The town of Burnley in Lancashire has retained the architecture of its industrial heritage. With 12 factory chimney stacks still standing and its canal banks dotted with characterful buildings, Burnley’s rolling hills are the epitome of mill town landscapes. 10 miles from Blackburn, connected by the Leeds to Liverpool Canal, the two towns are lovely twin destinations, nestled within the beauty of the Pennine hills.
Rowley Lake is on the outskirts of Burnley, with much to offer to the walker who goes out of their way to venture out here. It’s open scope and substantial size lend it vast appeal, while it’s natural activity and beauty make it a pretty picture, with views extending endlessly across the flat plain.
Located at Burnley Wharf, this museum tells you the story of cotton manufacturing and the lives of it’s weavers. The visitor centre takes you back into the lived experiences and spaces of those who made the cotton industry keep turning, with an authentically recreated Victorian classroom, a typical home used by a mill worker, a toll house office and a bathroom from the later Edwardian period.
Glassmonkey studio, set in Oakmount Mill, is a gift shop brimming with colourful trinkets made predominantly in glass and sterling silver. The craftspeople running this makers shop sell handmade jewellery, greetings cards, keyrings, etched glasses, coasters, decorative art and objects for the home and you can watch the makers at work in the studio as you browse.
A formal Edwardian urban park which retains most its original features including a boating lake and an Italian garden. Thompson Park is more ornamental than Burnley’s other parks with large numbers of flower beds and a large rose garden.
Blackburn Museum and Art gallery is home to a fabulous array of history and Art including traditional Japanese prints the UK’s second largest collection of icons, medieval manuscripts, an Egyptian mummy, beetle specimens and a room of gilded framed art works hung salon style. It also houses displays of the looms laboured over by the working classes to build the economy of what was once of Britain’s wealthiest towns.
Pendle Hill is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty situated in the Forest of Bowland. This hillside was once home to the Pendle Witches executed in 1612, and an ancient hunting ground inhabited by wild boar and wolves. A walk across this haunted hill alone at night is rumoured to be for those of sturdy nerves. However, during the day, this is a great family friendly spot for walking routes with a play area, toilets and an honesty box for parking.
From Easter egg rolling to the 50th anniversary Caribbean Carnival, find out what’s happening in Preston this year.
free entry
The Duke’s award-winning outdoor walkabout theatre is back with another super madcap family adventure. Summer is on its way.
from £16.50
Taking place in Blackburn each year, The National Festival of Making is a unique celebration of UK making, from the kitchen table to the factory floor.
free entry
Join a team of expert guides to walk across the iconic but often dangerous sand flats at Morecambe Bay.
from £10.00
Hosting a variety of year-round events, from guided walks to jazz evenings, Winckley Square is a Georgian square packed with history in Preston city centre.
With an array of independent shops and places to eat and drink, including a number of contemporary pubs and bars, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Located in the heart of Preston, Avenham and Miller Parks are among the finest examples of traditional Victorian parkland in the North West.
Preston’s historic market square hosts many outdoor cultural events throughout the year.
Dating back to 1865 when it opened as one of four exchange halls in the country, The Exchange is an iconic Blackburn venue
Music, comedy, dance, drama and children’s shows in an Edwardian railway station, opposite The Midland Hotel.
Morecambe gallery which showcases and sells contemporary works, often by artists from the area, which are varied and beautiful.
This technicolour mural along the Morecambe pier brings local artists’ talent to the forefront of the seaside town.
Edgelands Gallery in Morecambe is a beautiful studio and gallery, regularly displaying high quality artwork.
The White Swan at Fence is a gastro-pub with much to brag about. Delicious drinks and fantastic food has got this pub a Michelin Star.
The live-music venue and bar is a hidden gem, standing out against the technicolour nightlife of Blackpool with its own understated edge.
Burnley Mechanics Theatre showcases an array of talent; touring shows and local theatre also.
Our guide to the best shops in Lancashire, including independents and markets in Blackpool, Lancaster, Morecambe, Burnley and Blackburn.
Our guide to food and drink in Lancashire, featuring restaurants and bars in Lancaster, Morecambe, Blackburn, Burnley and Blackpool.
Our guide to the best hotels in Lancashire, including Lancaster, Morecambe, Blackburn, Burnley and Blackpool.
A round-up of the best walks in Blackpool, including the sights of the promenade and nearby country walks.
A round-up of the best walks in Morecambe and Lancaster, taking in the coast and the historic buildings, by Creative Tourist.
An inspired array of walks and cultural spaces to hike, saunter or work your way through, featuring wild landscape and stately halls alike.
Plan your May Bank Holiday weekend with our top picks from music, art, theatre, food and drink spots, whatever the weather.
Take me there
Take a look at our top recommendations for restaurants and bars to check out this spring.
From spotlights on indie presses to big hitters brought to you by the bookshops, festivals and libraries, you'll find plenty to whet your wordy whistle this month.
From creative adventures, museum experiences and spectacular theatre, check out what's on for the family in Manchester and the north.
Eclectic as ever. You'll find Bollywood musicals, scratch nights and anarchic Shakespeare in our pick of the performative crop.
Traditional painting takes a step back this month to make way for some excellent photography, sculpture and multimedia exhibitions around the North.
Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.
Ealing Studios and the best of Ryan Gosling are amongst our film highlights this month.
Gazing longingly towards the good times that will accompany the surely imminent sun, we take a look at the best music festivals coming up in Manchester and Salford.
Try something new, explore somewhere different, learn a new skill with our tours and activities guide.
