The surrounding countryside provides excellent facilities for walking, bird watching, orienteering, rock climbing, fishing, canoeing, cycling and horse riding, with pubs and cafes to welcome visitors at lunch time or at the end of the day.

There are many public rights of way starting in the town centre and leading to open access to vast areas of the moorlands above. There are water sports facilities on Lower Rivington Reservoir and many opportunities for fell-racing organised by the Horwich Harriers and other clubs.

Horwich has a golf course and leisure centre incorporating a swimming pool, fitness suite, badminton and squash facilities. In the adjacent Old Station Park there is a floodlit all weather pitch for football and other games.

The Leisure Centre and local clubs provide facilities for dancing of all types from junior discos through line-dancing to old time and modern sequence. There are two dance schools in the town.

There is a public bowling green behind the Public Hall and other crown green facilities at pubs and clubs in the town. Cricket is played at the RMI ground on Ramsbottom Road as well as at local schools.

Devotees of fishing have the benefit of fisheries with full facilities set in the wonderfully picturesque Wallsuches Conservation Area off Chorley Old Road.

In addition to Old Station Park, there are children's playgrounds throughout the town and playing fields at Cedar Avenue, Hilton Avenue and Scholes Bank. The Hilton Centre also offers indoor facilities, including table tennis.

Horwich has enjoyed a boom in leisure facilities in recent years starting with the building of the Reebok Stadium, home of Bolton Wanderers Football Club.There is a multi-screen cinema, a ten pin bowling centre and Bolton Arena which has a host of facilities including a conference centre, fitness suite, running track and several multi-use areas.