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Gardens & Arboretums in Preston

There's only one garden listed here, but it's a proper one. Gresgarth Hall Gardens is a longer trip out to Lancaster, with wild garden, vegetable plots and rhododendron woodland to wander through. Tickets start from £16, though it's only open on a handful of days a year, so this isn't a spontaneous Sunday plan, it needs a date in the diary. Kids go in free, which softens the price for a family visit, and there's free parking on site so you're not hunting for a space after the drive out. It suits an outdoor amble more than a quick stop, best for children who are happy walking rather than buggy-bound toddlers, and it's worth building the whole day around given how far out it is and how rarely the gates open.

✓ 1 place✦ From £16