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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.