Illuminations Diversions

It’s that time of year again – Blackpool Illuminations kicks off on Friday 1st September!

This exciting time means we’ll be using diversions throughout to keep you moving during Illuminations season. This is due to congestion in Blackpool Town Centre and surrounding areas.

Will my bus be affected?

The affected services will be 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 14, 15, 17 and 18.

Services 2 and 2C will be unaffected.

Don’t worry though! Here’s everything you need to know about our routes between 1st September and the end of the season.

When do the diversions start?

We’ll be adjusting our diversions in line with the Illuminations as we get further into the season.

Friday 1st September: From 6pm (Illuminations Switch-on)

Saturday 2nd September – Saturday 30 September: From 7pm

Sunday 1st October – Saturday 21st October: From 6pm

Sunday 22nd October – Saturday 4th November: From 5pm

Illuminations Switch-on (Friday 1st September) 

For the Illuminations switch-on event, we've got specific diversions in place to keep our services moving around the Town Centre and Promenade. 

For buses, diversions will be in place from 6pm until the end of service. All buses will follow the routes below, so please check if your service is affected before you travel. 

For trams, we'll be running a 'split service' from 6:30pm due to the amount of people on the Promenade. Our trams will not operate between Central Pier and North Pier, which means you can only travel uninterrupted from Starr Gate to Central Pier and North Pier to Fleetwood. You can still purchase a ticket for a full tram journey (i,e. Starr Gate to Fleetwood) but you will need to get off the tram between North and Central Pier to board again. 

• Last full tram journey northbound (Starr Gate to Fleetwood) leaves Starr Gate at 18:30
• Last full tram journey southbound (Fleetwood to Starr Gate) leaves Fleetwood Ferry at 17:50

If you need any help with your route, we will have ambassadors around the Town Centre on the night to assist. 

You can also find updated tram times here and updated bus times here for Friday 1st September. 

Where can I catch my bus in Blackpool Town Centre? 

If you usually catch your bus around the Town Centre, this table has every stop change during the Illuminations. 

We’ll also be signposting temporary stops and any closed stops with large signs to help you.

Service 1

Between 1st September and 2nd October, the Service 1 will not be affected.

Service 1 will only be affected from 3rd October onwards as the Illuminations switch-ons happen earlier in the evening. Exact details of this diversion will be announced soon.

Service 3

Northbound: The route is as normal until Topping Street where it continues along Dickson Road. The route is as normal again until Warbreck Drive where it uses Cavendish Road and Devonshire Road before resuming the normal route at Bispham Village.

Southbound: The route is as normal until Bispham Village Roundabout where it diverts using Devonshire Road, Northgate and Cavendish Road before resuming the normal route at Warbreck Drive to Dickson Road. The normal route continues until the Funny Girls stop where it uses Talbot Road to continue the normal route. 

Service 4

Northbound: The route is as normal until Topping Street where it continues along Dickson Road. Route is as normal again until Warbreck Drive where it diverts using Cavendish Road, Devonshire Road and Red Bank Road before resuming the normal route via Norcliffe Road.

Southbound: The route is as normal until Norcliffe Road where it diverts using Red Bank Road, Devonshire Road, Northgate and Cavendish Road before resuming the normal route via Warbreck Drive to Dickson Road. The normal route continues until the Funny Girls stop where it uses Talbot Road to continue the normal route. 

Service 5

Northbound: The route is as normal until the mini roundabout at the Gymnasium stop, then the bus diverts onto Grasmere Road, Condor Grove, Park Road and Church Street. It continues through St John’s Square to the temporary stop outside the Co-op. The bus will then resume the normal route via Abingdon Street onto Talbot Road.

Southbound: The route is as normal until Talbot Road where diverts using Cookson Street with the temporary stop at the Post Office, Grosvenor Street, Park Road and Read’s Avenue before resuming the normal route at Central Drive.

Service 6

Northbound: The route is as normal until Condor Grove and continues straight to Park Road, Church Street and through St John’s Square to the temporary stop outside the Co-op. The bus then resumes the normal route via Abingdon Street onto Talbot Road.

Southbound: The route is as normal until Church Street where it uses Cookson Street, George Street, Buchanan Street and Talbot Road. It continues to Bickerstaffe Square, diverts down Cookson Street with the temporary stop at the Post Office, Grosvenor Street, Park Road and Read’s Avenue to resume the normal route via Central Drive.

Service 7

Northbound: The route is as normal until the mini roundabout at the Gymnasium stop, then diverts to Grasmere Road, Condor Grove, Park Road and Church Street. It continues through St John’s Square to the temporary stop outside the Co-op, then resumes the normal route via Abingdon Street onto Talbot Road.

Southbound: Route is as normal until Talbot Road where it diverts down Cookson Street with the temporary stop at the Post Office. The bus then continues to Grosvenor Street, Park Road and Read’s Avenue to resume the normal route at Central Drive.

Service 9

The route is as normal until the bus returns to Talbot Road where it diverts left to Buchanan Street, George Street, Grosvenor Street, Church Street and St John’s Square to the temporary stop outside the Co-op.

Service 11

Northbound: The route is as normal until Lytham Road, then it diverts via Tyldesley Road, Rigby Road, Central Drive. At the mini roundabout at the Gymnasium stop, the bus will then divert onto Grasmere Road, Condor Grove, Park Road and Church Street to reach St John’s School where the service ends.

Southbound: The route diversion starts from St John’s School via St John's Square, then diverts using Talbot Road, Buchanan Street, Park Road, Read’s Avenue Central Drive, Rigby Road and Tyldesley Road before resuming the normal route down Lytham Road.

Service 14

The route is as normal until the bus returns to Talbot Road where it uses Buchanan Street, George Street, Grosvenor Street, Church Street and St John’s Square to the temporary stop outside the Co-op.

Service 15

Northbound: The route is as normal until Talbot Road, then uses Dickson Road, Springfield Road and Abingdon Street to finish at Queen Street.

Southbound: From Queen Street, the route diverts down Dickson Road and continues its normal route on Talbot Road.

Service 17

Northbound: The route is as normal until Condor Grove, at the roundabout it will continue straight to Park Road, Church Street and continue through to St John’s School where the service ends.

Southbound: From St John’s School, the diversion uses St John’s Square, Talbot Road, Buchanan Street, George Street, Grosvenor Street, Park Road and Read’s Avenue before resuming the normal route from Central Drive.

Service 18

Northbound: From Topping Street in the Town Centre, the route uses Dickson Road, Springfield Road, Abingdon Street and finally Queen Street.

Southbound: From Queen Street, the route uses Dickson Road to continue its normal route down Talbot Road.

Need a hand?

If you need help planning your journey, feel free to check out our Journey Planner.

Alternatively, get in touch with our friendly Customer Experience team who are on hand to help!