Car rental in Blackpool

Compare & Save on car rental in Blackpool

Britain’s number one vacation resort, Blackpool is a seaside resort town in the north west of England. Situated along the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, 12 million people pay a visit to Blackpool each year. This seaside town first came to prominence as a vacation getaway when visits to the coast became a fashionable way to improve one’s health during the mid-18th century. With its 7 miles of sandy beach, Blackpool began to attract holidaymakers looking to escape the city smog of nearby Manchester and Halifax. Following the expansion of the railways into Blackpool in the 1840s, the town’s popularity as a vacation destination began to grow exponentially, particularly among the working classes. By 1881 it was a booming resort with a population of 14,000, a promenade with multiple piers, fortune-tellers, public houses, trams, donkey rides, fish-and-chip shops and theatres. Today, tourists are still drawn here by Blackpool’s famous Tower, piers and Pleasure Beach, and it remains the archetypal English Seaside Town.

Things to Do in Blackpool

Most tourists are drawn to Blackpool’s two most famous sights - Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Blackpool Tower. The Tower is one of the most famous in the UK, a pint-sized version of the Eiffel. As well as offering up seven levels of attractions on the way up, including an aquarium and ballroom, the views from the top deck, following a ride in the glass elevator, are well worth the climb – and the crowds.

Top 3 Must See: Blackpool

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  Blackpool Pleasure Beach

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  Blackpool Tower

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  The Blackpool Illuminations – light festival from August to November

No visit to Blackpool would be complete without a visit to the Pleasure Beach, a huge funfair packed with eleven rollercoasters, and some beautiful Art Deco buildings too. Take a stroll along one of the towns three piers – Blackpool is the only town in Britain to boast this many – and a donkey ride along the sand before enjoying a real seaside treat - traditional fish and chips. If you fancy escaping the hustle and bustle of the beach, head for the relative calm of the Winter Gardens, Blackpool Zoo, Sandcastle Water Park, or take in a show at Blackpool Grand Theatre, the National Theatre of Variety.

Drive Around Blackpool

While most visitors head to Blackpool for the lively nightlife at the weekend, for extended trips, or if you plan to visit nearby towns and villages, renting a car is the best way to tour about at your leisure. Liverpool is only a 27 mile drive north, while Manchester is just 40 miles northwest, and both are well worth a visit while you’re in this part of the country. Blackpool can be reached via the M55 from the M6, and car rental is easily accessible around the town. Closer to home, and also well worth exploring, are the nearby fishing village of Fleetwood, with its famous market, and Lytham St. Annes – another coastal resort that offers up a far quieter, traditional seaside atmosphere.