Discover Blackburn

Blackburn combines a museum steeped in history and a cathedral with an annual festival, as well as opportunities to enjoy nature and leisure activities. The themes you want to shape your stay can provide a helpful starting point when choosing your travel dates and looking for a hotel in Blackburn.

Museum, Collections and Festival

Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery opened on 11 June 1874 as Blackburn Free Library and Museum. Its collections include 19th- and 20th-century British art, the R E Hart Collection of early books and coins, and the Thomas Boys Lewis Collection of Japanese prints. There are also Greek and Russian icons, an Egyptology collection, and collections relating to the borough’s local and industrial history. The Lewis Textile Collection was previously housed in the Lewis Textile Museum. This brings art, books, coins and a range of historical collections together under one roof. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 to 16:45—a specific time frame to help you plan your visit.

The National Festival of Making is another cultural highlight. This free, participatory festival takes place across Blackburn town centre and brings together art, manufacturing, performances and making over a shared festival weekend each year. The exact event dates vary from year to year, so if you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates for the relevant year.

Art and Getting Your Bearings at the Cathedral

Blackburn Cathedral is close to the bus station and railway station. Its religious art collection is considered one of the finest in the country. It includes Penny Warden’s “The Journey” and “Healing of the Nation”, a 35-foot outdoor sculpture. It is described as one of the most innovative modern sculptural works at an English cathedral. These works give your visit a particular connection to art, while the cathedral’s proximity to the bus and railway stations is useful for finding your way around Blackburn.

Admission to the cathedral is free. Opening arrangements may change during services and events, so check before your visit. This helps you plan according to actual visiting opportunities without assuming that free admission means it is guaranteed to be open at all times.

Leisure Activities and Green Spaces

Treetop Adventure Plus in Blackburn is aimed at children aged 6 to 10, as well as people looking to build their confidence. The attraction has four sections with obstacles and zip lines up to 100 metres long. Go Ape Blackburn is located in 480 acres of Witton Country Park. The park offers nature trails, picnic areas and play areas, giving you different options to combine the activity with other areas of the park.

Corporation Park also offers a connection with nature, but with a different focus: its two scenic lakes are home to many species of waterbirds, including mute swans and ducks. If you are choosing between an attraction with obstacles and zip lines and a park with lakes and waterbirds, these specific differences can help you decide which leisure interests to include in your stay.

Planet Ice Blackburn Arena is an Olympic-sized ice rink. You can skate there all year round, but sessions and booking arrangements may vary. Check the latest information about your preferred sessions in advance if ice skating is to be a fixed part of your plans.

Plan Your Travel Dates and Hotel Search

The activities also differ in how they fit into your schedule: the museum has specified visiting days and hours, festival dates change each year, and sessions at the ice rink may vary. Services and events can affect opening arrangements at the cathedral. If you are looking for a hotel in Blackburn, first decide which of these visits will determine your travel dates.

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