There’s lots to think about when taking your family on holiday. Top of most people’s list is ‘how will be entertain the kids?’ To make it easier for those planning a Spring Summer short break or holiday in Lancashire, we’ve gathered together a few suggestions for children of all ages.
Lancaster House Fun Trail
If you are staying at Lancaster House, ask Reception for their Lancaster House Fun Trail. It’s a fantastic way to explore the city of Lancaster, with lots of things to do and to find. Read our blog to discover how Matilda got on with her Fun Trail map.
Animal Farms and Parks
Windmill Animal Farm
Get up close to a range of rare breed and exotic farm animals around the farm at Windmill Animal Farm. The indoor Farmyard Friends encounter allows you to hold rabbits and guinea pigs and there’s a reptile house for those brave enough. An excellent selection of things to do for children, including indoor and outdoor play areas, train track, pedal tractors, roller racers, maize maze, go carts and excavators.
Bowland Wild Boar Park
Not just Boars, there’s a whole host of species at Bowland Wild Boar Park, including Red Deer, Ostriches, Emus, Peacocks, Ducks, Hens, Pigs, Polecats, Alpaca, Water Buffalo, Llamas to name just a few.
There are opportunities to hand feed the lambs and hold baby chicks, but check the schedules on arrival. When the weather permits, there are barrel, tractor and trailer rides. You can even try your hand at tank driving! There’s an outdoor children’s playground and indoor entertainment. A great day out for all the family.
Wild Discovery
Billed as The Zoo that Interacts with You, Wild Discovery has a huge range of Mammals, Birds and Reptiles from all parts of the world. Experiences include Keeper for a Day, Animal Encounters and Bitesize Animal Encounters where you get close enough to feed and tend the animals. Set on the site of Ribby Hall Village, there’s lots to keep the wole family entertained, from scenic walks around the 100 acre woodland to water slides, and outdoor play park.
Cobble Hey Farm
This is a family-run farm with an environmental conscience. Take a tour around the Cobble Hey Farm and see how a working farm operates. Opportunity to feed and walk some of the animals, or enjoy the beautiful gardens where there’s a new bloom every day of the year. There are also indoor and outdoor play areas.
Farmer Ted’s
The Shaun the Sheep Adventure is a collaboration between Farmer Ted’s and Aardman Animation, creators of Wallace and Grommit and Shaun the Sheep. There are specially landscaped grounds, and Shaun the Sheep-themed activities with an outdoor performance space. Shaun the Sheep Adventure Farm has lots going on and will keep the children entertained for hours. Guinea pig village, Laura the Llama, Shetland ponies and ferret racing are great fun. There’s an adventure theme park, indoor and outdoor play areas, mammoth maize maze and an opportunity to meet Shaun the Sheep and Bitzer themselves.
Butterfly House at Williamson Park
Whilst visiting Williamson Park, the Butterfly House is worth a look. Set in a spacious Edwardian palm house, it contains many and varied species of colourful butterflies, birds as well as a mini zoo.
Nature Reserves
RSPB Leighton Moss
The largest reed bed in Northern England, Leighton Moss is an important breeding habitat for bird populations throughout the year. The area includes reed-fringed wetlands, coastal marsh, saltwater lagoons and woodland and limestone grassland. Favourite sightings are Bearded Tits, Stars Avocet, Oystercatchers, Bittern and Marsh Harriers. Although you can be assured of catching a wide array of birds in different habitats, you may also be treated to colourful wetland flowers, rare butterflies, dragonflies, otters and deer. The Visitor Centre is very well equipped and there are accessible walks for pushchairs and wheelchair users around the site. There’s also an all-terrain Tramper scooter available for free of charge hire, pre-booking essential.
Pendle Nature Reserve
Pendle has not one, not two… but five nature reserves ripe for exploration.
Alkincoates, Greenfield, Lomeshaye Marsh, Upper Ballgrove Park, and Quarry Hill. There are woodlands, meadows, ponds and wetland. In total, hundreds of species of grasses, trees, herbaceous plants, birds and pondlife.
Take your binoculars because the quick of eye might spot deer, rabbits, shrews, hares or foxes.
Brockholes Wood Nature Reserve
Managed by Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Brockholes Wood nature reserve is set on a 250-acre site and features a floating Visitor Village with café and shop. There’s an ancient woodland to explore, and walks around lakes or along the River Ribble which is teeming with wildlife. Butterflies, moths, dragonflies in abundance and keep an ear out for a spectacular collection of birdsong.
Bring your binocular and cameras as the hides and viewing points along the paths allow you to get close up to the wildlife. Brockholes have a calendar of events for children and young people which is worth checking out. https://www.brockholes.org/events
Theme Parks, Splash Time and Bounce
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
This is where the committed thrill seekers flock to enjoy adrenaline fuelled rides, including Icon, the UK’s first double launch roller coaster. There are too many rides to mention. Indeed, it claims to be the world’s most ride intensive amusement park. Miles and miles of roller coasters. We’ve all heard of The Big One, the UK’s tallest roller coaster, but there’s also the UK’s first looping coaster, Revolution. Talking about firsts, Infusion is the UK’s first suspended looping coaster completely over water.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is not just for adults and older teenagers, it is also home to Nickelodeon Land where SpomgeBob SquarePants, Chase, Marshall and Skye from PAW Patrol make regular appearances. Lots and lots of rides, fun and excitement for the younger members of the family.
A day of thrills and spills for all the family.
Happy Mount Park
The clue is in the title – lots of happy memories to be made here. Happy Mount Park in Morecambe is free to enter and thrives on laughter and family fun. On hot days, the children can enjoy Splash Park’s jets of water squirting from every direction and keeping them cool. It costs just £1 per person for a session in Splash Park. There’s an indoor Pay and Play soft play area for youngsters, Adventure Golf for the whole family and Rastelli’s café to keep energy levels up. It’s also a great place for a picnic and located just across the road from the promenade, it is perfectly located for a walk by the sea.
Splash Park Zone, Lytham
Set within the beautiful Grade II Listed Promenade Gardens in St Annes, Splash Park Zone is a free entry splash area for young children. It is built in the former open air paddling pool and has seating around the side for Mums and Dads. A great range of watery thrills including spray loops, bucket drops, water spray and domes and a section for paddling.
Jump Rush
A fun and energetic activity for children young and old – and perhaps the parents also. Jump Rush is a trampoline park that has got several zones and 100 trampolines. There’s a 2m air bag, ninja zone and Inflatarush, an inflatable zone.
Great for rainy days, or to get the children active. There are sessions for babies and toddlers and a soft play bounce area. Check the website for events throughout the year such as Disney Days and Super Hero Days.
Other Things to do in Lancashire in Spring and Summer
We've got lots of other suggestion for adults and children. Check out the following pages for more ideas to help you plan your Spring or Summer Break. Walk Lancashire in Spring and Summer; Things to do in Lancashire in Spring and Summer; Lancashire Attractions for Adults and Couples; Unusual Spring Summer Activities; and Lancashire Castles, Grand Houses, Museums and Monuments.
Places to Stay in Lancashire for a Spring Break or Summer Holiday
Two great venues for a Spring break or Summer holiday for families, including man's best friend.
Lancaster House is perfectly placed on the outskirts of Lancaster but also within easy reach of the beautiful Forest of Bowland. It has the added benefit of easy access to the motorway which means that a trip to Blackpool makes a great day out. The on-site Health Club is great for a family group - relaxation for adults, and swimming action for the kids. If the weather keeps you indoors, you can enjoy the indoor pool, hot tub, steam room and sauna. For the fitness conscious visitors, there is also a fully equipped gym.
If a seaside holiday is what you are after, The Midland is a real find. Forty-four art deco inspired bedrooms offering comfort and luxury. The Rotunda offers lighter meals and snacks, and of course a cocktail or two. The Sun Terrace Restaurant features the best local produce with a stunning view over the Bay thrown in.
