Fun Arena UK
A big indoor inflatable arena on the old Burscough Aerodrome, with a 10,000 sq ft castle, a three-storey climbing frame and a separate toddler castle. Book ahead, and note that weekday mornings in term time are toddlers only.
Days out with the kids in Burscough
4 places in Burscough, Lancashire. Everything below is within easy reach if you live locally.
4 in Burscough2 indoor
Burscough is a village on the flat West Lancashire mosses with two proper animal days sitting either side of it, a better ratio than towns ten times the size manage. Martin Mere is the famous one: otter feeds, flamingos, pond dipping and a canoe safari through the reeds in season, the sort of place that converts a nature-indifferent child by mid-afternoon.
Windmill Animal Farm is the smaller, friendlier alternative, its star turn a miniature railway running out across the fields, with enough under cover to survive drizzle. Both are paid days, so this is not a cheap corner of Lancashire, but relief is close: Farmer Ted's at Ormskirk is ten minutes away, and Southport's free Botanic Gardens and cheap funfair are fifteen when the budget needs a rest.
Places in Burscough
Windmill Animal Farm
A friendly hands-on farm whose star turn is the miniature railway running out across the fields. Animal handling sessions, indoor play for wet spells, and it never feels too big.
WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre
Otters at feeding time, flamingos, pond dipping and a canoe safari through the reeds in season. One of those places that quietly turns a nature-indifferent child into a nature child.
The Farm Burscough
A working farm on Martin Lane out in the Burscough mossland, with a flat circular walk past the lake, the hens, the goats, the alpacas and two donkeys called Walter and Tommy. The tea room is a restored barn.
What’s on in Burscough
4 dated events coming up.
Santa Train at Windmill Animal Farm
Windmill Animal Farm, Burscough
28 Nov to 23 Dec. Selected dates, 28 November to 23 December
The farm train takes you out to Santa's newly designed grotto, with the fallow deer herd to spot as you pull into Lake View Station, and each child chooses an age-appropriate gift. The ticket covers the whole farm for the day, and adults get a hot drink and homemade cake, which is the part adults remember.
Written by us
Sail to Santa at WWT Martin Mere
WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Burscough
5 Dec to 23 Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13 and 19 to 23 December, booked boat times
A boat crossing to Santa's Island, where Santa and his elves hand out one gift per child and there is a festive craft. The catch is the maths: the £18.50 does not include centre admission for anyone, and only one adult per child fits on the boat, so extra grown-ups walk round to the island.
Written by us
Christingle Service (opens on Holy Trinity)
Holy Trinity · Burscough
24 Dec. Thursday 24 December, 3.15pm and 4pm
During this service we will sing carols, watch a lively dramatic telling of the Christmas story and be presented with a Christingle.
Listed by Holy Trinity · collected 1 Nov
Christingle Service (opens on St Mary the Virgin)
St Mary the Virgin · Burscough
24 Dec. Thursday 24 December, 3.15pm and 4pm
During this service we will sing carols, watch a lively dramatic telling of the Christmas story and be presented with a Christingle.
Listed by St Mary the Virgin · collected 1 Nov
Also worth the drive
Not in Burscough, but close enough for a day out.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
The big one. Nickelodeon Land covers the primary ages properly while the Big One and the wooden coasters wait for brave older kids. August queues are real; go in expecting them and it is a great day.
Blackpool Tower
Tower Top's glass floor 380 feet up, a proper circus that still knows how to play to kids, and the famous ballroom below for a fancy ice cream. Buy the attractions you want rather than the bundle you will not use.
Sandcastle Waterpark
The UK's biggest indoor waterpark, kept at tropical temperature: proper toddler pools and mini slides at one end, big flumes at the other. Rainy-day Blackpool solved.
Blackpool Zoo
Elephants, gorillas, giraffes and sea lions in 37 acres that are actually walkable with primary-age legs - big enough to feel like a full day, small enough that nobody ends up carried.
Sea Life Blackpool
A solid seafront aquarium with an ocean tunnel and rockpool sessions - the reliable wet-weather hour when the beach plan falls apart.
Stanley Park
Blackpool's grand free option: Italian gardens, a big boating lake, one of the best playgrounds on the coast and model boats on the lake. The antidote to a wristband day.
Farmer Ted's Adventure Farm
Built precisely for the under-9s: animal encounters, giant jumping pillows, tractor rides and a big indoor play barn that rescues wet days. Older siblings will tolerate it; little ones adore it.
Brockholes Nature Reserve
A nature reserve with a visitor village that floats on the lake. Genuinely floats. Easy flat trails, hides, a huge adventure playground and family crafts and events in the school holidays.
What’s on near you, every Friday
One email a week: what is on this weekend within a sensible drive, and the places worth booking before they go.