Warton Old Rectory
Old Rectory, Warton is a free-to-visit ruin of a 14th-century rectory near Lancaster, showcasing historic architecture and medieval manorial court history under English Heritage protection.
Lancashire is a historic county in North West England offering a mix of cultural heritage, scenic countryside, coastal resorts, historic sites, and vibrant market towns.
Old Rectory, Warton is a free-to-visit ruin of a 14th-century rectory near Lancaster, showcasing historic architecture and medieval manorial court history under English Heritage protection.
WWT Martin Mere is a large wetland nature reserve in Lancashire managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, renowned for birdwatching with observation hides and hosting many rare species. It provides significant habitat for wildfowl and migratory birds, especially in winter, and supports important biodiversity.
1 Jan–31 Dec (another 83 days)
Rufford Old Hall in Lancashire offers a programme of scheduled talks, demonstrations, exhibitions, and drop-in activities throughout 2026. Events include daily house tours and talks, garden talks, a monthly dementia friendly café, music performances, traditional yarn spinning demonstrations, sports and games during summer, fencing drop-in sessions, a Victorian play exhibition, a woodturners market, and a scarecrow festival in autumn. Admission to events is free with normal venue admission charges applying.
Cartmel Priory Gatehouse is a medieval building in Cumbria that served as part of the Augustinian Cartmel Priory and later a grammar school. It is now owned by the National Trust with limited public access to the Great Room on certain days.
Whalley Abbey is a historic former Cistercian abbey in Lancashire featuring extensive ruins and a modern retreat and conference house with visitor facilities including a coffee shop and exhibitions. Visitors can explore ancient monastic foundations and enjoy the blend of outdoor ruins and indoor hospitality spaces.
Swan Court Shopping Arcade is an open-air shopping centre in Clitheroe, Lancashire, known for its historic connection to the Swan & Royal ancient coaching inn. It offers an outdoor retail experience in a quaint town setting.
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis is a 3-acre zoological collection in Cumbria featuring over 100 species including snow leopards and fossa, with themed indoor exhibits and outdoor enclosures. It offers interactive animal experiences, a café, and participates in conservation efforts.
Frontierland Western Theme Park was a historic amusement park in Morecambe, Lancashire, operating from 1909 to 1999. It featured classic roller coasters, flat rides, and the Polo Tower observation tower, becoming a popular seaside attraction before closing and being redeveloped into retail outlets.
Gawthorpe Hall is a Grade I listed Elizabethan country house located on the banks of the River Calder in Lancashire. The house features historic architecture with roots as a pele tower, extensive restoration by Charles Barry, ornamental gardens, and serves as a trailhead for the Brontë Way footpath. The site also includes Burnley Football Club's training complex on its grounds.
7–11 Oct, 14–18 Oct…
An exhibition across five rooms displays historic textiles collected by Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth, including embroidery, patterned and printed fabrics, wool work, metallic threads and costume pieces, presented around the theme of colour.
Burnley is a historic market town in Lancashire, England, known for its industrial heritage as a major cotton production centre and ongoing advanced manufacturing, as well as cultural attractions including historic mills, museums, music festivals, and a lively nightlife scene.
Blackpool Zoo in Lancashire is a 32-acre outdoor zoo featuring over 1,000 animals worldwide. It offers various exhibits including a dinosaur safari, elephant and primate houses, sea lion arena, and a children's farm, with ample facilities and a miniature railway for family-friendly visits.
Blackpool is a lively seaside town in Lancashire renowned for its seven miles of sandy beach, iconic Blackpool Tower, historic piers, and vibrant cultural scene including theatres, music festivals, and nightlife. It offers diverse attractions such as amusement parks, parks, and an important LGBTQ+ community.
Ashton Arcades is a medium-sized indoor shopping centre in Ashton-under-Lyne with around 40 stores across two floors and a large multi-storey car park. Plans for expansion include additional retail space and a new tram station.
Ashton-under-Lyne is a historic market town in Greater Manchester with a rich industrial heritage, notable cultural sites, and thriving shopping areas, well connected by rail, tram, and bus transport. Visitors can enjoy its museums, market hall, parks, and diverse food scene.
Malham Tarn Estate is a large National Trust agricultural estate in North Yorkshire featuring woodland, grassland, and Malham Tarn, a glacial lake and national nature reserve with international wetland status, offering outdoor experiences like fishing and grazing landscapes.
9 Oct
A volunteer-led 7km walk around Malham Tarn explores the landscape’s formation and local history, including stories of glaciers, cave men, monks and drovers. The route follows grassed paths and estate tracks, with stops to hear about points of interest and a lunch break.
Fishergate Shopping Centre in Preston is a major indoor retail venue with a variety of shops, eateries, and convenient transport links including adjacent railway and bus services.
The Galleries was a historic indoor shopping centre in Wigan town centre featuring over 50 retail stores across three sections, including the Marketgate Shopping Centre and Makinson Arcade. It closed in 2022 and is undergoing a major redevelopment to include new leisure and residential facilities.
Wigan is a historic market town in Greater Manchester, England, known for its rich industrial heritage, Roman and medieval history, cultural venues, and sporting traditions including rugby league and football.
Manchester Arndale is a major indoor shopping centre in Manchester, England, featuring over 210 shops, a large food court, and connections to major department stores. It is known as one of Europe's largest city-centre malls with extensive retail space and has undergone significant redevelopment since a major bombing in 1996. The centre attracts millions of visitors annually and offers a comprehensive urban shopping experience.
14 Oct (next Wednesday)
Author Livi Michael gives an online talk exploring how Elizabeth Gaskell used the Salem witch trials in her novella *Lois the Witch*, and how historical fact and Victorian fiction intersect in stories about witches.
Formby is a coastal town in Merseyside known for its sandy beaches, extensive sand dunes, and a National Trust reserve protecting endangered red squirrels. It offers outdoor wildlife experiences, walking trails, and is popular with day trippers. The town also features historic links golf courses and nearby natural reserves.
7 Oct, 12 Oct
Join a Formby ranger for a walk and talk about the conservation benefits of grazing English longhorn cattle on the dunes, with an opportunity to ask questions.
Rufford Old Hall is a Grade I listed Tudor and Jacobean hall house in Lancashire featuring richly decorated interiors, a notable sixteenth-century carved wooden screen, extensive Victorian gardens with topiary squirrels, and historical collections of arms and rural memorabilia. The site offers both indoor historical architecture and outdoor garden experiences.
Miller Arcade is a Victorian-era indoor shopping centre in Preston, Lancashire, featuring ornate architecture, vintage shops, and multiple eateries, housed in a Grade II listed building.
St George's Shopping Centre is a large indoor shopping mall in Preston, Lancashire, featuring over 100 stores, a central glass-roofed rotunda, several entrances, food outlets, and convenient transport links including a multi-storey car park and nearby bus and rail stations.
Corn Exchange, Manchester is a historic Baroque-style building that originally served as a corn exchange and now functions as a vibrant food court with numerous food outlets in central Manchester. It retains its heritage as a grade II listed building and offers visitors an indoor dining and social experience in a unique architectural setting.
Salford Shopping Centre is a large indoor shopping mall located in Pendleton, Salford, Greater Manchester. It features 81 stores, an indoor market, a Tesco superstore, Aldi, and KFC, offering a comprehensive retail experience in an urban setting.
The Grand Arcade is a large indoor shopping centre in Wigan town centre featuring 39 retailers, a carbon neutral design, and cultural exhibits including a George Formby statue and memorabilia from Wigan Casino. It also offers food options and ample parking.
Sawley Abbey is the ruins of a historic Cistercian monastery founded in 1149, open to the public as an English Heritage site. Visitors can explore the remains of the abbey's cloister, church, and associated earthworks within an enclosed medieval precinct while learning about its history through onsite boards.
Houndshill Shopping Centre is an indoor shopping mall in Blackpool, Lancashire, featuring more than 55 stores including major retailers and cafes. It offers a large multistory car park and an extension opened in 2008, situated centrally opposite Blackpool Tower.