpool's attraction since 1879 when they were described as 'Artificial Sunshine' and have been a guiding light for visitors to the resort ever since. The brightest night of all in Blackpool is the Big Switch On, when thousands of people gather to witness the first illuminating night of the season, and the pulling of that famous switch - in 2010 by Robbie Williams and I was lucky to get two ticket and be there myself :-) read more

The illuminations is defintly one of the main reasons to go to black pool. The lights just go on for miles if you want to see them all i reccomend jumping on a tram or bus at around 9 or 10 pm. At the time you can appreciate them before since the patterns are a lot clearer when its dark. read more

Its free, its famous, and its a good evening out. Walk along the prom, get some good sea air with some chips. Nothing else like it!

A few years ago we were lucky enough to be holidaying in Blackpool the night that the Illuminations were turned on by Chris Evans. It really was an amazing night with thousands of happy revellers out in the street, you could hardly move for people singing and dancing to the pop music being piped into the street. We rode the tram up and down the whole length of the golden mile (which is actually more like 2 miles) and we had an amazing evening the lights were unbelievable and I would recommend everyone in the world go see the illuminations at some point in there life, who needs Vegas yeah baby! read more

You can't visit Blackpool without staying til dark for the illuminations. wait until they come on then either drive or walk down the front and take in the sights. They are beautiful and hold a fond place in my heart as I have been coming to see them since I can remember. They go in story themes and the big boards are great as they have moving characters from postman pat to an egyptian theme. At the end there are people holding buckets and you can fling some change in as a donation although you are not obliged to. There are often people wandering about selling all kinds of flashing lit up toys which can be expensive. read more

Blackpool is famous for its illuminations amongst other things. They are certainly worth going to blackpool for these alone. Starting at the Tower end of the promenade they offer a very bright and entertaining drive along the promenade. With the themes changing each year offer a spectacular journey along the promenade either by tram , car or by foot. The only problem is by the end you have stiff neck after looking up at each set of lights. considering it doesnt cost anyhting neither they are very good attraction read more

Great. A lovely walk, on a winters night

There is nothing like a walk through the illuminations Red Bank Rd at Bispham. A must for every autumn visit to Blackpool.This is definately the best stretch of the illuminations. read more

Probably more of a for the kids thing now. Seems to be very similar every year but still makes for a nice night out nonetheless, especially if you aren't from the Blackpool area. They dominate the main road going along the Blackpool front. Very traditional though and would be gutted if they ever stopped them! read more

Blackpool illuminations are a firm favourite with my family and we visit every year.It did have a patch a few years ago when the lights were getting same o same o but nowadays that isnt the case and with the Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen lights over the last couple of years they really have sprung back to life.Where else can you get such a fab night out for nothing read more

I used to go to the lights every year with my family when I was younger, and I loved every minute of it! It was always cold (as they're only on Sep-Nov) but it was always worth it, as there are always new and different lights each year. The last two years, I've taken my nephew and niece, and they love it, as there are also lots of people selling light up swords, wands, bunny ears etc. It is a good experience, as most of the time, you forget about the weather and just care about spending time with your family, and if you don't mind waiting in the traffic, you can just go slowly in your car along the road. I particularly love the lights by McDonalds, as there is about 4 columns of 'M's! read more

The illuminations are often the same every year. There used to be more lights on the side of the road near the tram tracks but most of these have seem to gone. The road gets very busy so it can take a very long time to go from one end to the other. However, they are worth going to if you have children. read more

This is a great place to go to see the lights. The kids love the different illuminations and the atmosphere on the night of the switch on is fantastic. It's a lovely walk going from one end to the other even on a cold night. read more

I took a friend who had never been to Blackpool before to see the Illuminations on the way back from a visit to the lakes for the day 25th September 2010. Well the illuminations were stunning as always, but Blackpool!! What are you doing? The Golden Mile is dug up, half the footpaths are blocked or missing, making you walk on the tram lines, not very safe at all at night. This is made worse by the street sellers selling toys/flashing lights and blocking the parts of footpaths that are open. The tower is partly covered, and the whole town looked tatty, rough and uncared for, boarded up shops and bars, broken windows, rubbish, no toilets was glad to get away. So sad to see, I hope Blackpool council can get some sort of standards sorted out, clean the place up and force owners of these run down buildings to repair them. read more

As a local, I have 2 view points here. 1: A lovely walk for a winter's night, ending at the Middle Chippy in Bispham. 2: A huge waste of electricity in the current climate problems, takes an hour to drive 2 miles between August and October, waste of time. PS - The designs used to be great: mummy's tomb etc. Now they are all advertisements. read more

We've been to Blackpool Illuminations several times over the years and they get better and better. There are lots of themed sections such as dr who and coronation street, and also a section of local people. The only real bugbear for me is the traffic jams - you can literally stay in the same place for 45 minutes, which is frustrating for small children. read more

These illuminations are OK. They seem to get the same ones out every year dding only a few new ones each time. However it is a good experience. If it is raining, which is 90% sure, i'd reccommend getting a tram around as the roads get quite busy. I wouldn't go to blackpool just for the illuminations though. You would have to park there and walk around abit to get a flavour of blackpool. Maybe go in the arcades and get some fish and chips. Or go in the tower during the day and illuminations at night. If your going to stay in a b&b be very warey and do your research some are VERY out-dated and falling appart. Don't stay in a large hotel. read more

coming to Blackpool in october to see the illuminations at night ( Pleasure beach by day) is one of my favorite memories as a child. this "Broadway of lights" stretches for miles aside the promenade of blackpool. it's great, and free! read more

these are extra special the get turned on by a different celebrety every year and are a mile long very beautyful well worth the mile long walk read more