Key Points
- Smithills Open Farm offers hands‑on animal encounters.
- Moses Gate Country Park features woodland trails and waterfalls.
- Bolton Museum showcases ancient artefacts and aquarium.
- Jumbles Country Park provides lakeside walks and picnic spots.
- Octagon Theatre stages plays, musicals, and family shows.
Bolton (Bolton Today) February 6, 2026 – Bolton, a historic town in Greater Manchester, offers a mix of green spaces, heritage sites, and indoor attractions that appeal to both families and couples. Whether you are planning a relaxed weekend or a full‑day outing, the town and its surrounding countryside provide a variety of activities that remain relevant year‑round.
Explore Smithills Open Farm
Smithills Open Farm is one of Bolton’s most popular family‑friendly attractions, set across around 70 acres of countryside just outside the town centre. The farm is home to a wide range of animals, including pigs, cows, goats, sheep, rabbits, llamas, and owls, many of which are friendly and can be petted or fed.
Families with young children can enjoy tractor rides, indoor and outdoor play areas, and seasonal events such as Easter egg hunts and autumn pumpkin trails. There is also a café on site, making it easy to combine a morning or afternoon visit with a light meal. For couples who enjoy rural settings, the farm offers peaceful walks around the grounds and photo‑friendly backdrops, especially in spring and early summer.
Location: Smithills Hall Lane, Bolton, BL1 7TJ.
Typical opening: Generally open daily; check the official Visit Bolton page for current hours.
Wander Through Moses Gate Country Park
Moses Gate Country Park is a large local nature reserve that combines woodland, riverside paths, waterfalls, and open grassland, making it ideal for both family walks and couples’ strolls. The park features Bolton’s largest adventure playground, which includes climbing frames, slides, and other play equipment suitable for a range of ages.
There are multiple waymarked trails, including shorter loops that are manageable for young children and longer routes for more active visitors. The park also has cycle paths, so families can bring bikes or hire them locally, while couples may prefer a quiet walk along the River Croal. Facilities include picnic areas, toilets, and a café, and entry to the park is free.
Location: Moses Gate, Bolton, BL2 6BW.
Access: Open daily; no admission charge.
Visit Bolton Museum and Art Gallery
Bolton Museum and Art Gallery, located in the town centre, offers a diverse collection that appeals to both families and adults. The museum includes an Ancient Egypt Gallery with artifacts such as a 3,200‑year‑old mummy and a piece of Japanese samurai armour, alongside displays on local history and natural sciences.
The on‑site aquarium features freshwater fish from around the world, which is particularly engaging for children. Temporary exhibitions and family‑friendly events (such as craft sessions and themed trails) are often scheduled, but the core galleries remain a stable, year‑round draw. Entry to the museum and art gallery is free, which makes it a budget‑friendly option for families and couples alike.
Location: Le Mans Crescent, Bolton, BL1 1SE.
Typical opening: Usually open Tuesday–Saturday; check the official site for current times.
Relax at Jumbles Country Park
Jumbles Country Park, located near Bromley Cross, is a popular green space with a large reservoir‑style lake and surrounding woodland trails. The park is frequently listed among Bolton’s top attractions on travel and review sites, with visitor ratings reflecting strong family appeal.
Families can walk the lakeside paths, use the children’s play areas, and sometimes hire rowing boats or pedalos when seasonal hire services are operating; however, the basic walking and picnic experience is available year‑round. The park also has a café that remains open on most days, serving hot drinks and light meals, which adds to its suitability for half‑day outings.
For couples, Jumbles offers scenic viewpoints across the water, quieter woodland routes away from the main paths, and opportunities for photography or sketching. The park’s location within easy reach of Bolton town centre by car or bus makes it a convenient choice for spontaneous weekend trips.
Discover Turton Tower
Turton Tower, a Grade‑I‑listed historic house set on the edge of Turton Moor, is one of Bolton’s most‑photographed heritage sites and is promoted by both Visit Bolton and national‑tourism platforms. The tower dates back to the 15th century and has been extended over the centuries, creating a layered architectural experience that includes period rooms, period‑furnished interiors, and a walled garden.
Families can explore the house interiors, which often include interactive elements such as dressing‑up corners or themed activity sheets, while the surrounding grounds provide space for running, picnics, and seasonal events such as craft fairs or open‑garden days. Entry is paid, with reduced rates for children and concessions, and the official site lists current opening days and times, which typically follow a regular pattern across the year.
For couples, Turton Tower works as a romantic or heritage‑focused date, combining a guided or self‑guided tour of the house with a walk through the gardens and views over the surrounding moorland. Because the tower is a permanent listed building rather than a pop‑up venue, its core offering is inherently evergreen.
Stroll Through Rivington and Terraced Gardens
Although technically just outside Bolton in the wider borough, Rivington and the Terraced Gardens at Lever Park are often included in Bolton‑focused “things to do” lists and are accessible by short car or bus journeys from the town. The Terraced Gardens, originally laid out in the early 20th century, feature formal flowerbeds, stone terraces, and woodland paths that lead up towards Rivington Pike.
Families can combine a visit to the gardens with walks to nearby play areas, picnic spots, and the Rivington Pike tower, creating a full‑day countryside outing. The area is free to access and is maintained by local‑authority and trust‑managed bodies, which helps keep paths and basic facilities in place across seasons.
Couples often use Rivington for longer hikes, sunset views from the Pike, or quiet walks through the terraced gardens, which are less crowded than urban parks and offer a more “escape‑from‑the‑city” feel. Because the landscape and structures are permanent, this destination remains relevant regardless of specific events or promotions.
Relax at Bolton Central Library and Café Culture
Bolton Central Library, part of Bolton Library and Museum Services, sits in the town centre and is frequently mentioned alongside the museum as a free‑entry cultural hub. The library hosts regular events for children, including story‑time sessions and craft activities, which are advertised on the council website and in local‑family‑outings listings.
For families, the library offers a low‑cost, weather‑independent option: reading areas, activity corners, and occasional free workshops mean parents can combine a visit with a nearby café or shopping trip. The building itself is architecturally notable and often forms part of heritage‑trail routes promoted by the council.
Couples can use the library as a quiet meeting point before or after a meal in the town‑centre cafés, or as a stop on a cultural‑walk that includes the museum and nearby theatres. Because libraries are publicly funded and operate on a regular schedule, this resource remains a stable, evergreen part of Bolton’s visitor‑offer.