Blackpool Illuminations: a guide
Blackpool, Lancashire’s glitzy gem, is a fun visit all-year round. However, come autumn, the seaside town truly (and literally) shines, drawing millions with its awe-inspiring display: the Blackpool Illuminations.
Spanning six miles along the Promenade, this light show has been called the 'greatest free light show on Earth'. Let’s delve deeper into the history and technology of these illuminations, opened officially by a celebrity each year.
A bright start: the history
The beginnings of the Blackpool Illuminations date back to 1879. Then, they were a mere eight arc lamps, dubbed ‘artificial sunshine’.
Fast forward to 1912, and the lights took on a grander scale, with 10,000 bulbs used to celebrate the opening of Blackpool's new promenade. Since then, the display has continued to evolve, becoming a much-loved annual phenomenon interrupted only by the two World Wars.
Now, more than one million LED lamps are usedto keep the historic event alive, with over 12 milliion visitors per year.
Technology behind the twinkle
From those initial eight arc lamps, the technology fuelling the Illuminations has changed dramatically. Traditionally, incandescent bulbs painted the town in colourful hues.
Today, more environmentally friendly LED technology has replaced archaic wire bulbs. LEDs are not only energy-efficient but also offer a vibrant colour palette, making the displays even more mesmerising.
These days, the displays are no longer limited to static bulbs. Advanced lighting technology, including fibre optics, lasers, and interactive installations, have become a significant part of the event.
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Evolving with time
In recent years, Blackpool Illuminations have undergone huge changes. There's been a conscious effort to be more sustainable, with LED illumination helping reduce the carbon footprint of the shows by over two-thirds.
Collaborations with contemporary artists, designers, and technicians have given the displays new life, adding a touch of modern flair to the traditional charm. Stars are now invited to perform and open the illuminations annually (Olly Murs performed the honours in 2025).
Additionally, the Illuminations now boast 3D projection shows, interactive installations, and even a dedicated section showcasing young artists' lightworks, keeping it relevant for future audiences.
When to witness the magic
The Blackpool Illuminations typically light up the town from August to early January. While the entire duration offers a brilliant display, the best time to visit would be during the Blackpool Illuminations Switch On festival which marks the beginning of the Illuminations season. Featuring celebrity performances, concerts, and of course, the ceremonial switching on of the lights, it's a staple in the Blackpool calendar. Artists who have performed or exhibited include Ella Henderson, Spice Girl Mel B, and Celebrity Juice host Keith Lemon.
There are illuminated trams, a Ride the Lights bike event when the Promenade is closed to cars, and lots of events for kids.
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Ownership offers in Blackpool
Important information
Terms and conditions
Pre-owned holiday homes from £14,995 – UPDATED 24 June 2026
As at 24 June 2026, price is available at the following parks: Berwick, Blue Dolphin, Cardigan View, Church Farm, Cleethorpes Beach, Combe Haven, Craig Tara, Doniford Bay, Far Grange, Garreg Wen, Golden Sands, Greenacres, Hafan Y Mor, Haggerston Castle, Lakeland, Marton Mere, Orchards, Presthaven, Primrose Valley, Quay West, Reighton Sands, Rockley Park, Thornwick Bay, Wild Duck and Weymouth Bay. Price can be withdrawn at any time.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Price excludes 2026 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability. Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.
New holiday homes from £268 per month – UPDATED 24 June 2026
Holiday home price is based on a new 3-bedroom ABI New Horizon holiday home and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
Representative finance example. Holiday home cash price £29,995, less deposit of £8,998.50, gives a loan amount of £20,996.50. 120 monthly payments of £268.27. Total charge for credit £11,196.32. Total amount payable £41,191.32 which includes the deposit amount. The interest rate is 5.33% fixed / 9.6% APR (representative)
As at 24 June 2026, price is available at the following parks: Berwick, Blue Dolphin, Cardigan View, Church Farm, Cleethorpes Beach, Combe Haven, Craig Tara, Doniford Bay, Far Grange, Garreg Wen, Golden Sands, Greenacres, Hafan Y Mor, Haggerston Castle, Lakeland, Marton Mere, Orchards, Presthaven, Primrose Valley, Quay West, Reighton Sands, Rockley Park, Thornwick Bay, Wild Duck and Weymouth Bay. Price can be withdrawn at any time.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Price excludes 2026 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability. Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.
New 2 or 3-bed silver holiday homes with fron verandah from £416 per month – UPDATED 23 April 2026
Monthly price is based on the purchase of a Victory Ashberry 2 or 3 bed and inclusive of Front Verandah at an average price of £6,500, with a combined priced of £46,495 available at; Blue Dolphin, Craig Tara, Far Grange, Haggerston Castle, Hafan Y Mor, Lakeland, Marton Mere, Orchards, Reighton Sands, Cleethorpes Beach, Wild Duck, Church Farm. Representative Finance example. Package cash price £46,495, less 30% deposit of £13,948.50, gives a loan amount of £32,546.50. 120 monthly payments of £415.78. Total charge for credit £17,347.28. Total amount payable £63,842.28 which includes the deposit amount. The interest rate is 5.33% fixed / 9.6% APR (representative). Price is available independent of site fee offers available. Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times. Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England and Wales (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.
Terms and conditions
Let2offset - make no site fee payments until 2033
Let2offset is a contractual lettings product that offers eligible owners a guaranteed preferential letting income (re-calculated each year) in exchange for a stipulated number and type of letting breaks (i.e. off peak, peak) as set out in the application documents for each year. Instead of site fees being due annually, it also allows eligible owners to pay site fees and receive letting income in 12 equal monthly instalments; the monthly site fee is charged by Haven after deduction of the letting income.
‘Make no site fee payments until 2033 when using Let2offset’ is available at 33 Haven parks excluding Burnham, Cardigan View, Far Grange, Garreg Wen, Lydstep Beach, Riviere Sands and Seaview. The letting income received will vary by make, model and location but Haven guarantees that there will be no site fee payments due if the eligibility criteria is fulfilled. The monthly site fee payment does not include running costs e.g. utilities, rates & insurance which remain payable. Both letting income and site fees are subject to yearly pricing reviews and inflation.
“Make no site fee payments until 2033 when using Let2offset” is subject to the following eligibility criteria: (i) applicable to new and existing customers who purchase a new Victory Ashberry 3 bed or equivalent silver grade holiday home (https://www.haven.com/caravans-for-sale/ranges) (ii) the purchase must have been made through Haven; and (iii) customers have also signed up to Haven’s Let2offset contract at the time of caravan purchase. It is not applicable to caravans purchased by private sale and cannot be used in conjunction with our free Site Fee promotion and any other promotions or offers issued by Haven from time to time. An example of how “Make no site fee payments until 2033 when using Let2offset” operates under Let2offset is the purchase of a Victory Ashberry 3 Bed holiday home at Seton Sands with a monthly site fee of £701.67 (includes purchasing discount of £17.08) and monthly letting income of £707.92. The monthly difference equates to £6.25, which will be credited to the owner's account. The monthly site fee costs and letting income shown in the example are based on 2026 figures. Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times. Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.
Site fees from as little as £130 a month with Let2offset at Burnham-on-Sea
Let2offset is a contractual lettings product that offers eligible owners a guaranteed letting income at a preferential rate (calculated each year) in exchange for a stipulated number of letting breaks. It also allows eligible owners to pay their site fees and receive their letting income in 12 equal monthly instalments; the monthly site fee amount charged by Haven will be due after deduction of the letting income. ‘Site fees from as little as £130 a month with Let2offset’ is available at Burnham-on-Sea. The letting income received will vary by make, model and location. The monthly site fee payment does not include running costs e.g. utilities, rates & insurance. Offer is subject to availability.
“Site fees from as little as £130 a month with Let2offset” is applicable to new customer purchases of new Victory Ashberry 3 bed or equivalent silver grade holiday home (https://www.haven.com/caravans-for-sale/ranges) through Haven where customers have also signed up to Haven’s Let2offset contract. It is not applicable to caravans purchased by private sale and cannot be used in conjunction with our free Site Fee promotion. An example of how “Site fees from as little as £130 a month with Let2offset” operates under Let2offset is the purchase of a Victory Ashberry 3 bed holiday home at Burnham-on-Sea with a monthly site fee of £783.75 (includes purchasing discount of £19.58) and monthly letting income of £634.00. The monthly difference equates to £130.17 which will be billed to the owner's account monthly. Both letting income and site fees are subject to yearly pricing reviews and inflation. The monthly site fee costs and letting income shown in the example are based on 2025 figures. Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times. Park cannot be used as a permanent residence.
Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.
Site fees from as little as £160 a month with Let2offset at Lydstep Beach
Let2offset is a contractual lettings product that offers eligible owners a guaranteed letting income at a preferential rate (calculated each year) in exchange for a stipulated number of letting breaks. It also allows eligible owners to pay their site fees and receive their letting income in 12 equal monthly instalments; the monthly site fee amount charged by Haven will be due after deduction of the letting income. “Site fees from as little as £160 a month with Let2offset” is available at Lydstep Beach. The letting income received will vary by make, model and location. The monthly site fee payment does not include running costs e.g. utilities, rates & insurance. Offer is subject to availability. "Site fees from as little as £160 a month with Let2offset” is applicable to new customer purchases of new Victory Ashberry 3 bed or equivalent silver grade holiday home (https://www.haven.com/caravans-for-sale/ranges) through Haven where customers have also signed up to Haven’s Let2offset contract. It is not applicable to caravans purchased by private sale and cannot be used in conjunction with our free Site Fee promotion. An example of how “Site fees from as little as £160 a month with Let2offset” operates under Let2offset is the purchase of a Victory Ashberry 3 bed holiday home at Lydstep Beach with a monthly site fee of £939.58 (includes purchasing discount of £28.83) and monthly letting income of £751.17. The monthly difference equates to £159.58 which will be billed to the owner's account monthly. Both letting income and site fees are subject to yearly pricing reviews and the monthly site fee costs and letting income shown in the example are based on 2025 figures. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times. Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.
Move your caravan to Haven for free - full terms and conditions
This offer is available for holiday home owners not located at a Haven park and that want to relocate their holiday home from their current holiday park a Haven holiday park, subject to pitch availability and the satisfactory completion of our standard onboarding checks. It cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, discount or promotion, apart from the free 2026 site fee promotion if applicable to the Haven park. Haven reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time without notice.
In order to be eligible to participate in the offer, your holiday home must be situated within a 50-mile radius of the Haven park that you wish to relocate to. The holiday home must be no more than 15 years old from the date of manufacture and if it has been purchased under a finance agreement, the holiday homeowner must provide confirmation from their lender that the holiday home can be moved to the Haven park.
Haven will transport your holiday home from the entrance of its current holiday park location to the required Haven park and will reimburse your transportation costs up-to a maximum value of £750; any excess must be paid by the holiday homeowner. Haven does not accept any responsibility for any damage that happens to the interior of your holiday home whilst it is being transported to one of our holiday parks. We recommend your holiday home is fully packed down and ready for transportation. Transportation does not include decking. Any decking bought onto a Haven park must be approved by the General Manager of that park to ensure it meets Haven standards. Siting and connection costs for your holiday home on a Haven park will be paid for by Haven. Offer excludes payment of holiday home disconnection at your current park and transportation costs from its current pitch to the entrance of its current park.
Subject to availability and status. Deposit required. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer, discount, or promotion. Access to your holiday home is subject to park opening times. Images are shown for representational purposes. Park cannot be used as a permanent residence.
Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.