Getting around Blackpool
Blackpool is a compact seaside resort, and most visitors find they can cover the main attractions on foot, by tram or by bus. The town's transport network is built around the seafront, so where you stay will shape how you get around. The central promenade area, around Talbot Square and Talbot Road, concentrates hotels, theatres and the Tower, with tram stops close by. North Shore and the wider Fylde coast sit further from the central attractions and may need a bus or tram to reach comfortably.
On foot
Walking is the simplest way to explore the seafront. The promenade is flat, which makes it easy going for most visitors, including those with limited mobility. Bear in mind that the central stretch between Pleasure Beach and Bispham is a long walk, and the full strip from Starr Gate to Fleetwood is longer still, so many people walk part of the way and ride the tram for the rest.
As a rough guide, the walk from North Pier to Pleasure Beach takes most people the better part of an hour. Cycle lanes and shared paths run along parts of the promenade, and bike hire is available on South Promenade near Pleasure Beach.
Tram
The tramway is the signature way to travel in Blackpool. Trams run the length of the seafront from Starr Gate in the south to Fleetwood in the north, passing Pleasure Beach, Central Pier and North Pier along the way. For seafront journeys the tram is often the fastest option, and the modern low-floor trams are wheelchair accessible.
Services run frequently through the day during the main season, with a reduced frequency in the shoulder season and late at night. You can pay on board by cash or card. If you arrive by train, a "Plusbus" ticket add-on allows tram travel within Blackpool, though not as far as Fleetwood.
Blackpool also has a heritage tram operation, which runs separately from the regular service and requires its own ticket. Note that heritage tram tickets may not cover buses.
Bus
Blackpool Transport operates most local buses and trams, and Stagecoach runs some longer routes towards Preston and Kirkham using its own ticketing. Local buses fan out from the town centre to districts across the resort and along the coast, with several routes running as clockwise or anticlockwise loops, so it is worth checking a route map before you set out.
Fares are organised into zones. The "blue" Zone 1 covers the whole town, reaching north to Cleveleys, east to Poulton-le-Fylde and south to Starr Gate. Anything beyond that is Zone 2, covering Thornton, Fleetwood and St Annes. Single fares are modest, and a 24-hour ticket costs only a little more than two singles, so it pays for itself quickly if you plan to make several journeys. Longer 3, 7 and 30 day tickets are also available.
The DaySaver ticket covers both buses and trams for a full day, which is convenient if you want to mix the two. Tickets can be bought on board from the driver, at ticket machines at major stops, or through the Blackpool Transport app, and cash and contactless payment are generally accepted.
The bus station sits on Talbot Road, a short walk from the beach front. It is fairly basic, with a prefab ticket office and toilets but limited shelter, so do not plan to wait there for long in bad weather.
Rail
Blackpool has two main railway stations. Blackpool North is the principal station, roughly a ten to fifteen minute walk from North Pier, Talbot Square and the central hotels, and it has a staffed ticket office, machines, a cafe, toilets and step-free access. Blackpool South is a smaller single-platform terminus with no facilities, though it also has step-free access; it is the more convenient station for Pleasure Beach and South Promenade, along with nearby Squires Gate.
All trains to Blackpool run via Preston, which is the key interchange if you are coming from the Midlands, Scotland or further afield. From Preston the onward journey takes around half an hour. Services from Preston are frequent and may originate from Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester Airport, York or London Euston. Blackpool South is served by a slower hourly service from Preston that calls at stations along the coast including Lytham, St Annes, Squires Gate and Pleasure Beach.
Taxi and ride-hailing
More than a dozen taxi firms operate in the town, including several based around the centre. Fares are regulated, with a maximum set by the council, so you should not be overcharged. Local minicabs can work out cheaper than metered fares for longer trips such as airport transfers, so it is worth pre-booking.
Ride-hailing apps such as Uber do operate in Blackpool, but availability varies and can be scarce late at night and on North Shore. If you are relying on a ride home after a late show, a pre-booked local firm is usually the safer bet.
Getting there from the airport
Blackpool Airport no longer handles scheduled passenger flights, so visitors arriving by air will come through Manchester or Liverpool.
Manchester Airport has the widest range of flights and is the easiest to reach by public transport. Direct trains run between the airport and Blackpool North, with additional connections available by changing at Preston. The journey by train, including a change at Preston, generally takes somewhere between an hour and a half and two hours depending on connections. A taxi from Manchester Airport to Blackpool town centre is a considerably more expensive option, in the region of £90 to £110.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport, to the south, handles budget flights across Europe. A taxi from there to Blackpool runs roughly £80 to £100. If you are arriving into Preston by train and need a taxi onward to the centre of Blackpool, expect to pay around £25 to £30.
Practical tips
- Summer, especially June to August, brings the heaviest crowds, and the Illuminations season from late summer into early November adds extra trams but also delays.
- Winter storms can bring strong onshore winds and occasional disruption to services, so check Blackpool Transport alerts before travelling.
- Late-night tram frequency drops outside the peak season, so plan your evening accordingly.
- If you are staying on North Shore or further along the Fylde coast, expect to use buses or the tram rather than walking to the central attractions.
- Bikes can sometimes be carried on the modern trams outside peak times, subject to operator rules, with folding bikes the easiest option.