Brockholes Nature Reserve
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 through the summer holidays.
Rascals Play Centre
Preston, Lancashire
Bamber Bridge, a couple of minutes from where the M6, M65 and M61 meet, which makes it one of the easiest centres in Lancashire to get to and the obvious stop on a long drive north. Multi-level frames with slides and trampolines, a ball pool with a ball shower, and a sports court for basketball and football.
It runs long days: 9.30am to 6pm most days, 7pm on Thursdays, and 10am to 5.30pm on Sundays. Walk-ins are fine for general play. Parking is free, the wifi is free, and the cafe covers halal and gluten-free.
The Tuesday evening SEN session, 4pm to 6pm, is the detail worth knowing. Quieter, calmer, and the sort of provision that is easy to miss because centres rarely shout about it.
Know before you go
- The SEN session runs Tuesdays 4pm to 6pm and is deliberately quieter, which is the sort of thing that goes unadvertised and matters enormously to some families.
- Cashless. Card or contactless only, so do not arrive with a pocket of change and a plan.
Looking for more soft play & indoor play near Preston?
Also in Preston
The Harris
Preston's museum, gallery and library reopened in September 2025 after a £19m rebuild, and it is still free. A proper children's library, changing exhibitions and a cafe under one Grade I listed roof on the Flag Market.
Ribble Steam Railway & Museum
Steam trains along Preston's dockside with a museum shed full of engines, a playground and a tea room all on one ticket that covers all-day travel. A Saturday railway, so check the calendar before you promise anyone a train.
Avenham & Miller Parks
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.
Wild Discovery
The small zoo inside Ribby Hall Village, open to anyone and not just people staying there. Meerkats, otters, wallabies, porcupines and an exotic house, done in an easy couple of hours.