LOCAL AREA

Step back in time with a visit to historic Hoghton Tower, a 10-minute drive from the hotel. Originally built in 1109 and then rebuilt in the 1500s, this imposing stately home offers charming walled gardens, grand state rooms and an impressive banquet hall, plus sweeping views over the Lancashire countryside. There's a dolls' house collection, plus spooky ghost tours held at night.

Take a walk along the vibrant promenade in Blackpool, just a 25-minute drive from the hotel. Play arcade games on the pier, or ride the seaside roller coaster at Pleasure Beach. Enjoy the 4D cinema experience at Blackpool Tower before heading 116 metres to the summit to enjoy the views. Splash about on the 18 waterslides at Sandcastle Waterpark, the largest indoor aquatic park in the UK.

Located in one of Preston's oldest buildings, the Museum of Lancashire explores more than 2,000 years of local history and is a six-minute drive from the hotel. Discover what conditions were like fighting in the WWI trenches. Find out how archaeologists unearth historical treasures from the region, and learn about some of the notable people who have made Lancashire what it is today. Entry is free.

Boasting a network of about 7,500 stops in Lancashire, buses are a great way to explore this area. To find out when the next bus is due at a bus stop, simply whip out your smartphone and visit www.nextbuses.mobi. It is possible to buy tickets from the bus driver, as long as you pay in cash. Buses stop just a four-minute walk from the hotel.