Things to do in Lancashire
Lancashire, with its rolling landscapes, historic sites, and plentiful activities, has something for everyone. While its cities like Lancaster and Preston have their own share of attractions, there's plenty to do across the county, from medieval castles to musical sculptures.
Whether you're a family hunting for adventure or a couple looking for a serene getaway, here are the top things to do in Lancashire.
Lancaster Castle, Lancaster
Overlooking the River Lune, this medieval fortress sometimes known as John O’ Gaunt’s Castle boasts more than 1,000 years of history, much of it rather dark!
Guided tours delve deep into the castle's intriguing past, which includes witch trials, the English Civil War, and its grisly past as a prison (which only closed in 2011) and the site of numerous hangings.
Forest of Bowland
Listed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Forest of Bowland is the perfect spot for hiking, birdwatching, or taking in the panoramic views. One of the best things to do in Lancashire for couples is enjoy a romantic picnic here.
With over 800 square kilometres to explore edging towards Yorkshire, there’s plenty to see including Ingleton Waterfalls and its adjacent trail, the river Hodder steppingstones (not for the fainthearted) and the pretty village of Hurst Green.
Hoghton Tower, Hoghton
Hoghton is a fortified manor house with breathtaking views, lush gardens, and a rich history that stretches back to its inception in 1565. Sitting 650 feet above sea level, its grounds offer one of the best views in Lancashire, looking over Wales and the Lake District.
The tower offers tours that guide you through opulent rooms and ancient tales. You might also catch the farmer’s market held here the third Sunday of each month, or one of their many events which range from motorcycle races to immersive storytelling experiences for Halloween.
Clitheroe Castle, Clitheroe
This Norman keep sits on a limestone hill, providing great vistas over the Ribble Valley. It’s free to visit and contains a fine museum of archaeological finds dating back to the Bronze Age.
There are changing exhibitions and plenty to keep the kids entertained while the adults imagine the medieval intrigues that must have taken place here. Clitheroe town is worth a wander too: grab an ice cream and sit in the grounds of the castle on a warm day, or explore the still well-visited market and the town's many independent shops and cafes.
Burnley's Panopticon
Nicknamed the 'Singing Ringing Tree' and part of a series of “panopticons” (structures offering 360° views) in Lancashire, this unique musical sculpture is an engineering and artistic marvel.
Designed by architects Mike Tonkin and Anna Liu, this windblown audio sculpture makes eerie or beautiful noises, depending on the wind’s direction as you enjoy the stunning views all around.
And while you're in the area, Burnley's Towneley Park and Hall are worth exploring, too, with a range of historical displays and a rich calendar of events.
Helmshore Mills Textile Museum, Rossendale
Dive deep into Lancashire's industrial heritage and its textile trade at this working museum.
See historic machinery, learn about cotton spinning, and understand the region's connection to the global textile industry with a series of hands-on displays and demonstrations.
Astley Hall, Chorley
Historian Simon Jenkins called Astley Hall “the most exhilarating house in Lancashire” and it’s not hard to see why. An Elizabethan mansion set amidst serene parkland, it offers visitors a journey through time with its museum, art gallery, and period rooms.
Its tall, mullioned bay windows are highly unusual, and inside is equally special with 17th-century plaster ceilings and rare painted panelling. Recently restored, the house and grounds offer plenty of children’s activities too, ranging from seasonal storytelling to animal mask-making and cupcake decoration.
Visit Lancaster
Steeped in history and situated in beautiful Lancashire countryside, the city dates to Roman and Saxon eras, became a popular 18th-century port and later became a centre of sailcloth manufacture and ropemaking.
Highlights of Lancaster (other than its castle – see earlier section) include the Custom House Maritime Museum, picturesque Williamson Park, and expansive City Museum. It’s well-served with theatres, galleries and has more pubs per square mile than any comparable city.
East Lancashire Railway, starting in Bury
Experience the golden age of steam and explore the stunning Irwell Valley on this heritage railway line, which travels through a number of Greater Manchester (formerly Lancashire) towns. You can even combine it with a visit to Bury Transport Museum, or explore the lovely town of Ramsbottom with its charming shops and pubs.
Special events, like themed dinners and holiday rides, add to the experience. Kids might even enjoy an appearance from Thomas the Tank Engine!
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Right on Blackpool’s vibrant seafront, the famous Pleasure Beach is fun for all ages. This iconic theme park is full of exciting rides, including The Big One roller coaster.
Younger kids will love exploring Nickelodeon Land, filled with fun attractions and beloved characters. And you can take a break from thrilling rides to enjoy the live shows, arcade games and lots of places to eat and drink.
Start planning your Great British break
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Important information
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Move your caravan to Haven for free - full terms and conditions
This offer is available for holiday home owners not located at a Haven park and that want to relocate their holiday home from their current holiday park a Haven holiday park, subject to pitch availability and the satisfactory completion of our standard onboarding checks. It cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, discount or promotion, apart from the free 2026 site fee promotion if applicable to the Haven park. Haven reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time without notice.
In order to be eligible to participate in the offer, your holiday home must be situated within a 50-mile radius of the Haven park that you wish to relocate to. The holiday home must be no more than 15 years old from the date of manufacture and if it has been purchased under a finance agreement, the holiday homeowner must provide confirmation from their lender that the holiday home can be moved to the Haven park.
Haven will transport your holiday home from the entrance of its current holiday park location to the required Haven park and will reimburse your transportation costs up-to a maximum value of £750; any excess must be paid by the holiday homeowner. Haven does not accept any responsibility for any damage that happens to the interior of your holiday home whilst it is being transported to one of our holiday parks. We recommend your holiday home is fully packed down and ready for transportation. Transportation does not include decking. Any decking bought onto a Haven park must be approved by the General Manager of that park to ensure it meets Haven standards. Siting and connection costs for your holiday home on a Haven park will be paid for by Haven. Offer excludes payment of holiday home disconnection at your current park and transportation costs from its current pitch to the entrance of its current park.
Subject to availability and status. Deposit required. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer, discount, or promotion. Access to your holiday home is subject to park opening times. Images are shown for representational purposes. Park cannot be used as a permanent residence.
Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.
Pre-owned holiday homes from £14,995 – UPDATED 29 September 2025
*Holiday home price is based on a pre-owned holiday home and includes siting,connections and standard accessories.
Price excludes 2025 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 29 September 2025, price is available at Blue Dolphin, Church Farm, Cleethorpes Beach, Combe Haven, Craig Tara, Doniford Bay, Far Grange, Golden Sands, Hafan Y Mor, Haggerston Castle, Lakeland, Littlesea, Marton Mere, Quay West, Presthaven, Primrose Valley, Reighton Sands, Rockley Park, Skegness, The Orchards, Thornwick Bay, Wild Duck and Weymouth Bay. Price can be withdrawn at any time.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.
Brand new holiday homes from £268 per month - UPDATED 29 September 2025
Offer is applicable to new customer purchases made through Haven from 14th July 2025, completing by 31 December 2025.
Representative finance example. Holiday home cash price £29,995, less deposit of £8,998.50, gives a loan amount of £20,996.50. 120 monthly payments of £268.34. Total charge for credit £11,191.13. Total amount payable £41,186.13 which includes the deposit amount. The interest rate is 5.33% fixed / 9.6% APR (representative).
Offer available at the following parks: Blue Dolphin, Yorkshire Cleethorpes Beach, Lincolnshire Combe Haven, Sussex Church Farm, Sussex Craig Tara, Scotland Doniford Bay, Somerset Haggerston Castle, Northumberland Hafan y Mor, North Wales Lakeland, Lake District, Marton Mere, Blackpool, Orchards, Essex Presthaven, North Wales Primrose Valley, Yorkshire, Reighton Sands, Yorkshire Thornwick Bay, Yorkshire Weymouth Bay, Dorset Golden Sands, Lincolnshire, Littlesea, Dorset, Quay West, South Wales, Rockley Park, Dorset, Skegness, Lincolnshire and Wild Duck, Norfolk.
Price excludes 2025 site fee, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status & availability. Bourne Leisure Limited, Company registration no 040 660, whose registered office address is 1 Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 4YL. Bourne Leisure is a credit broker and not a lender.
Nearly-new Willerby Ellerton models - Now £4k off – UPDATED 25 August 2025
£4k off is based on the price difference between brand new and nearly-new 2025 or 2026 Willerby Ellerton holiday homes. Representative prices shown are based on nearly-new 2025 or 2026 Willerby Ellerton holiday homes and and include siting, connections, and standard accessories. All prices exclude 2025 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Reduced prices subject to status and availability. Offer available on a limited number of units at selected parks, as of 25 August 2025. Holiday homes cannot be used as a permanent residence. See haven.com/ownership for full details
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.
New holiday homes from £34,995 – UPDATED 29 September 2025
*Holiday home price is based on a pre-owned holiday home and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
Price excludes 2025 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 29 September 2025, price is available at Kent Coast, Burnham-On-Sea, Berwick, Caister-on-Sea, Cala Gran, Cardigan View, Devon Cliffs, Greenacres, Hopton, Perran Sands and Seton Sands. Price can be withdrawn at any time.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.
Pre-owned holiday homes from £19,995 – UPDATED 29 September 2025
*Holiday home price is based on a pre-owned holiday home and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
Price excludes 2025 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 29 September 2025, price is available at Kent Coast, Burnham-On-Sea, Berwick, Caister-on-Sea, Cala Gran, Cardigan View, Devon Cliffs, Greenacres, Hopton, Perran Sands and Seton Sands. Price can be withdrawn at any time.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.
Let2offset - make no site fee payments until 2032
Let2offset is a contractual lettings product that offers eligible owners a guaranteed letting income at a preferential rate (calculated each year) in exchange for a stipulated number of letting breaks. It also allows eligible owners to pay their site fees and receive their letting income in 12 equal monthly instalments; the monthly site fee amount charged by Haven will be after deduction of the letting income.
‘Make no site fee payments until 2032 when using Let2offset’ is available at 33 Haven parks excluding Burnham, Cardigan View, Far Grange, Garreg Wen, Lydstep Beach, Riviere Sands and Seaview. The letting income received will vary by make, model and location. The monthly site fee payment does not include running costs e.g. utilities, rates & insurance.
“Make no site fee payments until 2032 when using Let2offset” is applicable to new and existing customer purchases of new Victory Ashberry 3 Bed or equivalent grade holiday home purchases made through Haven where customers have also signed up to Haven’s Let2offset contract. It is not applicable to private sales and cannot be used in conjunction with our free Site Fee promotion. An example of how “Make no site fee payments until 2032 when using Let2offset” operates under Let2offset is the purchase of a Victory Ashberry 3 Bed holiday home at Seton Sands with a monthly site fee of £667.08 (includes purchasing discount of £17.08) and monthly letting income of £673.17. The monthly difference equates to £23.17, which will be credited to the owner's account. Both letting income and site fees are subject to yearly pricing reviews and inflation. The monthly site fee costs and letting income shown in the example are based on 2025 figures. Modelled assumptions on expected annual site fee and letting income charges over the 7-year lettable life of the Victory Ashberry 3 Bed indicate that under Let2offset it is anticipated that these customers will continue to receive a monthly credit during this period, however, this is not guaranteed. The modelled assumptions are based on the historical performance of Haven over the past 5 years of trading as of 2024. Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times. Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.