Pleasington is a quiet village in the Borough of Blackburn with Darwen, perched on a hillside above the River Darwen and surrounded by green countryside. Listed in the Domesday Book and connected to nearby towns by rail, it sits at the centre of some genuinely brilliant toddler-friendly days out. Whether you want to stay close to the village or venture a short drive away, the area around Pleasington has you covered for little ones at every stage.

Here is a practical guide to the top 10 things to do with toddlers in Pleasington, with options for all weathers and budgets.

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1. Jungle World Park – Soft Play Built Around Toddlers

When Lancashire weather closes in, Jungle World Park is the go-to for families with toddlers. Based in Leyland, just a short drive from Pleasington, this indoor soft play centre has a dedicated Toddler Zone designed specifically for children aged 0 to 3. It features smaller slides, sensory play, and soft mats, so little ones can explore safely without older children rushing past.

The venue caters for all ages up to 12, with separate zones to match each stage, so if you have children of different ages they all stay busy at the same time. The five-star hygiene-rated Tiki Café is right on site, which means you do not have to venture outside for food or coffee. Parents get a proper view of the play areas from the café seating.

Jungle World Park also runs ASD-friendly sessions every Monday from 18:00 to 19:00, with reduced music and adjusted lighting. Carers attend free. Birthday party packages include an exclusive room, dedicated host, party food, unlimited juice, a karaoke machine, and a bubble machine.

Always book sessions in advance. Weekends and school holidays fill up quickly.

Address: 2 Tomlinson Road, Leyland, PR25 2DY 

Phone: 01772 368544 

Website: www.jungleworldpark.com

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2. Pleasington Playing Fields – Open Space Right on the Doorstep

You do not have to travel far from Pleasington for a toddler-friendly outdoor visit. Pleasington Playing Fields is a spacious, well-maintained park adjacent to the River Darwen and connected directly to Witton Country Park via a bridge. It is free to enter with free parking on site.

The fields offer large open grassland for toddlers to run about, a children's playground, and walking paths at an easy pace for small legs. Ice cream vans appear regularly during the warmer months. The Woodland Trust notes that the Playing Fields sit adjacent to Witton Country Park's extensive path network, making it easy to extend a visit into the wider countryside without planning a full hike.

It is a genuinely relaxed option for a morning or afternoon outing close to home.

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3. Witton Country Park – 480 Acres with a Toddler Play Area

Witton Country Park is one of Lancashire's most popular free outdoor spaces, and it sits right next to Pleasington. Covering 480 acres of woodland, parkland, and farmland, the park has an infants' play area specifically for toddlers, alongside a separate woodland adventure area for older children.

The park has well-maintained walking paths, disability-friendly access ramps, a café serving sandwiches and ice creams, plenty of picnic benches, and a pets' corner with animals. A dedicated cycle track gives toddlers who are on balance bikes a safe space to ride.

Parking at the Tower Road and Pleasington car parks is free. The main car park off Preston Old Road costs 60p for two hours or £1.80 for the day.

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4. Brockholes Nature Reserve – Pram Walks and Toddler Sessions

Brockholes Nature Reserve, managed by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, runs two specific sessions designed around young families. The Pram Walk is a brisk one-hour route around the reserve on pram-friendly paths, ideal for parents with babies in pushchairs. The Toddle Together Walk, held on the first Thursday of every month, is a one-hour guided walk on buggy-friendly paths aimed at toddlers and pre-schoolers, giving children an early introduction to wildlife and nature.

The majority of the reserve's paths are level and surfaced, making them suitable for pushchairs. The adventure play area has swings, balance blocks, a see-saw, a play hut, a zip wire, and a scoop and dig area. Two cafés on-site cover food and drinks. Entry to the reserve is free; parking costs £5 for the day.

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5. Mrs Dowsons Farm Park – Animals Toddlers Can Actually Touch

Mrs Dowsons Farm Park, set along the A59 between Preston and Clitheroe, is a real working dairy farm that opens its doors to families on weekends, school holidays, and bank holidays from spring through autumn.

Toddlers get to bottle feed orphan lambs and baby goats, meet alpacas, donkeys, sheep, pigs, and emus, and take a tractor ride around the farm. The animals are everywhere and the interactions are hands-on, which makes it one of the best toddler outings in Lancashire. Award-winning ice cream is made on the farm using milk from the dairy herd, with a wide selection of flavours available in the ice cream parlour.

Pre-booking is now essential. Check the website for up-to-date opening dates before visiting, as the farm does not open every day.

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6. Samlesbury Hall – Free Entry, a Fairy Door Hunt, and a Play Ship

Samlesbury Hall is a free-to-visit medieval house between Blackburn and Preston, open Sunday to Friday from 10:00 to 16:00. The hall dates back to 1325 and admission is free, with a large free car park on site.

The Mayflower playground is the toddler draw here: a wooden ship to climb, rope bridges, a miniature version of the hall attached by walkways, and a trim trail through the woodland. The café and gardens are calm enough for pushchairs in the courtyard area. Guided tours run free on most Sundays, and the hall runs a fairy door hunt in the grounds that toddlers take to immediately.

Baby changing facilities are available on site.

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7. Pleasington Priory and the Village Walk – A Gentle Stroll for Little Legs

Pleasington Priory, the Church of St Mary and St John Baptist, is a Grade I listed Roman Catholic church built between 1816 and 1819, described by the architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner as "an astonishing church." It sits in the heart of the village and is free to visit.

The route from the Priory along the riverside path toward Pleasington Playing Fields and then back through Witton Country Park is flat, manageable, and takes around 45 minutes at toddler pace. The River Darwen runs alongside part of the route, making it engaging for children who enjoy water.

It works well on a dry afternoon before heading to one of the indoor options nearby for the rest of the day.

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8. Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery – Free Indoor Rainy-Day Option

When the weather is genuinely grim, Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery is a free indoor option around 10 minutes from Pleasington by car. The museum is free to enter and houses a collection of fine art, decorative artefacts, and natural history exhibits. The ground floor features a large collection of textile history displays, which often hold the attention of toddlers better than expected.

The museum is small enough to complete at toddler pace without anyone getting overwhelmed or tired, and it sits in Blackburn town centre with accessible parking nearby.

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9. Pleasington Nature Reserve – Quiet Woodland Near the Village

Right next to the village, Pleasington Nature Reserve offers an easy woodland walk suitable for families with toddlers. The reserve is reached via the path network connected to Witton Country Park and can be visited from Pleasington village directly.

It is free to access at any time and suits families who want a short, quiet woodland walk without travelling far. The paths are naturally surfaced and best tackled in appropriate footwear, so bring wellies for toddlers if the ground is wet.

For a relaxed morning with a toddler who needs some outdoor time close to home, this is a solid choice that requires no planning or cost.

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10. Witton Weavers Way – An Easy Segment for Pushchairs

The Witton Weavers Way is a 32-mile circular trail, but its opening stretch from Witton Country Park toward Pleasington and back is flat, accessible, and perfectly manageable with a pushchair. The route follows maintained paths through parkland and alongside the River Darwen before looping back through the park.

This is not a long walk but a gentle, enjoyable stretch that gives toddlers something to look at throughout, including the river, open fields, and woodland. A café at Witton Country Park's Visitor Centre gives you a clear start and finish point with food and drinks at the end.

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Tips for Toddler Days Out Around Pleasington

Getting the most from a day out with a toddler takes a bit of thought. Here is what helps:

• Book Jungle World Park ahead. The Toddler Zone is popular and sessions have limited capacity. Visit jungleworldpark.com and book before you go, particularly for weekends and school holidays.
• Check Mrs Dowsons before travelling. The farm opens on selected dates only, not every day. Always check the website or social media the day before to confirm it is open.
• Start with outdoor visits in the morning. Toddlers tend to have more energy early in the day. Use the morning for Witton Country Park or Pleasington Playing Fields, then switch to an indoor option like Jungle World Park if the afternoon gets cold or wet.
• Pack extra layers. Even in summer, the riverside paths around Pleasington can be breezy. A spare jumper and a waterproof layer for your toddler means you can stay out longer whatever the weather does.
• Take advantage of the free options. Pleasington Playing Fields, Witton Country Park, Pleasington Priory, Samlesbury Hall, and the Blackburn Museum are all free to enter. A well-planned day with toddlers can cost very little around this area.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Things to Do with Toddlers in Pleasington

What is the best soft play for toddlers near Pleasington?

Jungle World Park in Leyland is the top choice. It has a dedicated Toddler Zone for children aged 0 to 3, with smaller slides, sensory play, and soft mats in a safe, enclosed space. The venue holds a five-star hygiene rating and has a café on-site. Sessions are timed, so book ahead at jungleworldpark.com.

Are there pram-friendly walks near Pleasington?

Yes. Witton Country Park, directly adjacent to Pleasington, has level paths suitable for pushchairs. Pleasington Playing Fields, also next to the village, is flat and open. Brockholes Nature Reserve, around 15 minutes away, runs a dedicated monthly Pram Walk and a Toddle Together session for pre-schoolers on pram-friendly paths.

Is there a farm suitable for toddlers near Pleasington?

Mrs Dowsons Farm Park is the best farm option near Pleasington. Toddlers can bottle feed lambs and baby goats, meet alpacas, donkeys, and pigs, and take a tractor ride. The farm opens on weekends, school holidays, and bank holidays from spring through autumn. Pre-booking is required.

What can toddlers do for free near Pleasington?

Witton Country Park and Pleasington Playing Fields are both free to enter, with play areas and open space. Samlesbury Hall offers free admission to its grounds, a Mayflower playground, and a fairy door hunt. Pleasington Priory and the riverside village walk are also free at any time.

How far is Pleasington from Blackburn town centre?

Pleasington sits about two miles west of Blackburn town centre. By car it takes around 10 minutes. Pleasington railway station, on the East Lancashire Line, connects the village to Blackburn and Preston, making it easy to reach by public transport for families without a car.

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