Activities in Blackburn

A vast nature reserve spread over 250 acres on the banks of the River Ribble several miles to the west of Blackburn, Brockholes Nature Reserve is home to a wide range of species including otters, ospreys and rare bird species. Once a major quarry, the site was extensively redeveloped and re-opened in 2011 and now features a diverse range of habitats including woodland, reed beds and riverbanks. The nature reserve is a major tourist attraction, offering hides and viewing points for wildlife watchers and a spectacular floating Visitor Village where you’ll find a lakeside restaurant, cafe and shop.

Even bigger still is Witton Country Park, a 480-acre area of woodland, grassy banks and open areas. The park on the western edge of the town centre has a diverse range of activities including an athletics track, three football pitches, tree-lined picnic areas, a large children’s playground and the Pavilion Cafe open for drinks and snacks.

Despite officially being one of England’s newest cathedrals, Blackburn Cathedral can trace its roots back over 1,000 years, making it one of the oldest places of Christian worship in the country. The cathedral was finally finished in 1977 after more than a century of building work and is now a busy religious hub with seven choirs, regular concerts and a range of guided tours.

Perfect your backflip, dodgeball skills and foam pit wipeouts at Flip Out Blackburn. With over 140 interconnected trampolines, the huge warehouse is flippin’ enormous and features a ninja warrior course, battle beams, a trampoline football zone and a sprawling laser maze. The park is located a short drive from our Blackburn South hotel and is open daily, including a late-night session every Friday until 10 pm.

Planet Ice, the home of Blackburn’s ice rink, is on the edge of the town centre is open for family skating, disco sessions and ice skating lessons, while the 3,200-capacity stadium also hosts the Blackburn Hawks ice hockey home games.

One of the first custom-built, free-entry museums outside of London, the Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery has a wide, globetrotting collection spanning Egyptology, natural history, fine art, Japanese prints, textiles and more. A mainstay in Blackburn since 1874, the two-floor museum and art gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday from midday until 4.45 pm.

Hoghton Tower is an imposing hilltop medieval manor house overlooking Blackburn. As well as offering plenty of historical sights, which you can take in via various guided tours, the tower is a great family day out, hosting a monthly farmers’ market, regular family and kids activities, a brilliant tea room, a pristine doll house collection and more. The house, gardens and tearoom are open Sunday to Thursday from 10 am to 4 pm and from April until October each year.