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Pleasure Beach Resort, long known as Blackpool Pleasure Beach, is an amusement park on Blackpool's South Shore. It was founded in 1896 and sits right along the promenade. Rollercoasters are the main draw, with ten to ride. The Big One was once the tallest and steepest in the world, and is still the longest in Europe.

Tip: Check the official calendar for opening days and times before you go, and book eTickets online ahead of your visit.

Gulliver's World is a theme park in Warrington, loosely based on the world of Lilliput from Gulliver's Travels. It is split into themed areas including Western World, Safari Kingdom, Land of Oz, Smuggler's Wharf and Lost World. Rides such as The Antelope, Desperado Drop and Apache Falls sit alongside play areas, both indoors and outdoors, designed for children between 2 and 13.

Tip: The website says booking tickets early can save money, so check online before you go.

Blackpool Zoo is a 32-acre zoo set beside Stanley Park, about two miles inland from the Golden Mile. It cares for over 1,000 animals from around the world, and opened in 1972 on the site of the old Stanley Park Aerodrome.

Tip: Tickets can be bought in advance online. Follow the brown elephant signs if driving, and use sat nav postcode FY3 8PP.

Knowsley Safari is a safari park in Prescot, Merseyside, set in the parkland of Knowsley Hall. The main event is the 5-mile Safari Drive, where you travel in your own vehicle past animals such as African lions, southern white rhinos, Bactrian camels, European bison and olive baboons. There is a bypass around the baboons if you would rather keep them away from your car.

Tip: Book online in advance, as tickets are cheaper that way and online booking is essential.

The Harris is a Grade I-listed museum, art gallery and public library in Preston, Lancashire. The Neo-Classical building has a grand portico and a pediment sculpture based on Raphael's The School of Athens. Inside, a central hall rises over 120 feet to the lantern tower, with balconies on the upper floors and a Foucault pendulum that works as a decorative clock.

Gawthorpe Hall is a Grade I listed Elizabethan house on the banks of the River Calder, remodelled in the 19th century by Charles Barry, architect of the Houses of Parliament. Inside, the rooms are filled with Victorian Gothic furnishings and show how the Kay-Shuttleworth family lived. Families can follow a trail around the house or dress up in the nursery.

Tip: The Hall isn't suitable for pushchairs, baby backpacks or large bags, so travel light. The access drive is narrow, with passing places.

Adventure Coast Southport is a family theme park on Marine Drive in Southport, Merseyside. It ran as Southport Pleasureland until 2024 and rebranded in 2025. Locals still call it the "Southport fair" or "funfair". The park is split into four themed lands: Pirate Cove, Viking Landing, Cartoon Boardwalk and Steampunk Bay.

Tip: It is a seasonal park and was closed for the 2026 season, with reopening stated for 2027, so check it is open before you travel. For satnav, enter "Marine Drive" or "Esplanade" rather than the postcode.

Blackpool Tower opened in 1894 and was inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It stands 518 feet tall, and the Tower Buildings around its base are Grade I listed. The Tower Top offers views across the North West of England, a 4D cinema experience and the SkyWalk glass viewing platform, plus a bar.

Tip: Pre-book online to guarantee entry. The Tower Top is weather permitting, and combined tickets for two attractions save money.