Preston. HELP!

[Helpmyboredom]

Firstly, IABVU to post this here, but traffic.

Next week I will be in Preston for 3 days, child free. Not evenings, daytime only, dropping the 3 kids off at summer camps. Live close enough to not need to stay anywhere over night with them but far enough away to not be bothered driving back home before pick up time.

Can anyone offer any advice/tips on how to keep myself entertained there? May have company in the form of DP, may not, so solo/duo adventures needed!

TIA

Brockholes nature reserve www.lancswt.org.uk/brockholes pay for parking not entry.

Cuerden Valley Park is nice to walk around, more outside Preston.

Shopping in the town centre. Not the best but will definitely kill time and there's all the usual shops and Starbucks etc. There's a small market area with independent coffee shops and the Wallace and Gromit statue.

Or a day trip to Blackpool? 😆

Cuerden Valley Park is nice for a short walk so would fill a morning or afternoon. The cafe there is very good too.
Centre of Preston is horrible, no decent shops, drab, bit menacing and the Harris Museum is currently closed. I’d give that a miss.

Samlesbury Hall also not far from Preston samlesburyhall.co.uk/opening-days-and-times/

Drive a bit further out and go to Lytham? Walk along the front or Fairhaven Lake, lots of nice shops and cafes. Lytham Hall is pleasant too.

If you're in the centre of Preston and don't want to leave, maybe go to Winkley Square for a lie down on the grass with a book, there's also some cobbled streets nearby with cafes.

If it is where I think it is (sport?) They sometimes allow staying on site in viewing gallery and you could take a book or ipad and watch a movie etc (unless it is a mega camp day). In Preston there is the Foster Museum/gallery in the town centre, there are a few big shopping centres and retail parks. If it is a full day then 40 mins up the road there is Lancaster which is a nice (small) city with good places to eat and the castle and a few small museums.

Sorry Harris nit Foster (Foster is one of the uni buildings 🙈)

Winkley Square is nice, so is avenham park (although you can get some scallies) and the walk along the river the other way to the docks/the Odeon. If its raining the Level place at the guild Hall has mini golf and bowling I believe. Also the hot potato tram on the market square is a delicious institution 🥔

Walk along the river is currently closed, due to the work to replace the old bridge.

Apologies, the walk to the docks isn’t. The prettier bit to Capitol Centre from Avenham is though.

A trip to Holy Grounds for coffee and the most amazing doughnuts is a must, it's by the entrance to Avenham Park so lovely to go down eat your doughnut then go for a nice walk, get down early though as half term has meant the doughnuts have been gone by lunchtime some days.

I’d do avenham park and winckley square, and bruccianis for lunch or coffee and cake - it’s very individual! Then a walk through town to the flag market, and then down to the university down to friargate. You’ll probably see something to like on that trip!

The Flower bowl is nice for solo cinema visit, and a walk down the canal, but is a 5 mile drive out

Lytham and St Anne’s are nice for a trip to - beach and lots of nice walks, free parking along the front

Beacon Fell nice for a small and safe feeling hill walk

Hope you enjoy!

Harris complex is closed for renovation. I wouldn't spend time in Preston town centre.
Depending on where you'll be dropping off Garstang is quite a nice small town.
If you like walking and the weather is good you might like to walk some of the Guild Wheel www.visitlancashire.com/dbimgs/guild-wheel.pdf.

Avenham park/winkley square. Could walk some of the guild wheel (or take a bike!), some beautiful countryside outside town. Flower bowl/barton grange are worth a look too. Beacon fell is a nice walk up that way too.

Not too far from the coast either, Lytham or st Anne’s are nice. I’ve heard great things about lytham hall. Or even Blackpool if that’s your vibe!

Second this!
Lovely house, grounds and cafe.