fun for small children in overall vicinity of Preston

[misshardbroom]

We're off to spend half term visiting relatives who live near Preston in Lancashire (PR26 postcode).

We have a dd of 5, and ds of 4 and 3. Can anyone recommend things to do, especially wet weather things?

I'm happy to drive 30-45 minutes or so, and it really doesn't matter whether the activities are all day, or only part of a day.

Any ideas will be most gratefully received! Thanks in advance.

Dry days -
Worden Park in Leyland - Model railway you can ride on, the kids love it and its free (you can give a donation if you so wish) Lovely park too with huge play area.

Martin Mere nature reserve - (where the BBC filmed autumn watch last year)

Wet days -
British vehicle museum - Leyland, good if your Ds loves fire engines and motor cars and across the road is Buddies soft play centre to run off some steam afterwards.

Will think of some more.

Oh and The butterfly house at Lancaster it is a 40 min drive though but great to see all the butterflies around you, and there are some huge ones.

Still thinking...

Happy Mount Park in Morecambe is my favourite park in the world

Butterfly house, Williamson Park, Lancaster. Will think of some more.
There must be a ton of stuff in Blapckpool too. I know they had a zoo.

Oops X posted wth Tidgy..also still thinking.

Sealife centre Blackpool.
or Blue Planet in Cheshire (might be about 50 min drive.

Fantastic playground at Lytham - just the other side of railway bridge from Booths - best playground I've ever been to! Ship and train for littlies, fort and space ship for older ones. Really really good!

Barton Grange Garden Centre on A6 at Brock near Garstang. Lovely cafe, fantastic Christmas display at the moment and canal nearby for feeding ducks if the weather's ok!

Cobble Hey also worth a visit, also near Garstang - animals, playground etc.

Would second Butterfly House at Lancaster. Boar Park at Chipping supposed to be good as well but not visited yet.

Harris Museum in Preston for a wet day? Or National Football Museum at North End Ground at Deepdale if they're into football?

Hope that's some use!

I would second the playground in Lytham, it is very new and FABULOUS.

Between Lytham and St Annes there is Lowther Gardens - not sure what is there now but open space, playground, cafe definitely and gardens with trees, flowers etc. Quite enclosed and safe.

Further down towards St Annes on the front there is a miniature train, trampolines, small playground, little cobbled path around duck pond, with mini waterfall, bridges, stepping stones etc. good child-friendly "beach" cafe and car park at one end.

Kite flying on Lytham Green if it's windy. Fairhaven Lake for more ducks, cafe, playground. Beach nearby but depends on tide, good for walking / playing on but don't think you would sit there for long.

splashworld in southport, about a 30 minute drive

also there is a soft play centre there and one of those restaurant places with soft play there

farmer teds has indoor and outdoor play

Waves in Blackburn is nearer and cheaper than Splashworld in Southport, both are good if you like swimming. McDonalds on Preston Docks has play area (free) and there is a steam railway on the docks also. Farmer Teds in Ormskirk (about 30/40 mins from Preston) in a great day out - animals to see & touch, pedal go carts & tractors, indoor play areas, covered sand pit, good cafe and will be loads of Halloween stuff going on too. We live nearby and my ds 7 and dd6 love it.

The Wild Boar Farm in chipping is FAB. Just google it and all the info and map comes up.
Worden Park is good, did the earlier poster mention that the trains only run at weekends though?
Rather than Waves at Blackburn (I'm from Blackburn and its only one child per adult or two under 5's per adult, you would not be allowed in on your own with 3, and we personally don't like it in there - NO PARKING for a start) I'd nip down the m55 to the sandcastle at blackpool as its seasidey but warm and imitiation sunny! Then have some chips in blackpool while youwait for it to go dark and take a tram along to view the illuminations.

Thanks to all for these recommendations - they sound great, and I really appreciate the time you took to do it.

Will check out a few of these, providing the weather lets me!

I can't believe nobody's mentioned Blackpool Illuminations! I've moved from the NW to the Midlands and havn't been for years, but really want to take the dcs soon.