Family Friendly
What's on this weekend - 24th to 26th July
Posted on:
22 July 2026
From live music to Alpaca walking, archaeology festivals to maize mazes, you can find it all in Lancashire this weekend!
Clitheroe
Clitheroe is a historic market town at the centre of the Ribble Valley, well placed for exploring the surrounding countryside, including the Forest of Bowland National Landscape. With a wide range of places to stay—from traditional B&Bs to camping and caravan sites—it works well as a base for spending more time in this part of Lancashire. The town itself has deep roots, dating back to Saxon times, with layers of history still visible today.
Overlooking it all is Clitheroe Castle, a 12th-century Norman landmark often described as the smallest of its kind in England. Set within landscaped grounds, it’s home to a museum as well as gardens, walking routes and family-friendly features including a playground and labyrinth. From the castle, routes lead out into the surrounding area, while back in the town centre you’ll find a strong mix of specialist and independent shops, making it a popular place to browse as well as explore.
Find out more Visit Ribble Valley
Be Inspired
This is the year of the staycation and lucky for you there's plenty of options here in the red rose county! Take a look at some of the options
Clitheroe Businesses
Business Directory
Eight at Gazegill
Bask in the shadow of the iconic Pendle Hill with a range of menus, from brunch, to four-course fine dining set dinner menu.
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Business Directory
Holmes Mill
The beautifully renovated former textiles mill is pretty hard to miss and is home to the fabulous new showcase and tasting parlour for Bowland Brewery the Beer Hall.
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Business Directory
Bowland Social at Holmes Mill
Opening soon. Bowland Social is a vibrant social playground, bringing together classic games, great food and drinks, and a lively atmosphere.
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TASTE | Wet Weather
Boiler House Bowling
Never been duck pin bowling? It’s exactly like ten pin bowling, except the lanes and balls are smaller, making a strike even harder to achieve.
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Outdoors
Laythams Holiday Lets Retreat
Nestling in the bird watchers' & walkers' paradise of the Forest of Bowland & its rolling fells, Laythams Holiday Lets Retreat 16th Century Pennine Longhouse has been sensitively converted to include three luxury self-catering cottages.
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History & Heritage | Family Friendly | Arts & Culture
Browsholme Hall
The ancestral home of the Parker Family, Bowbearers of the Forest of Bowland who have lived there since 1507.
Read MoreClitheroe Events
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Events
Castle Crafts - Anglo-Saxon Brooches - Clitheroe Castle Museum
Date: 5th Aug 2026
Delve back in time and make your very own Anglo-Saxon Brooch in this guided craft activity. Learn more about the Saxons and their flair for fashion.Using a template and craft material provided, you will be able to decorate a Saxon broo...
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Family Friendly | Free | TASTE
Clitheroe Food Festival 2026
Date: 8th Aug 2026
Clitheroe is a pretty town with amazing views across a forest, so it's a lovely setting for one of the best food festivals in the UK. Returning this August, it brings a huge selection of delicious local produce and culinary talent.
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Events
Castle Crafts - Medieval Shields - Clitheroe Castle Museum
Date: 12th Aug 2026
Unleash your creativity and learn about the knights of yore with this guided craft activity where you can paint your own medieval shield!Using a template, you'll be provided with colours to design your own shield to take home, while le...
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Free
Escape2Make Heritage Festival - Clitheroe Castle Museum
Date: 15th Aug 2026
Join Escape2Make for a full day of creative activities inspired by local heritage and led by professional artists. Young people aged 11-18 can take part in a variety of creative workshops, offering the chance to develop new skills, explore local h...
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Events
Castle Crafts - Medieval Heraldic Banners - Clitheroe Castle Museum
Date: 19th Aug 2026
Using a banner template and craft materials, decorate your own fabric medieval banner and design a coat of arms to adorn it. The craft leaders will show some examples of medieval banners and their designs, as well as delve into why they were made...
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History & Heritage | Family Friendly
A Day of Knights with the Silver School of Arms at Clitheroe Castle
Date: 23rd Aug 2026
Clitheroe Castle welcome back the Silver School of Arms, an historical European martial arts group who study European fighting arts.
Read MoreClitheroe Itineraries
Arts & Culture | History & Heritage | TASTE
Explore Lancashire Like King Charles III - A Royal-Inspired Day Out
Follow in the footsteps of the most recent visit to Lancashire by King Charles III on this royal itinerary
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Clitheroe Routes & Trails
Free | History & Heritage | Outdoors
The Tolkien Trail - in the Footsteps of J.R.R. Tolkien
Duration2 hours 30 mins
Distance5.5 miles
Many areas in the UK claim to have inspired J.R.R Tolkien creation of middle earth but the author certainly spent a lot of his time at Stonyhurst College working on The Lord of the Rings during the Second World War.
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