Blackpool is roughly 120 to 130 miles from Birmingham, mostly via the M6 and M55, and the drive usually takes about two to two and a half hours in normal traffic. In 2026, the Illuminations run along the full six-mile route until Sunday 1 November, from Starr Gate to Red Bank Road in Bispham. After that, a shorter stretch between Pleasure Beach and Gynn Roundabout stays lit until Sunday 3 January 2027.
Seeing the lights on an evening trip from Birmingham means a late journey home, usually around midnight or later. That’s why many families and groups book a taxi rather than driving themselves. This guide covers the dates and lighting times, how to plan the evening, and how a private taxi trip compares with driving or taking the train.
Blackpool Illuminations 2026 at a glance
| What you need to know | Details |
|---|---|
| Full route | About six miles, Starr Gate to Red Bank Road, until 1 November 2026 |
| Festive route | Pleasure Beach to Gynn Roundabout, 2 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 |
| Typical lighting times | From early evening; off at 10.30pm on most nights, midnight on Fridays and Saturdays |
| Distance from Birmingham | Roughly 120 to 130 miles |
| Typical drive | Around 2 to 2.5 hours in normal traffic |
| Main route | M6 north, then the M55 into Blackpool |
Lighting times change through the season. Check VisitBlackpool’s official timetable for your date before you travel.
When the lights are on
Lighting times in October
The lights come on earlier as the evenings draw in. VisitBlackpool’s 2026 timetable has them coming on at 7pm in early October, then gradually earlier through the month. After the clocks go back on Sunday 25 October, they come on at around 5.30pm.
On most nights, the lights go off at 10.30pm. On Fridays and Saturdays, they usually stay on until midnight, which gives you longer on the busiest nights of the week.
After 1 November
From Monday 2 November, the display moves to a shorter route between Pleasure Beach and Gynn Roundabout as part of Blackpool’s festive programme. It’s still worth the trip, but the drive past the lights will be shorter than earlier in the season.
Lightpool during half-term
Around October half-term, Blackpool also runs the Lightpool festival, which adds light installations and projections to the usual display. VisitBlackpool publishes the dates and events, so check what’s on before you set off.
How an evening trip from Birmingham works
A typical timeline
Most evening trips follow a similar pattern:
- Leave Birmingham in the mid to late afternoon, so you arrive around dusk.
- Have something to eat in Blackpool before the lights come on.
- See the lights, by driving along the Promenade, walking a section, or both.
- Head home in the late evening, arriving back in the Midlands around midnight or later.
Choosing your day
Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest nights, but they also have the latest switch-off times. Weeknights are usually quieter, both on the Promenade and on the motorway. If you’re travelling with young children, a weeknight in mid to late October, when the lights come on earlier, makes for a more manageable evening.
What to expect on the Promenade
The Promenade is a working road, and on busy nights traffic moves slowly through the lights. Some visitors enjoy that slow drive past the displays. Others prefer to stop and walk a section, especially around the Tower and the piers, where many of the illuminated tableaux are.
Taking a private taxi to the Illuminations
Why a taxi suits an evening trip
The timing is what makes a taxi work well for this trip. By the time the lights go off, you’re about two hours from home, and most people are tired. With a pre-booked taxi, nobody has to drive back down the M6 late at night, and everyone can relax on the way home.
Driving along the lights
Your driver can take you along the Promenade so you can see the Illuminations from the car. If you’d also like to stop and walk a stretch, agree a drop-off and pickup point in advance, such as near the Tower or North Pier.
Return journeys and waiting
For an evening trip, your driver also needs to bring you home. When you book, tell us how long you’d like to spend in Blackpool and whether you’d like the driver to wait for you. We’ll confirm the arrangements and the fare before you travel.
Choosing the right vehicle
Families and groups of up to seven can travel together in the Mercedes V-Class. If there are only two or three of you, the Mercedes E-Class is comfortable on the motorway. Celebrating a special occasion, such as an anniversary? The Mercedes S-Class offers extra space. Child seats are available on request.
If you’d like a fixed price for your Illuminations trip, you can get a quote online.
Taxi vs driving vs train
| Option | Works well for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Driving yourself | Couples and families happy to drive late | Over two hours home after a long evening; parking in Blackpool |
| Train | Visitors staying overnight in Blackpool | Changes, late trains home, getting to the Promenade |
| Pre-booked taxi | Families and groups on an evening trip | Needs booking in advance |
Driving yourself
Driving gives you flexibility, but whoever drives misses much of the evening. They also need to stay alert for the long drive home after the lights go off. On popular nights, parking near the Promenade can be busy as well.
Taking the train
There’s no direct train from Birmingham to Blackpool, so you’ll need to change, usually at Preston. Late trains home can be limited, so the train suits visitors staying overnight better than an evening trip.
Pre-booked taxi
A taxi takes you door to door, and the fare is fixed when you book, whatever the traffic does. Our guide to fixed-price and metered taxis explains why that matters on longer journeys.
Traffic and timing on the M6
Getting there
The M6 north of Birmingham is busy at the best of times, and late-afternoon traffic can slow the journey. On Fridays, the evening rush hour adds to it. Allow extra time so you reach Blackpool before the lights come on.
Coming home
The return journey is usually quicker, as the motorway is quieter late at night. However, overnight roadworks on the M6 and M55 can mean diversions, so your driver will check the route before you set off.
Half-term and weekends
During October half-term, more families travel to Blackpool, and both the Promenade and the approach roads are busier. If you have a choice, a weeknight outside the holidays is usually calmer.
Planning your evening in Blackpool
Eating before the lights
Blackpool has plenty of places to eat along the Promenade and in the town centre. With the lights coming on in the early evening, an early meal lets you see the display without rushing.
Seeing the lights on foot
If you want to walk part of the route, the area around the Tower and the central piers is a popular choice. Wear comfortable shoes and warm layers, because the seafront can be windy and cold in autumn.
Heritage trams
Blackpool’s trams run along the Promenade, and illuminated heritage tram tours have run on selected nights during the season. If you’d like to see the lights from a tram, check what’s running before you travel.
Travelling with children
With younger children, an early-evening visit in late October, when the lights come on earlier, means you can see the display and still head home at a reasonable time. Bring snacks, drinks and something comfortable for the journey home, as many children will fall asleep in the car.
Late-night pickups and getting home
Most Illuminations trips from Birmingham finish late, and you’ll usually get home around midnight or later. If you’ve booked a taxi, agree the pickup time and place in advance, and keep your phone charged. If your plans change during the evening, message your driver.
Our guide to late-night and early-morning taxis in Birmingham explains what to expect when travelling after dark.
Groups and special occasions
The Illuminations are a popular choice for birthdays, family outings and group trips. For a larger group, one vehicle is simpler than several cars, and it keeps everyone together all evening. If you’re organising a trip for a club, a group of friends or several families, contact us with your numbers and dates.
What to tell us when you book
A few details help us plan the evening properly:
- The date you’d like to travel, and whether it’s a weeknight or a weekend
- Your pickup address and the number of passengers
- Whether you want to drive along the Promenade, stop and walk, or both
- Where you’d like to eat, if you’ve booked a table
- How long you’d like to spend in Blackpool, and your preferred time to head home
- Any child seats, mobility aids or accessibility needs
- A mobile number that will be switched on during the evening
Accessibility
Seeing the lights from the car suits anyone who finds walking long distances difficult, as you can enjoy most of the display without leaving your seat. If anyone in your group uses a wheelchair or mobility aid, tell us its size when you book, so we can confirm it fits alongside your other passengers and bags.
Pickups across Birmingham and the Midlands
We collect from homes across the region. That includes pickups through our Birmingham taxi service, and from Wolverhampton, Sutton Coldfield and Stafford, all on the way to the M6 north. Our coverage area page lists every town we serve.
Book your Blackpool Illuminations taxi
NET Airport Transfers runs pre-booked, fixed-price taxis from Birmingham and the Midlands to the Blackpool Illuminations and back. Tell us your date, your group size and how long you’d like to spend in Blackpool, and we’ll plan the evening around the lighting times. Book your Illuminations taxi online.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the Blackpool Illuminations on in 2026?
The full six-mile route, from Starr Gate to Red Bank Road, runs until Sunday 1 November 2026. A shorter route, between Pleasure Beach and Gynn Roundabout, then runs until Sunday 3 January 2027.
What time do the Blackpool Illuminations come on?
It depends on the date. In early October, the lights come on at about 7pm, getting earlier through the month, and at about 5.30pm after the clocks go back. Check VisitBlackpool's timetable for your date.
What time do the Blackpool Illuminations go off?
On most nights, at 10.30pm. On Fridays and Saturdays, they usually stay on until midnight.
How far is Blackpool from Birmingham?
Roughly 120 to 130 miles. The drive usually takes around two to two and a half hours in normal traffic, via the M6 and M55.
Can you see the Illuminations from the car?
Yes. The lights run along the Promenade, which is a working road, so you can see much of the display from the car. On busy nights, traffic moves slowly.
Is there a direct train from Birmingham to Blackpool?
No. You'll usually need to change trains, typically at Preston. Late trains home can be limited, so check the timetable before planning an evening trip.
