Later this week properties across England will throw open their doors for free as part of the country’s annual celebration of local architecture, history and culture.

Supported nationally by English Heritage and run locally by an army of volunteers and community champions, Heritage Open Days takes place on people doorstops and is the country’s leading grassroots cultural event.

One million people are expected to take advantage of the four day event, exploring more than 4,000 properties of every style, period and function, many of which are normally closed to the public or usually charge an admission fee.

Participating properties in North West England include:

Barrow – Dalton Castle (Dalton-in-Furness)
Birkenhead – Birkenhead Park, Birkenhead Priory, Lady Lever Art Gallery
Blackpool – Blackpool Tower, Winter Gardens
Bolton – Bolton Steam Museum
Burnley – Gawthorpe Hall (Padiham), Queen Street Mill Textile Museum
Bury – Fusilier Museum, East Lancashire Railway, Peel Tower
Carlisle – High Head Sculpture Valley
Chester – Chester Racecourse, Grosvenor Museum, Little Moreton Hall (Congleton)
Kendal – Abbott Hall Art Gallery, Museum of Lakeland Life, Sizergh Castle
Lake District – Beatix Potter Gallery (Hawkshead), Blackwell (Windermere),
Liverpool – St George’s Hall, Cunard Building, Liver Building,
Macclesfield – Quarry Bank Mill
Manchester – Victoria Baths
Morecambe – Morecambe Town Hall
Oldham – Saddleworth Museum
Penrith – Acorn Bank
Preston – Samlesbury Hall
Rochdale – Healey Dell, Rochdale Pioneers Museum, Touchstones,
St Helens – World of Glass
Stockport – Hat Works, Staircase House, Air Raid Shelters, Bramall Hall
Warrington – Norton Priory (Runcorn)
Wigan – Museum of Wigan Life, Trencherfield Mill Engine

The festival is set to be the biggest to date, with a weekend packed full of free entertainment for the whole family.

For the very first time The Little Brig Sailing company will take to the city’s waters on ‘the world’s smallest tall ships’, offering free trips around the docks every 45 minutes across the weekend.

There will also be a full stage programme packed with local artists, whilst world class street theatre acts will entertain the crowds with some maritime-themed fun.

A full creative workshop programme for people of all ages will include art, craft, and drama, with a special session from a group of local bollywood dancers who will be on hand to show you some moves. Local arts company Bluestreak Arts will be providing decorations for the illuminated cruise, which will take place on Saturday evening before the sparkling fireworks show.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy the sounds from the ‘Sing the Docks’ tent, a Guild project working with singers to create music inspired by the water, which is working towards surrounding the docks with singers during the 2012 Guild.

A whole host of food and exhibition stalls will be on offer, whilst trips on the Ribble Valley steam train will be available every hour.

Runners will also descend on the docks on Sunday 25th for the 1k fun run and first ever Riversway 5k run.

Visit http://www.preston.gov.uk/events/ for more information.

The winners and highly commended were announced as follows:

Bed and Breakfast/Guest Accommodation of the Year – Sponsored by VisitBlackpool
Winner: Number One, South Beach, Blackpool
Highly Commended: Langtry’s Blackpool

Access for All Tourism Award – Sponsored by Tourism For All
Winner: Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, Langho

Sustainable Tourism Award – Sponsored by Business Link
Winner: Clough Bottom Farm Cottages, Bashall Eaves
Highly Commended: Caldertop Cottage, Garstang

Small Hotel of the Year – Sponsored by Lancashire County Council
Winner: The Midland Hotel, Morecambe
Highly Commended: The Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping

Large Hotel of the Year – Sponsored by Welcome to Excellence
Winner: Best Western Premier Leyland Hotel

Best Tourism Event of the Year – Sponsored by Fat Media
Top Three voted by public vote
Winner – 1940s Wartime Weekend, East Lancashire Railway
2ndPlace – World Fireworks Championships, Blackpool
3rd Place – Festival Bowland

Online Marketing Award – Sponsored by New Mind
Winner: Pleasure Beach Resort, Blackpool
Highly Commended: The Grand Theatre, Blackpool

Taste Lancashire Award – Sponsored by Made in Lancashire and Food North West
Winner: The Highwayman, Burrow
Highly Commended: Greens Bistro, Lytham St Annes

Best Tourism Experience of the Year – Sponsored by Blackpool International Airport
Winner: Go Ape! Rivington
Highly Commended: Martin Mere Swan Spectacular, Nr Ormskirk

Caravan Holiday Park and Holiday Village of the Year – Sponsored by KPMG
Winner: Newton Hall Holiday Centre, Blackpool

Business Tourism Award of the Year – Sponsored by Virgin Trains
Winner: Stanley House, Mellor
Highly Commended: The Midland Hotel, Morecambe

Self Catering Award – The Northwest Regional Development Agency
Winner: The Old Shippon at Mellor
Highly Commended: Martin Lane Farmhouse Holiday Cottages, Burscough

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Sponsored by Workhouse Marketing
Winner: Clitheroe Castle and Museum

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Sponsored by University of Central Lancashire
Winner: Blackpool Zoo
Highly Commended: Pleasure Beach Resort, Blackpool

This independent public inquiry, which is being held at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston, will decide on whether planning permission should be granted for this retail led mixed use re-development of the eastern part of Preston City Centre.

Preston City Council, Lancashire County Council and developers Lend Lease are submitting a strong case in support of Preston Tithebarn as Council Leader, Councillor Ken Hudson explained:

“Tithebarn is a much needed development for Preston and Central Lancashire. Tithebarn has wide ranging support from Lancashire County Council, the North West Development Agency and others and we look forward to making our case at the inquiry. We hope the inquiry will rule in favour of Tithebarn so that Preston can fulfill its undoubted potential.”

The Tithebarn development is a retail led regeneration of part of Preston City Centre. It includes a new bus station, revitalised Preston Markets, a new cinema, cafes, bars as well as new offices and homes. Tithebarn also includes a new John Lewis and Marks and Spencer anchor stores, as well as other improvements to shopping in the city.

In July 2009, Preston City Council resolved that it was minded to grant planning permission for the Tithebarn development.

However, the planning application was “called in” by the Government and a public inquiry was ordered.

The public inquiry is now taking place and is expected to last around six to seven weeks. The inquiry is chaired by two independent planning inspectors who after hearing all the evidence, will make a recommendation to the Government. The City Council is expecting to learn the outcome of the public inquiry around the end of 2010, when a final decision on the scheme will then be made by Government.

Despite the best efforts of all parties the NFM was unable to meet Lancashire County Council’s requirements to join them in the partnership. However, the door remains open to further discussions on the development of a new NFM in Preston once the Manchester move has been completed.

The National Football Collection and the Museum’s international research facilities will remain in the present site in Preston.

While the move will result in the unfortunate redundancy of eight valued members of staff, 12 others will be part of the NFM team that will develop the exciting new galleries at Urbis in Manchester in partnership with Manchester City Council. The new Museum is due to open in autumn 2011.

Chairman of the Trustees of the National Football Museum, Paul Dermody, said: “We are obviously disappointed that negotiations with Lancashire County Council have reached an end. We had hoped to be able to meet their requirements so they could work with us in partnership. It is sad that our public galleries in Preston will close after so many people have enjoyed the facilities there. But we now have to focus on the exciting future that the National Football Museum will develop in Manchester that will benefit even more people and safeguard the collections long-term.”

The ambitious scheme will create a 21-mile greenway around the city which will be used by thousands of cyclists, walkers and runners each year. It is the idea of local man Peter Ward and is being led by Lancashire County Council with support from Preston City Council.

County Councillor Geoff Driver, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “The Guild Wheel promises to be one of the best cycling routes in the country.

“Not only will it provide a more environmentally friendly way of getting around the city, it will be a place where people can take in Preston’s historic sites, keep fit and use purpose-built play facilities. The Guild Wheel will also be lined with trees and hedges attracting a variety of wildlife.

“The 2012 Guild promises to be a spectacular celebration of Preston’s history and heritage and I’m pleased to work with the city council on this scheme.”

The aim is to provide a route that can be used by people of all abilities for recreation, accessing the countryside, and getting to work and school. It will help people to lead a healthier lifestyle through exercise.

This scheme will also develop a green corridor, and bring wider environmental benefits such as an improved habitat for wildlife, upgrading play areas, and planting of trees and hedgerows.

Peter Ward, chairman of the Preston Cycling Forum, explained: “The idea is to create a fantastic cycling and walking route that thousands of people can enjoy year in, year out – a place for people to relax, exercise or just get from A to B easily no matter what their age or ability.

“I’m pleased this project is moving forward and the £1.5 funding, together with support from other partners will help make this idea a reality.”

Preston’s Guild Wheel Cycling project was launched four years ago. Although exact route details have not been finalised, the general course of the path has already been confirmed as follows:

From Avenham Park, the route will run along the river to the docks. It will then connect with the Ribble Link, running via existing cycle paths and quiet lanes to Brougton. It will then travel through the east side of the city and is likely to run via the Midgery Lane Cycle Track and Preston East Employment Area, before joining the riverside cycle path near Brockhole’s Bridge.

The route will feature a good surface with access for people with disabilities, monuments depicting Preston’s rich and diverse history and activity, adventure and play areas for children.

This is one of the many projects which will mark the 2012 Preston Guild. Preston’s Guild dates back to around 1179, when King Henry II granted the town its first royal charter, and is celebrated every 20 years. The Guild Week celebrations planned for 2012 are likely to include carnivals, processions, dances, firework displays, sporting events and much more.

The refurbishment, which will also include improved lighting, new windows and cleaning of the stonework, is expected to get underway in April 2010 and to be completed in May 2011. As a result, the museum will close next week and reopen once the work is finished.

The upgrade to the Preston-based museum has been made possible following a successful application for funding to the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Fund has awarded the museum a grant of £919,400, which will be matched by investment by Lancashire County Council of £811,147.

CC Mike Calvert, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for Adult and Community Services is looking forward to visiting the museum when it reopens: “The refurbished museum will be a superb facility which the people of Lancashire can be proud of.

“The plans for the museum are truly inspiring: I am particularly looking forward to the new atmospheric walk through the World War 1 trench with its sounds, smells and film.

Other plans for the museum include developing community engagement opportunities. A new community outreach officer will be appointed to work with local community groups to enable them to contribute directly into the new displays and to interpret objects that have meaning for them

It is also planned for the museum to act as a means of signposting heritage sites across Lancashire, such as the theme of Lancashire at work. This will tie in with Helmshore and Queen Street Mill Textile Museums, Lancaster Maritime and Fleetwood Museums and the British Commercial Vehicle Museum.

The elecrification programme, announced today by Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis, includes:

• 17 miles of track between Preston and Blackpool North, allowing electric trains to run between Blackpool North and Liverpool/Manchester
• 15 miles of track between Huyton and Wigan, allowing electric trains to travel between Wigan and Liverpool, via St Helens
• 25 miles of track between Euxton (near Chorley) and Manchester, allowing electric trains to operate between Preston and Manchester, via Bolton

Electrification will also increase capacity as electrified lines can accommodate longer trains.

Following the securing of £2.35 million pounds in funding from the Northwest Regional Development Agency and the Heritage Lottery Fund, phase two of the project will see the parks restored to the original designs of Edward Milner drawn up during the 1860’s.

The work will see the planting of almost 500 new trees and 32,000 plants as well as the removal of 73 hazardous diseased trees which will be replaced with disease resistant elms. 19 trees will be removed for design reasons.

Councillor Ken Hudson, Leader of Preston City Council said: ‘Avenham and Miller Parks are city gems and restoring them to the original vision of Edward Milner will ensure that the people of Preston are able to boast two of the most beautiful parks in the country for generations to come.

Once completed, this project will enhance Preston’s environmental credentials making it an even more attractive place to live and visit.

With the Guild in 2012 fast approaching, the parks will be a wonderful venue for staging events and showing Preston off in a fantastic light.’

The trustees of the museum made the controversial decision today, after commissioning an independent report on the move last month. They hope that a museum can be maintained at Preston until 2012 and beyond, providing funding is secured.

Paul Dermody, Chairman of the National Football Museum said, ‘We are delighted that the partnership with Manchester City Council will ensure an exciting future for the Museum. We also hope that further discussions with Lancashire County Council, Preston City Council and the University of Central Lancashire will see this national treasure remain open in Preston into the future. Importantly, the museum’s future in the North West has been secured. We firmly believe this is a win-win situation’.

Councillor Ken Hudson, Leader of Preston City Council, responded, ‘We are bitterly disappointed that the trustees of the National Football Museum have decided, in effect, to move the football museum to Manchester. We put forward an excellent funding package that guaranteed the future of the museum in Preston. Now they are talking about having some sort of ‘publicly accessible’ museum in Preston until 2012 – as long as Preston taxpayers fund it. In other words they want us to baby sit the museum until they open a new one in Manchester. Together with Lancashire County Council and the University of Central Lancashire we will now consider our options.’

The event, at the Flag Market, will run from 2 pm to 5.30 pm, with the main show beginning around 4 pm. Other acts and stars appearing include the cast of Cinderella, Hollie Steel from Britain’s Got Talent, Preston North End players, and Laura White.

Last year around 5,000 people attended the event.

The wheel, to be situated on the Flag Market, is scheduled to arrive in the city on Thursday 12 November and following a build up operation will open for trial runs on Thursday 19 November. It will then be open every day, except Christmas Day, until the January 2 2010.

The trustees of the museum had been due to decide the fate of the attraction today, but have delayed making the final choice until an independent report on the move has been produced and evaluated.

Lancashire and Preston councils recently launched a bid to keep the museum at Deepdale.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGI8r7IQRhI

Following the sell out success story of last years ‘HEX in the Harvest’, hosted at the same venue last Halloween, AtmosFEAR!, lead by TV presenter and author Jason Karl, have been working on Scare Kingdom for the past 10 months, and have stepped up the fright factor for 2009 with new special effects, more live actors and even more terrifying attractions for thrill seekers and families!

During the October half term, Scare Kingdom opens daily and delivers Halloween fun with everyone in mind.

For children under 10 -- ‘Hubble Bubble: A Spellbinding Trick or Treat’ is a 45 minute interactive theatrical experience. Featuring songs and games that will enthral youngsters, friendly witch sisters ‘Toil and Trouble’ will cook up a spell to keep everyone entertained. After the show, why not try and navigate the ‘Wicked Witches Corn Maze’?

At night the Kingdom comes alive with two headlining terrifying scare attractions that will leave guests screaming for more! For families and young adults -- ‘Dead Alive: Legend of the Pumpkin Man’ -- amid the 8 acres of rotting mist covered cornfields lay the ruins of Strangleweed Hollow, in its day a booming town where many made their fortunes during the gold rush. Now nothing more than a ghost town… This 40 minute fright fest begins at Mother Strange’s old decaying farmhouse, here she waits, night after night still longing for her long lost son who disappeared into the fields so long ago – the Pumpkin Man!

For thrill seekers and families -- ‘Blood Bath; the Mad Doctor will see YOU now!’ -- in the heart of a derelict war bunker, long since forgotten, a diabolical doctor -- Cornelius Van Der Blood, has set up his secret blood soaked chamber. Evicted from Gaunt Hill Asylum under a cloud of accusations and rumours of unspeakable deeds, he is now continuing his bizarre and twisted experiments deep underground, away from prying eyes, where the screams of his ‘patients’ cannot be heard.

For information, exact opening times and bookings visit www.scarekingdom.com or call Ticketweb on 08444 771000, quoting BLACKSCAR for £2-off evening admission.

For the past two years Big Wood and neighbouring Copperworks Wood have undergone a major transformation creating around 18 hectares of woodland and a network of footpaths specifically designed for low mobility users.

Now an official opening of the new extension to Yarrow Valley Country Park is to be held on Thursday, October 22.

The work was made possible thanks to funding from Chorley Council, REMADE (REclamation and MAnagement of DErelict Land), funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), Lancashire County Council, Biffa Award and Action Douglas and Yarrow.

To date approximately £500,000 has been spent, with a further £75,000 allocated for spring 2010.

The woods were previously derelict, underused and neglected and included the old lodges for the former Chorley Bleach Works, which has long since been demolished.

The first phase of works between 2007 and 2008 involved extensive engineering works to the lodge. The old outlet and weir were removed, the culvert under the lodge was capped and a new wave wall and spillway were constructed. Contaminated material was removed from the top lodge and a new silt trap was created. Other works included the capping of five mine shafts and contaminated land in Copperworks Wood.

The second phase of the scheme, to reclaim the land, started in autumn 2008 and was completed by summer 2009. This phase included woodland management and native planting along with the creation of a 1700m footpath network specifically designed for low mobility, including the installation of bridges, handrails, steps, wheelchair access kissing gates and picnic areas. Access controls have also been installed to prevent misuse by motorbikes.

Fingerposts and signage have also been added to complement the improved public access and create a direct link between the town’s most popular green spaces of Yarrow Valley Country Park and Astley Park.

Councillor John Walker, Chorley Council’s Executive Member (People) said: ‘We have seen a vast transformation of this area over the past two years and now we can unveil a fantastic recreational resource for the local community and visitors to Chorley. It will be managed by the Council’s ranger service as part of Yarrow Valley Country Park and will provide the perfect place for people to go for a walk and enjoy the countryside.’

A management plan has been agreed to ensure continued aftercare and maintenance of wildlife, trees, wild plants and the upkeep of paths and associated infrastructure is undertaken.

The Big Wood and Copperworks Wood site is one of a number of reclamation schemes being implemented through the Lancashire County Council REMADE Programme, which was established to reclaim derelict, underused and neglected land across the county and is funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

Funds were also donated by Biffaward – a multi-million pound environment fund which utilises landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services – and Chorley Council in partnership with Groundwork.

Big Wood and Copperworks Wood are located close to Yarrow Valley Way and Common Bank.

The event will be hosted by BBC presenter Ranvir Singh and is being organised by the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

The finalists are:

Large Hotel of the Year

Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near Chester
Castle Green Hotel, Kendal, Cumbria
Preston Marriott Hotel, Preston, Lancashire
The Lowry Hotel, Manchester
Malmaison Liverpool, Liverpool

Small Hotel of the Year

Peckforton Castle, Tarporley, Cheshire
Gilpin Lodge Country House Hotel, Windermere, Cumbria
Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, Ribble Valley

Bed and Breakfast of the Year

Harrop Fold Farm, Macclesfield, Cheshire
Storrs Gate House, Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria
The Ashton, Lancaster, Lancashire
Brooklands Lodge, Sale, Greater Manchester
The Ambassador Townhouse, Southport, Merseyside

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year

Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire
Walby Farm Park, near Carlisle, Cumbria
Blackpool Tower and Circus, Blackpool
Imperial War Museum North, Manchester
Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year

Arley Hall & Gardens, Northwich, Cheshire
Wordsworth House and Garden, Cockermouth, Cumbria
Helmshore Mills Textile Museum, Helmshore, Lancashire
Museum of the Manchester Regiment, Manchester
Acorn Farm, Liverpool

Self Catering Holiday of the Year

Kerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield, Cheshire
Hall Hills, Dalston, near Carlisle, Cumbria
Clough Bottom Farm Cottages, near Clitheroe, Lancashire
Blue Rainbow Apartments, Manchester
Premier Apartments Liverpool, Liverpool

Holiday Park of the Year

Castlerigg Hall Caravan and Camping Park, Keswick, Cumbria
Sunset Park, Hambleton, near Blackpool

Business Tourism Award

Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near Chester
Warwick Mill Business Village, near Carlisle, Cumbria
Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green, near Blackpool
The Lowry Hotel, Manchester
BT Convention Centre, Liverpool

Taste of England’s Northwest

Walk Mill, Chester
Low Sizergh Barn Farm Shop, Kendal, Cumbria
La Locanda Ristorante Italiano, Gisburn, Lancashire
The Modern, Urbis, Manchester
Delifonseca, Liverpool

Tourism Experience of the Year

Roman Tours, Chester
Silverband Falconry, Penrith, Cumbria
Farmaggedon, near Ormskirk, Lancashire
Costumed Performers, Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester
Art in the Age of Steam, National Museums Liverpool, Liverpool

Customer Service Award

Janet Bradshaw, Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire
Jennifer Taylor, The Archway Guest House, Windermere, Cumbria
Hannah Lee, The New Holly, near Preston
Mahendran Mayan, Renaissance Hotel, Manchester
Christina Dixon, Jurys Inn Hotel, Liverpool

Sustainable Tourism Award

Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near Chester
Langdale Leisure Ltd, Ambleside, Cumbria
Malkin Tower Farm Holiday Cottages, Blacko, Lancashire
Radisson SAS Hotel Manchester Airport, Greater Manchester
Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool, Liverpool

Tourism for All Award

Kerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield, Cheshire
Ullswater Steamers, Glenridding, Cumbria
Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool
The Trafford Centre, Greater Manchester

Tourism Event

Nantwich Food and Drink Festival, Cheshire
Westmorland County Agricultural Show, Milnthorpe, Cumbria
Blackpool Illuminations, Blackpool
Manchester Pride, Manchester
Creamfields, Merseyside

Public Space Award

Cockermouth Market Place Regeneration Scheme, Cumbria
County Square Environmental Enhancement Scheme, Ulverston, Cumbria
Pier Head Public Realm and Canal Link, Liverpool

Tourist Information Centre of the Year

Congleton TIC, Cheshire
Coniston TIC, Cumbria
Cleveleys TIC, Lancashire
Wigan TIC, Greater Manchester
St Helens TIC, Merseyside

Travel Journalist of the Year

Chris Moss, Time Out
Craig Fleming, Blackpool Gazette
David Atkinson, Freelance
Paul Croughton, The Sunday Times
Stephen McClarence, The Observer

The news was delivered to Preston City Council on Thursday.

Council leaders issued a joint statement today, stating ‘It’s disappointing as we still believe a public inquiry into Tithebarn is unnecessary. There are very clear and strong planning reasons why Tithebarn should be allowed to go ahead in Preston and we will now make that case at public inquiry.’

Preston City Council approved the £700 million regeneration scheme in July 2009.

A statement from Preston City Council states, ‘We are pleased that the Government is taking its time in making a decision. We submitted a very large amount of detailed evidence in support of the Tithebarn development and it will take time to fully consider this. We are convinced that given this strong evidence in support of Tithebarn that there is no need to hold a costly and unnecessary public inquiry and hope that by taking their time, the Government will agree with this and allow Tithebarn to proceed unhindered.’

The event starts tomorrow and runs until Sunday September 13.

Hundreds of attractions and properties in the North West are taking part. For more details visit the official Heritage Open Days website.

Highlights include:

Barrow

Furness Abbey – Impressive remains of a Cistercian monastery.
Barrow Town Hall
Dalton Castle, Dalton-in-Furness – 14th century tower.

Birkenhead

Birkenhead Park – Grade I listed public space.
Birkenhead Priory – The oldest standing building in Merseyside.
Oxton Village
Port Sunlight Museum

Blackburn

Haworth Art Gallery, Accrington – Tudor-style Edwardian house in 9 acres of parkland. Home of Europe’s largest public collection of Tiffany Glass.

Blackpool

Blackpool Tower – Guided tour of the aquarium, circus, and ballroom.
Funny Girls – Opened as the biggest Odeon cinema outside London. Now one of Blackpool’s premier entertainment venues.
Marton Mere Local Nature Reserve – Nature reserve on the outskirts of Blackpool.
Stanley Park
Grand Theatre Blackpool – 1100-seat theatre designed by Frank Matcham in 1894.
Winter Gardens
Lytham Hall, Lytham St Annes – Grade I 18th century manor house in 80 acres of mature parkland.
The White Church, Lytham St Annes – Fairhaven United Reform Church.

Bolton

Bolton Steam Museum – Houses 25 steam engines that once drove the cotton mills of Northern England.
Hall i’th’ Wood – Tudor wooden-framed house.
Smithills Hall – Manor house.

Burnley

Burnley Football Club – Tour of Turf Moor, home of Burnley FC.
Oak Mount Hill Engine House – Cotton mill engine house dating from 1887 with recently restored steam engine.
Queen Street Mill Textile Museum
Rourke’s Forge – Watch blacksmiths at work.
Towneley Hall – Historic house, art gallery and museums, natural history centre, woodland walks and nature trails.
Gawthorpe Hall, Padiham

Bury

Bury Transport Museum
Fusiliers’ Museum – Tour of the new museum
East Lancashire Railway – Tour behind the scenes at the East Lancashire Railway, including a ride from Bolton Street station to Ramsbottom.
Peel Tower – Climb to the top of Bury’s famous landmark, built in 1852 in tribute to Bury-born Sir Robert Peel.

Carlisle

Carlisle Castle

Lake District

Beatrix Potter Gallery, Hawkshead – Home to original watercolours and sketches of Beatrix Potter.
Hill Top, Hawkshead – 17th century farmhouse where Beatrix Potter wrote many of her stories.
Townend, Windermere – 17th century stone and slate house.

Chester & Cheshire

Bear & Billet – One of the oldest pubs in Chester.
Chester Racecourse
Grosvenor Museum
Grosvenor Park
Little Moreton Hall, Congleton – Cheshire’s most iconic black and white house.
Beeston Castle, Tarporley – Former Royal Castle perched high on a rocky sandstone crag.

Kendal

Sizergh Castle

Lancaster

Lune Aqueduct – Canal cruise from Lancaster city centre to the Lune Aqueduct.

Liverpool

Britannia Adelphi
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral – Roman catholic cathedral.
Liverpool Town Hall
St George’s Hall – Grade I listed building opposite Lime Street station.
The Bluecoat – The oldest building in Liverpool city centre.

Macclesfield

Silk Museum
Quarry Bank Mill, Wilmslow – Former cotton mill.

Manchester

Manchester Town Hall
Monastery – Restored monastery in Gorton.
Victoria Baths

Morecambe

Morecambe Town Hall
Morecambe Winter Gardens

Oldham

Saddleworth Museum & Art Gallery

Penrith

Acorn Bank Garden & Watermill – Tours of the herb garden and Acorn Bank house.
Penrith & Eden Museum – Local history museum and Tourist Information Centre.

Preston

Museum of Lancashire – Museum in Preston’s Old Court House.
Samlesbury Hall – Historic house dating back to 1325.

Rochdale

Greater Manchester Fire Museum – Official museum of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.
Healey Dell Nature Reserve – Guided walk.
Hollingworth Lake
Rochdale Pioneers Museum – The world’s first successfully operated co-operative store. Now a museum with restored historic shop.
Three Owls Bird Sanctuary – Wild bird hospital.
Touchstones – Arts and heritage centre with museum, art gallery, local studies library, tourist information, shop and café.

St Helens

Dream – Spectacular sculpture designed by world-renowned artist Jaume Plensa.
World of Glass – Explores the history of St Helens and its glass making heritage.

Stockport

Bramall Hall – One of Cheshire’s grandest black and white timber-framed Tudor manor houses.
Hat Works – The only museum in the UK dedicated to the hatting industry.
Lyme Park – Mansion house, gardens, and ancient deer park.
Staircase House
Stockport Air Raid Shelters – Underground labyrinth of tunnels built for shelter during World War II.

Warrington

Norton Priory, Runcorn – 38 acre site with excavated remains of the Augustinian Priory and woodland gardens.

Wigan

Trencherfield Mill – Restored steam engine.

Councillor Ken Hudson, Leader of Preston City Council, said ‘The National Football Museum is an important attraction for Preston and we desperately want the museum to stay in the city. We have an urgent meeting with museum representatives on Monday (14th September), when we will discuss the future of the museum.’