Europe > 🇬🇧  United Kingdom > Blackpool (BLK)

TL;DR: Car optional for short stays
car v no car
car v no car
The Car or no Car advice for  Blackpool can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Blackpool ;  is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).

🚆 🚌⛴️ Do you need to rent a car in Blackpool ?

These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t strictly need to rent a car.

🇬🇧 Mode

Score

🚆 Trains - includes all types of inter-city rail based transport: Direct rail links connect Blackpool nationally. trains score 6
🚌 Bus & Metro - includes bus rapid transit, trams, suburban rail and metro / subway: Local buses and trams serve the resort. buses score 6
👀 Guided Tours - includes bus or car based private tours and guided walking tours: Entertainment and heritage tours are popular. walking score 7
🚶‍♂️ Walking - includes both urban walking and rural hiking: Seafront and centre are very walkable. walking score 7
🚴 Cycling - includes urban cycling and bike share + rural cycling. Considers safety and hire availability: Flat terrain but limited protected cycling lanes. cycling score 5
⛴️ Ferries & Cruises - includes river crossings, dinner cruises, lake steamers etc (not long duration cruise packages): Small coastal and pleasure boats operate. ferries score 4
  • For all transport modes, a score of 0 = very poor or none available; 10 = outstandingly good.

💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Blackpool?

These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.

🇬🇧 Factor

Score

🚗 Car Availability & Cost - is there a wide choice of self-drive rental cars at decent prices? Limited local competition in small non-airport market. car rental availability score 4
⛽ Fuel & Toll Costs - Expensive fuel, no tolls. Typical: $7/gal | 1.85 €/l fuel and tolls score 5
🛣️ Road Quality - Road quality average. road quality score 6
⚠️ Road Safety - Generally safe UK driving environment. road safety score 8
🅿️ Parking Availability & Cost - Parking generally available outside seafront. parking score 6
  • For all factors, a score of 0 = very poor; 10 = outstandingly good


Blackpool Car Rental Costs

J F M A M J J A S O N D
3 3 4 4 4 5 6 6 5 4 4 4
Price bands:
  • From 1 ($0-10 per day) to 10 ($90-100 per day);
  • For typical cheapest available economy hire car;
  • Jan - Mar 2027 / Apr - Dec 2026.
  • Prices correct as of Feb 2026 - estimates only, not a guarantee.
🚗Do we need a car in Blackpool? Is it worth it? Should we rent one? | Comment
Blackpool is one of Britain’s most iconic seaside resorts, famous for its tower, trams, promenade, piers, shows, and family entertainment. Because everything runs along a long but linear coastal strip, many visitors ask: should you rent a car in Blackpool? The truth is that Blackpool offers excellent public transport, easy walking, and simple connections to nearby towns. So your decision depends on how far you want to explore beyond the resort.


🎡 Promenade Life: Trams Do the Heavy Lifting

Blackpool’s seafront tramway is one of the easiest coastal routes in Europe.
It runs from Fleetwood in the north to Starr Gate in the south, passing:

  • Blackpool Tower

  • Central Pier

  • Pleasure Beach

  • All major hotels

  • The Illuminations route

This makes movement effortless.

You don’t need a car for the promenade attractions.


🚶 Walking Works for Most of the Resort

The central strip is flat and built for pedestrians.
You can stroll between piers, arcades, shops, and theatres without difficulty.
Taxis and buses cover inland neighbourhoods.

A car adds little value inside central Blackpool.


🚆 Rail Takes You Further Afield

Trains connect you quickly to:

  • Preston

  • Manchester

  • Liverpool

  • Lancaster

  • The Lake District

These routes are simple and often faster than driving.

You can explore northwest England without renting a car.


🌄 When a Car Does Become Useful

A car helps only if you want to:

  • Visit rural Lancashire

  • Explore the Trough of Bowland

  • Reach beach towns not on the tram (e.g., St Anne’s)

  • Make day trips to countryside pubs or hiking areas

Even then, journeys aren’t far.

Driving helps for countryside touring only.


🧭 Quick Table

Plan Car Needed?
Promenade + piers ❌ No
Tower + Pleasure Beach ❌ No
Nearby towns by train ❌ No
Lancashire countryside ❔ Optional
Rural touring ✅ Yes

🎯 Conclusion: Should You Rent a Car in Blackpool?

  • ❌ Skip the car for the resort itself — trams, walking, and trains do everything better.

  • ❔ Consider renting a car only if you want to explore inland Lancashire or small rural villages.


Search for Car Rental in Blackpool with Economy Bookings .com

🚗Do we need a car in Blackpool? Is it worth it? Should we? | Comment

🚗 ✅ ❌ Summary Table

This summary score brings together how much you really need a car, whether it’s worth it, and an overall recommendation.

🇬🇧 Factor

Score

Road Trips - Is Blackpool a good place to start a road trip? Limited leisure road trip value road trip score 3
Road Trip Length - How long might a typical road trip last? | In a loop / out and back / one way? 1 day - Short Lancashire coast trips

Structures - Are there loads of impressive bridges and tunnels around Blackpool? Promenade roads and highways structures score 4
🚦 Overall Need for a Car - Is it necessary to hire a car in Blackpool? (high score = yes). need score 6
💶 Is It Worth It? - High score = good value worth score 6
Partial car rental doodle Partial Rental: Is it worth renting a car in Blackpool for some of the time, rather than all or nothing (e.g. for a 7 day trip)?

2/7

Do most people visiting Blackpool rent a car? (From 0 to 10). worth score 3
🚗Should You Rent a Car in Blackpool?
overall should you rent a car score 7

Frequently Asked Questions

Visited? – Have we visited Blackpool in person (year)? N/A
  • How do we define "road trips" and suggest their duration?
Updates – When was this page last updated:
  • Automatic*: Feb-26
  • Manual*: Oct-25
  • Automatic = update of table data; Manual = update of page text | How do we update pages ?
What are the general advantages and disadvantages of renting a car in any location?
  • Pros include – time freedom, wider access, often best value for groups of 4–7.
  • Cons include – hassle of driving on unfamiliar roads and parking, often expensive for solo travellers and couples, less environmentally friendly than public transport.
I'm still not sure whether or not to rent a car in Blackpool – can you offer more advice?
  • We always welcome comments using the form below.
  • Unfortunately we can’t take phone calls or answer individual emails.
Can you advise us on how to get the best car rental deal in Blackpool?
  • Our most useful advice is not to rent a car you don’t need!
  • After that, our advice is similar to what you would expect anywhere else – book well ahead, use your own CDW insurance, watch out for fuel contracts, avoid fines and shop around.

👍🏾 / 👎🏻 Will You Rent a Car in Blackpool?

Will you rent a car?Would you rent a car in Blackpool, or would you rely on tours or public transport instead? Everyone travels differently, and the right choice often depends on where you’re going, how long you’re staying, and what kind of trip you’re planning.

Hopefully this page has given you a quick, practical overview of the pros and cons of renting a car in Blackpool, and whether it’s really necessary or not. Maybe it’s helped you make up your mind — or maybe you’ve already visited and have insights to share.

We always welcome comments, questions, and comparisons with other cities.

All feedback is read, and any questions or clarifications are usually replied to within 24 hours.  

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *