Quick Guide to Illuminated Heritage Trams & Tours

We all love the Illuminated Heritage Trams! They’re a long standing tradition in Blackpool – and guaranteed to make you smile!

The Current Fleet of Illuminated Heritage Trams

Meet the Illuminated Heritage Trams seen on the Blackpool tramway during the autumn evenings of the Illuminations season. Follow the links to photos, videos and more information about each one.

1. HMS Blackpool

The HMS Blackpool Frigate Tram is based on the Royal Navy Frigate of the same name.

2. Fisherman’s Friend Trawler Tram

The beautiful Fisherman’s Friend Trawler Tram has been fully restored and bedecked in thousands of glittering LED lights!

It’s sponsored by the famous Fisherman’s Friend. These famous little lozenges are made just along the coast in nearby Fleetwood.

3. Western Train Tram

The Western Train is a firm favourite, and it’s also the tram that carries Santa to meet excited children at Christmas time too!

Catch a fleeting glimpse of it in this video clip –

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Here’s some service trams, alongside the favourite Illuminated trams. They were all out together for the night on Thursday 27 October 2022 for the Tram Parade. Barrie C Woods captured them for us in these fab photos!

History of the Illuminated Heritage Trams

The first illuminated trams were seen on the promenade in 1897.

Early ones celebrated Royal visits and the completion of promenade works.

• Find out about the history of the first illuminated trams here

This video clip of the Illuminated Heritage Trams in 2012 is by Bruce Kitchener from YouTube –

Illuminated Heritage Tram Tours

One of the treats of the autumn season is a ride on one of these three amazing illuminated heritage trams.

They’re lit up at night during the Blackpool Illuminations and operate in the evening from September to the beginning of November each year.

Catch your Heritage Tram Tour from the heritage tram stop at the Pleasure Beach. It’s just across from the main entrance, adjacent to the tram turning circle at the left hand side of the Sandcastle Waterpark.

An illuminations tour lasts on average 1hr 15 mins. Your ride takes you from the Heritage Tram Stop, through the Lights of the Golden Mile, all the way along Blackpool promenade to Bispham. Then return back to where you began at the Pleasure Beach.

PLEASE NOTE that you can ONLY board an Illuminations tram tour at the Pleasure Beach Heritage Tram Stop. Having turned round, on the way back you can get off the tram at any of the Heritage stops between Little Bispham and the Pleasure Beach.

Heritage Tram Tours FAQs and Helpful Hints!

• Can we pre-book tours? – Yes. In 2020 ALL Heritage Tram Tours MUST be booked in advance.

• Do you operate every day? – Please check the Heritage Tram Tours website for availability.

• Do you operate tours on Switch On night? – No, we start the day after, on the Saturday.

• Where do we catch an Illuminations Tour? – ONLY from Pleasure Beach Heritage Stop. You can get off an Illuminations tour at other Heritage Tram Stops on the return journey.

…and a few more!

• Are all trams illuminated? – There’s a mixture of Illuminated and Heritage trams. You can get a great view of the Illuminations from the top deck of the Double Deckers!

• Can concession passes be used on Heritage Trams? – No, these are not valid for tours.

• Are Heritage Day Tickets valid for 24 hours? – No, only valid on the day of purchase.

• Can I hire a Heritage Tram? – Yes, please call Emma on 01253 209521 for more details!