BWML

Astley Hall (4 miles)

Reginald Tatton donated Astley Hall to the people of Chorley in 1922, and it opened as the town's museum in 1924. The house was built in Elizabethan times by the Charnock Family. It was rebuilt in the 1660s to incorporate tall bay windows and magnificent plaster ceilings in the Great Hall and Drawing Room. The hall was completed in the 1820s, with a new wing which overlooks the lake. The Hall is now a great educational resource for everyone. Further, the art gallery plays host to up to 10 different exhibitions every year.

Tel: +44 (0)1257 515555
Web: www.chorley.gov.uk/astleyhall

For more detailed information, please visit:
Web: www.aboutbritain.com/AstleyHall.htm

Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery (11 Miles)

The most famous painting in the Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery is probably Frederic Leighton's "Cherries", but of course they have many more works in their collection of classical Victorian paintings. There are also over 1000 Japanese prints in the Museum's collections. The Museum and Art Gallery was first opened as a museum (and library) in 1872, in the lovely "Arts and Crafts" building. The local history collection is the largest in the museum, with large architectural items, mill machinery, children's toys, a large photographic archive and even the contents of old local shops.

Tel: +44 (0)1254 667130
Web: www.blackburn.gov.uk/museums

For more detailed information, please visit:
Web: www.aboutbritain.com/BlackburnMuseumandArtGallery.htm

Bolton Museum, Aquarium and Archive (7 miles)

This is really three attractions on one site in Bolton - the museum, which has extensive collections from Egyptian relics to the 60,000 specimens in the botanical collection; the aquarium, with its successful endagared fish breeding program; and the archives, with a range of resources such as Family records, and the Mass Observation archive. The Mass Observation archive consists of over 900 photographs taken in 1937 by the photo-journalist Humphrey Spender. The fish in the aquarium are all freshwater fish whose natural habitats are streams, rivers or lakes. The Museum has a diverse exhibition schedule, and most areas of the Museum and Art Gallery are accessible for the disabled.

Tel: +44 (0)1204 332211
Web: www.boltonmuseums.org.uk

For more detailed information, please visit:
Web: www.aboutbritain.com/boltonmuseumandartgallery.htm

Camelot Theme Park (4 miles)

Camelot - where you can have a great time meeting the knights of old. This theme park has everything to do with Kings, Knights and Castles! From Go-karts and a junior rollercoaster in the King's realm, to a school of wizardry and magic in the Knight's Valley, and the white knuckle rides in the Land of the Brave, there's something to entertain everyone. There's even a working farm where you can meet the Squire's animal Kingdom and of course there are lots of ice cream parlours, coffee shops and gift shops.

Tel: +44 (0)8702 204820
Web: www.camelotthemepark.co.uk

For more detailed information, please visit:
Web: www.aboutbritain.com/CamelotThemePark.htm

Chorley Markets

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday ranging from flea markets, craft markets and covered markets. Lots of local produce available.

Knowsley Safari Park (14 miles)

There are two parts to Knowsley Safari Park - a five mile Safari Drive and a Walkabout Area. On the Safari Drive you can see lions, tigers, zebras, elephants, camels and many more. The Walkabout Area includes otter pools, giraffe and meerkat enclosures, a sea lion show and a children's lake farm. The first safari park built close to a large city (Liverpool), Knowsley was opened by The 18th Earl of Derby in 1971. The safari park tries to display their animals in near-natural surroundings in large paddocks. The park plays an active part in national and international breeding programmes to ensure the survival of endangered species.

Tel: +44 (0)1514 309009
Web: www.knowsley.com/safari

For more detailed information, please visit:
Web: www.aboutbritain.com/KnowsleySafariPark.htm

Smithills Hall and Estate (6 miles)

Visitors to Smithills Hall will be able to see a building that dates from the 14th Century, and that was extensively restored during the Arts and Crafts revolution of the late 19th Century. This was designed by George Devey, one of the finest architects in Britain. In 1938 the Hall was sold by the Ainsworth Family to Bolton Corporation for use of the citizens of Bolton and surrounding boroughs. Bolton Corporation restored the oldest parts of the Hall and opened them as a museum. In 2000, three more refurbished rooms were opened to the public.

Tel: +44 (0)1204 332377
Web: www.boltonmuseums.org.uk/smithillshall

For more detailed information, please visit:
Web: www.aboutbritain.com/SmithillsHallandEstate.htm