67 places across Lancashire, 39 of which cost nothing. Every one written up honestly, with dated events from the venues that run them.
Half the county's list is Blackpool, and honestly, lean into it. The Pleasure Beach is still the North West's big rollercoaster day, Sandcastle Waterpark sorts out any weather, and the Illuminations turn an ordinary autumn evening into an event for nothing. The catch is that Blackpool prices stack: Tower plus Sea Life plus the Dungeon is three separate tickets, so pick one and book online.
The rest of Lancashire is quieter and cheaper. Brockholes floats its visitor village on a lake near Preston and costs only the parking, WWT Martin Mere does wetland birds properly, and Happy Mount Park at Morecambe is an old-fashioned free park with a splash pad. Wet days away from the seafront thin out fast, The Harris in Preston being the honourable free exception, so save the countryside for dry weather and keep family days out in Lancashire flexible.
35 dated events coming up across the county.
Come and join us at our pre-school sessions that let your little ones get in touch with nature and explore Brockholes.
Six miles of lights along the prom from the big switch-on night to early January. Drive it, walk it, or catch a heritage tram through the middle of it, which is the version kids remember.
Discover our church’s story and be part of its future.
Discover our church’s story and be part of its future.
We will be hosting an exhibition curated by Ken Bowe, looking at 100 years of Variety Performance in Blackpool, as well as welcoming you to the home of the famous 'Actors Chapel' with names from…
Join us for a mixture of crafts and activities followed by a story, song, and shared food.
Everything on29 more not shown here
Twelve to start with. Each area above has the full list.
St Annes' restored Victorian gardens a street back from the seafront: rose beds, a galleon climbing frame in the play area and the Pavilion tea room. The calm half of a beach day.
A startling glass-fronted Tudor hall in a free park with woodland play trails, a walled garden and a pets corner. Chorley's pride, and rightly so.
Two Victorian parks joined at the hip beside the Ribble: a Japanese rock garden, a riverside cafe, a playground sited between the two, and the Easter egg rolling hill. Preston's best free afternoon.
Over 300 acres of woodland, meadow and proper hills on the slopes of Ashurst Beacon, with inclusive play areas and a cafe by the car park. Free in, free parking, and enough path network to tire out anyone.
A proper old-fashioned free museum in the town centre: Egyptian gallery, natural history cases and paintings upstairs, all doable in an hour. Closed Sundays and Mondays, which catches people out.
Seven miles of sand with the famous stretch between the piers: donkeys, deckchairs, and RNLI lifeguards all summer. Free, obviously, and still the best-value thing in town.
Six miles of free lights along the Promenade, 4 September 2026 to 3 January 2027. Walk a stretch, ride a lit-up tram, done.
A nature reserve with a visitor village that floats on the lake - genuinely floats. Easy flat trails, hides, a good playground and free family crafts in the summer holidays.
Woodland, riverbank and an old quarry scattered with more than 20 sculptures, a mile from Clitheroe town centre. Turns an ordinary walk into a treasure hunt, and it costs nothing.
Twenty acres in the centre of Ormskirk, Green Flag since 2008: two play areas split by age, a teen skatepark, duck pond, bandstand and a free outdoor gym. Printable phonics and maths trails as well.
Blackburn's showpiece Victorian park: a triumphal arch at the gate, two lakes with swans, a playground right beside them and a lime-tree avenue climbing the hill. Free, and less than a mile from the town centre.
Turner painted this view, which is worth nothing to a seven year old but does explain the crowds. A picnic site on the horseshoe bend of the Lune with tables, toilets and easy riverside walking.
One email a week: what is on this weekend within a sensible drive, and the places worth booking before they go.