Our top tips for free things to do in Blackburn with Darwen

Discover a taste of what Blackburn with Darwen has to offer with our guide to some of the top free things to do across our borough.

1. Unleash your creativity

As Blackburn with Darwen is a hotbed of creativity there’s a lot of free activities for you to enjoy.

Why not enjoy:

The Making Rooms- situated in Blackburn town centre, this is a cool facility used by local artists, students and children. It combines creativity, technology and manufacturing and there are free sessions every Saturday. The Making Rooms is open Monday to Saturday 10am-6pm.

For full details visit The Making Rooms website

If creativity is your thing, be sure to jot down the date for the ever-popular Festival of Making too! It’ll return in 2024 on the weekend of July 6^th and 7^th.

2. Take a walk around our beautiful borough

If nature and walking is your thing, then we have just the thing for you as our towns are surrounded by rolling countryside.

Our favourite walks include:

The Jubilee Tower, a historic landmark, lies in the West Pennine Moors and overlooks Darwen. It’s the perfect location for a walk with some beautiful views. The tower is open to the public and is free of charge.

To learn more about the historic landmark visit: Darwen Tower – Jubilee Tower of Darwen

Parks and Open Spaces – we also have a variety of parks and open spaces for you to enjoy here in Blackburn with Darwen. Re:fresh offers a variety of  outdoor activities and walks that you can enjoy – so make sure to check out the website. The vast availability of parks and open spaces means you can take a nice walk and children can enjoy the playgrounds. Parks and open spaces are always open to the public and are completely free.

For more information on parks and open spaces visit: Parks and open spaces | Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

3. Discover a world of literature

Libraries – we have five libraries across Blackburn with Darwen, with over 10,000 books for you to choose from. There is a range of literature available to the public and there are also free services available every week, such as the coffee morning on a Friday until noon at Blackburn Central Library.

With a free library card, you can borrow books for up to three weeks. There is no charge for late books, however you will have to renew your loan – books can be renewed for up to eight times.

Did you know you can also borrow e-books and audio books via the libraries online platform Borrow Box?

To find out more about services offered by Blackburn with Darwen libraries visit: Libraries | Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

4. Get a glimpse of history

Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery – the Museum is 150 years old this year and, with their newly refurbished roof, is once again ready to show off its amazing collections. Some of the fascinating collections include manufacturing and industry, coins, social and natural history.

Various free events have been held at the museum over the years such as the Festival of Making which takes place in July and the British Textile Biennial which takes place every two years starting at the end of September. Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday from 12pm to 4:45pm.

For more information about the services held at the museum visit: Blackburn Museum

Turton Tower – a unique historic house which sits in the middle of beautiful gardens and woodlands. The tower is filled with some of the finest paintings and furniture in the North-West. Be sure to explore the grounds, visit the adventure playground and experience the kitchen garden. The tower is open from Wednesday to Saturday (including Bank Holidays) from March until October and children can enjoy free entry.

To find out more visit: Turton Tower

Blackburn Cathedral – open to all; it has been a beacon for visitors from across Lancashire and beyond, enjoying the views and services held by the Cathedral weekly. The Cathedral holds regular events and guided tours that you can enjoy, as well as the surrounding grounds where you can sit and enjoy the beauty of the Cathedral. Blackburn Cathedral is open Tuesday to Saturday 8:15am to 5:30pm and Sunday 8:15am to 5pm.

For full details about services offered by the Cathedral visit: Blackburn Cathedral | Good News for Lancashire | Welcome

5. Embrace the Blackburn with Darwen culture

Free Events – Blackburn with Darwen is proud to host various free events right through the year including the National Festival of Making, which takes place every year in July and the British Textiles Biennial which takes place every two years.

We also host events like Darwen Live which is a free event that takes place yearly across the May bank holiday and Blackburn Pride which will take place in June 2024 – so make sure to mark it in your calender!

Follow Blackburn with Darwen council on Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) to find out what’s on or visit: The Shuttle: Blackburn with Darwen Council News | Local news and features for Blackburn with Darwen for all the latest news and events.