What to do and where to stay in Lancashire for a 2026 staycation

Visit Lancashire has highlighted destinations for 2026, each offering a distinct getaway experience across the county’s varied landscape, culinary scene, and family-friendly attractions.

First on the list is a family break in the Ribble Valley.

Launch your adventure at Gisburn Forest, home to family-friendly walking and biking trails. Gisburn will also host the SeekOut Festival, a boutique music and arts event, from July 24 to 26.

Northcote in Blackburn (Image: Supplied)

Nearby, children can explore Thornton Hall Country Park, meet farm animals, and enjoy hands-on play. If the weather turns, The Fun House in Colne offers indoor activities including a roller disco and axe throwing.

Accommodation options include Ribblesdale Park Holiday Homes, glamping at Thornton Hall, and Pendle Holiday Cottages.

For a group getaway, Silverdale in the Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape offers a scenic escape with Brackenthwaite Farm Holidays, a dog- and horse-friendly collection of cottages as a base.

Visitors can explore Silverdale beach, hike Arnside Knott or Warton Crag, and discover wildlife at RSPB Leighton Moss.

For something busier, there is the Greenlands Farm Village, offering activities from mountain boarding to quad biking as well as a farm shop for local delicacies.

If you don’t want to cook, The Silverdale Hotel serves up hearty meals using local ingredients.

Foodies can sample Lancashire’s Michelin Star restaurants, starting in the Ribble Valley at Northcote, where chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen’s seasonal menus celebrate local produce from her home county.

Nearby, The White Swan at Fence, a Timothy Taylor’s pub with a Michelin Star, serves refined Lancashire fare by chef Tom Parker.

Blackpool Model Village and Gardens (Image: Blackpool Model Village and Gardens)

In Mellor, visitors can stay at Everything Retreat, a collection of designer lodges with hot tubs and log burners.

For those wanting an adrenaline rush, Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach Resort is a must.

The iconic theme park will introduce Aviktas, the UK’s tallest Gyro Swing, during its 130th anniversary celebrations in 2026.

This year also marks 90 years since the resort’s first Ice show, with a new Hot Ice XC production and an Alice in Wonderland themed show, Alice, Frozen in a Wonderland of Dreams.

For a slower pace, the Forest of Bowland promises tranquillity.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Image: Supplied)

The Ribble Valley, known as “gourmet valley,” offers a blend of fine dining, scenic walks, and luxury accommodation.

The recently opened Longridge House provides a base for exploring eateries like The Inn at Whitewell and The Three Fishes, as well as walking routes such as the Tolkien Trail and Lancashire Cheese Trail.

Further afield, Lytham offers a classic British seaside break.

Lytham St Annes is the perfect destination for those nostalgic for sandy beaches, piers, traditional windmills, and a slower pace of life.

Stay at Offshore, a promenade hotel with 99 rooms and dog-friendly amenities.

Fairhaven Lake is dog-friendly year-round.

Attractions in the area include Blackpool Model Village, Penny Farm Horse Welfare Centre, and Lytham Hall.

The Lytham Festival, running from July 1 to 5, features Alanis Morisette, The Pat Shop Boys and Pitbull.

For more inspiration and travel guides, visit www.visitlancashire.com.