TRAVEL REVIEW: Ribby Hall Village holiday site in Lancashire has all you need
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If you have primary school aged kids and you’re looking for a family destination, Ribby Hall Village should be considered among your options.
This holiday village in Lancashire is ideal for families with youngsters aged four to 12 – you might get away with kids slightly older or younger but the activities hit the sweet spot with those in between.
Spacious self-contained holiday cottages come with outdoor seating areas, perfect to take advantage of any warm weather.
Our self-catering cottage had three bedrooms, two bathrooms (one en-suite) and an open kitchen, dining room, living room area with TV and DVD player. It was clean and uncomplicated.
On site facilities include numerous indoor and outdoor activities across the site’s 130-plus acres.
There is an array of eateries, a pizza takeaway, an amusement arcade, a sports bar with beer garden plus a shop. There is also a sports centre with swimming pool featuring several slides for hours of fun, a well-equipped gym for members and visitors (with short-term deals available), badminton, squash, table tennis and outdoor tennis courts.
Also, outside is a climbing wall, boating pond and golf course and more.
There’s a trim trail with outdoor gym stations and multiple play parks with a special area for younger children.
A pirate-themed crazy golf course was being built when we were there last year so our return visit gave us the chance to try it out. Some of the holes were surprisingly difficult with our balls landing in water hazards several times, and my eldest even slipping in at one point resulting in a sodden trainer and soaking sock!
We enjoyed it so much in 2021 that when our kids asked if we could go back, we didn’t think twice. They had so many happy memories of the simple things like the play parks and swimming pool – something we could enjoy too.
They also remembered that the site has its own zoo with birds and mammals from around the world. Inquisitive monkeys, reckless giant tortoises and fighting wallabies were among my personal highlights (see my TikTok channel for footage of the latter).
Another highlight was the Hive, which was the site’s entertainment bar. We saw comedy from the excellent Tam Ryan, plus interactive shows from the in-house team, where I even won a dance competition for parents. My prize was a stuffed toy penguin, which was quickly claimed by my youngest.
The relatively vast site also includes a fancy-looking spa for a probably more luxurious visit.
While the site offers expansive options, it is located close to the coast and we’ve enjoyed day trips to Blackpool, Lytham St Annes and Fleetwood from our base, allowing us to take in traditional seaside fare such as donkeys on the beach, ice cream, fish and chips plus the odd arcade or two, although not the Pleasure Beach.
During our trip we were visited by my brother and his family. Although there only a few hours, they experienced enough good stuff to be convinced to book their own stay later this year.
If any of you do the same, maybe I should start asking for a commission!
