Lilford Park
Fifty-odd acres of Leigh parkland with an inclusive playground, free disc golf through the woods and enough open grass to empty any child. Toilets open at weekends only, courtesy of the volunteers.
Pennington Flash
- Cost
- Free, parking £2.50 all day
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Where
- Leigh, Greater Manchester
- Weather
- Mostly outdoors
- Booking
- Just turn up
A big lake born of mining subsidence, now part of the Flashes of Wigan and Leigh National Nature Reserve, with flat paths, bird hides and a nature-themed adventure playground of swings, climbing frames and zip lines around a toddler 'lake' with swan and boat play equipment. Herons and great crested grebes perform reliably.
It is the easy-win outdoor afternoon: pushchair-flat and free apart from the £2.50 all-day parking. The Hide Coffee House by the water does breakfast, lunch and cakes every day, 9am to 5pm through October and 9am to 4pm from November. The hides make it a first birdwatching trip that does not feel like homework.
What it costs: Free entry. Parking is £2.50 all day, pay and display, car park open 6.30am to 7.30pm (Be Well Wigan page, 27 Sept 2026).
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What visitors say
★★★★★ 4.5 across 294 Google reviews.
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