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Steam Railways & Boat Trips in Preston

The closest of these is out at Ormskirk, about 13 miles away, where Lancashire Canal Cruises let kids steer the boat, wear the captain's hat and work the swing bridges on a canal holiday booked as a family group. A little further on, near Wigan, Kittywake Canal Cruises serve a proper meal on board, anything from pizza to a full roast, while you pass through a lock or two. For actual steam, it is a longer trip up to Bury for the East Lancashire Railway, where Ramsbottom station has a playground and duck spotting and the quieter Irwell Vale station has a sculpture trail along the river. For toddlers, the swing bridges and captain's hat at Ormskirk are hard to beat, and the playground at Ramsbottom gives older ones somewhere to run about after the train. If you fancy taking the tiller yourself rather than being a passenger, Worsley Day Boat Hire in Manchester rents boats from £150 for spotting herons on the Bridgewater Canal, and Bridgewater Cruises runs seasonal Santa and Easter craft trips on the same stretch.

✓ 9 places★ 1 upcoming event✦ From £150