Lancashire Preston UK Lancaster Blackburn Burnley Rossendale Pendle Wigan Ribble Valley

Preston UK City Breaks

A recent entry onto the city stage, Preston was awarded city status in 2002 and is fast developing into an outstanding UK city break. The city has all the ingredients - a superb choice of acclaimed museums including one of the North West's most popular attractions The National Football Museum sited adjacent to the Deepdale Stadium, home to historic England football team Preston North End.

A city of stunning parks and around 750 historic listed buildings, Preston has a fascinating history dating back to its listing in the Domesday Book. One of the triggers of the Industrial Revolution was developed by Preston born Richard Arkwright. His spinning frame led to the building of the first water-powered cotton mill. A hub for industrial and transport history, Preston's museums including the outstanding Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Museum of Lancashire and The British Commercial Vehicle Museum dig deep into this heritage which saw Preston at the very epicentre of the industrial revolution, particularly in cotton textiles. The National Football Museum is aptly placed in Preston. It was Preston North End who were the first champions of the football league in 1889, and in the same season they won the FA Cup making them the first team to win the double.

Preston city centre is a vibrant mix of restaurants, a choice of shopping centres, historic square including Market Square which hosts numerous events and chic bars and pubs. The city boasts a main station on the West Coast mainline, making it within easy direct reach of Glasgow and London. Three North West Airports - Liverpool, Manchester and Blackpool are also conveniently close. Preston's historic docklands with now new exciting waterfront and marina with shops and entertainment outlets plays host to the annual Riversway Festival in July. The basin is now fully connected to the national waterways network and the Lancaster Canal via the impressive new Ribble Link - the only new canal stretch to be built in the last 100 years! More exciting annual events in the city include the May Caribbean Carnival and a host of events in Preston's many historic Parks including the Mela and BBC Roadshow in June. The city also boasts a selection of superb theatre and events venues including the popular Preston Guild Hall and the Preston Playhouse Theatre. The city also serves as a superb gateway Lancashire base - a choice of attractions are close to hand in the city and just on your doorstep you've easy access to the stunning Forest of Bowland and seaside hotspot Blackpool.

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Historic Lancaster

Lancaster is a historic journey indeed with ample evidence of Roman settlement, Georgian architecture and Victorian civic philanthropy at Williamson Park. Lancaster's castle, high above the city, is medieval in origin. Tours of the castle include a trip down to the dungeons and a history of the Witch trials held in the castle in 1612. As well as a wide selection of historic sites including the castle, canal, cathedral, priory and old customs house, Lancaster is a modern and vibrant town with one of the North West's best independent cinema and arts scene. Hub for this scene is the famous Dukes cinema and theatre, as well as two other outstanding theatres - the Lancaster Grand and the Nuffield Theatre within Lancaster University. Galleries include the famous Ruskin Library galleries within Lancaster University and the Peter Scott Gallery with its renowned collection of Royal Lancastrian Pottery. Lancaster's town centre has a chic and bohemian scene, boosted by its university. Alongside high street retailers sit a superb choice of specialist and one off boutiques and craft shops. The stylish narrow lanes of Lancaster boast numerous restaurants, bars, cafes and pubs. Lancaster also offers a choice of markets and the large Marketgate Shopping Centre as well as the popular St Nicholas Arcades.

Move down to Lancaster's waterfront to the old Georgian Customs House on Lancaster's historic St George's Quay which is now the award winning Maritime Museum. This museum digs deep into Lancaster maritime heritage, including its close links with the slave trade alongside the history of the Lancaster Canal and Lune Estuary fishing heritage. The beautifully redeveloped Quayside also boasts a superb choice of pubs and numerous cycle and walking trails which branch off from here. The Lancaster Canal runs through the town, offering picturesque canal towpath walks taking in historic marvels such as the Lune Aqueduct. A regular waterbus service runs from Lancaster to Carnforth along the canal.

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Blackburn & Accrington Tourist Guide

Fascinating histories not just on Cotton Textiles but also music and football are to be found in the museums, a cathedral and in the theatres and entertainment venues of Lancashire towns Blackburn and Accrington. Blackburn feels more like a small city and boasts the acclaimed central Blackburn Museum & Gallery, home to the Lewis Textiles collection and definitive archive on cotton textiles alongside artistic work by acclaimed Victorian artists Cooper and Leighton and with five works by Turner! The Lancashire Pottery here decorated by Walter Crane is another hidden gem. The legendary Northern Soul nights of central Blackburn venue King Georges Hall is just one of the many events and musical performances held at this top Blackburn entertainment venue. The town also contains a historic cathedral, a popular Ice Arena and the Waves Fun Water Centre and boasts an excellent mix of markets and shopping centres in its town centre.

Accrington is home to the acclaimed Haworth Art Gallery with its fine collection of Tiffany Art Nouveau glass and outstanding visiting exhibitions - Peter Blake has been exhibited here recently. The historic architecture of Accrington town centre, culminating in the mighty town hall, is best explored via the Acorn Trail. Both Blackburn and Accrington are football towns, and you can trace the birth of British football to this area. Blackburn Rovers and Accrington were two Lancashire football clubs included in the first football league formed in the 1888. Take a Ground Tour and visit the shop on the famous Ewood Park Blackburn Rovers ground. The Blackburn Rovers Club dates from 1875.

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Burnley & Rossendale Tourist Guide

Situated in the heart of Pennine Lancashire, attractions in Burnley are a mix of stunning surrounding countryside, industrial heritage sights and visitor centres, stately homes, historic canals and rivers (the Leeds Liverpool Canal cuts through the town) and a fine mix of high profile music events and festivals. Burnley's famous National Blues Festival takes place annually over the Easter Bank holiday and is one of the best of the UK's Blues Festivals, hosted primarily by main atmsopheric entertainment venue the Burnley Mechanics which dates from 1855. Burnley's popular balloon festival and May Day events and fair take place in the town's most popular Park Towneley with on-site stately home Towneley Hall which boasts numerous exhibits on local and natural history and has an impressive collection of 19th century British art particularly. Elizabethan treasure Gawthorpe Hall sits just outside Burnley and has links with Charlotte Bronte, the Pendle Witches trial and the Civil War.

The Weavers' Triangle Visitor Centre alongside the Leeds Liverpool Canal at Burnley Wharf tells the story of Burnley's textile heritage and includes within the original canal Toll Office. Walk along the canal towpath and discover one of the finest preserved collection of heritage industrial buildings in the country and walk up to Burnley's famous 'Straight Mile' stretch of the Leeds Liverpool which sees the canal climb 60ft above the town.

Rossendale and the stunning Rossendale Valley is one of Lancashire's most beautiful rural areas. Popular with walkers, Rossendale boasts a choice of walking trails including parts of the Irwell Sculpture trail - 6 miles of which weaves through the Rossendale countryside, and the 45 mile long Rossendale Way. Main towns and villages in the region include Rawtenstall and Bacup, two of the finest preserved historic mill towns in the country. The heritage East Lancashire Railway culminates at Rawtenstall, and just a short walk from the station sees you on Rawtenstall's atmospheric cobbled main high street with its fine selection of specialist shops and the famous Fitzpatricks Temperance Bar just off the high street. Soft drinks, including the renowned Sarsparilla, have been produced here since 1890. (see Fitzpatricks weblink right for details and opening times).

Rossendale and Lancashire's central role in the industrial revolution, particularly in cotton textiles, is given due attention in a selection of historic museums and heritage centres including the Helmshore Mills Textiles Museum and Rawtenstall's Weavers' Cottage and the Rossendale Museum. The dramatic steep valleys and hills in the area have proved useful territory too for modern leisure facilities including the three dry ski slopes of the Ski Rossendale Complex just outside Rawtenstall.

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Wigan Tourist Guide

With a thorough revamp of the Wigan Pier Quarter underway, exciting new developments will include a new arts and heritage centre with the treasured Trencherfield Mill Steam Engine still as top attraction. A choice of heritage guided walks depart from both Wigan Pier alongside the Leeds Liverpool Canal and from the central heritage base - the new History Shop which has on-site permanent exhibition 'Founded on Coal'.

The History Shop is a good place to start to explore this originally 'Lancashire town's fascinating history - the town once boasted the mammoth Wigan Coal & Iron Co. which in the early 20th century was one of the world's biggest ironworks. The Leeds Liverpool Canal, and Wigan's famous 20 plus locks are ingrained in the town's history. The superb choice of guided walks dig deep into industrial heritage and the Leeds Liverpool Canal, but also other themes which features strongly in Wigan's heritage - sport and music. Wigan is a famous centre for both Northern Soul and Jazz. The annual July Wigan Jazz Festival boasts a host of famous jazz names playing live in both small venues and at the mighty JJB Stadium. Other festivals in the town include the Wigan Beer Festival in March. Opened in 1999, the JJB Stadium is home to both Wigan Athletic FC and the famous Wigan Warriors Rugby Club. The Stadium also hosts numerous big concerts and musical events and boasts extensive conference and events facilities.

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Chorley Tourist Guide

The Chorley area boasts two premier attractions in the North West - the popular and award winning Lancashire Theme Park Camelot and the outstanding Elizabethan/Jacobean Stately home Astley Hall. With an Arthurian theme throughout, Camelot Theme Park competes with the best for breathtaking rollercoasters including lastest twisting, looping and turning 'Knightmare'! This theme park has something for all including daily Medieval jousting shows and Merlin Magic Shows and gentle rides and indoor play areas for the tots. A family farmpark is also on-site.

Astley Hall is set within the grounds of Astley Park just to the North West of Chorley and is architecturally stunning, with Great Hall and delicate plasterwork. The house features in Simon Jenkins' top 1000 English Stately Homes list. An art gallery and numerous exhibits on local and social history are inside, and the grounds play host to events and festivals throughout the year. Any visitor to Chorley town centre won't fail to notice the importance and prevalence of markets in the town which have had a history here since 1498. The two main Chorley Market areas include the renowned 'Flat Iron' or cattle market and the Chorley Covered Market. For details on Chorley's market days, which include a Craft Market in the Covered Market on Thursdays see the Chorley Tourist weblink right for details.

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Colne, Wycoller Country Park & West Craven

Colne and the surrounding stunning countryside of the Forest of Trawden, Wycoller Country Park and West Craven is an area rich in history and natural beauty. The Pennine Way National Trail pushes up near Earby towards the Dales and the Leeds Liverpool Canal weaves up through the area on one of its prettiest stretches from Barrowford to Barnoldswick near Colne. Canal cruises run regularly from historic Foulridge Wharf along the Leeds Liverpool Canal taking in the Georgian masterpiece - the Foulridge Tunnel. Beautiful Wycoller Country Park near Colne has strong links with the Brontes, with landmarks within featuring in the Bronte books. Charlotte Bronte was a frequent visitor to Wycoller village. A walk to the new striking Panopticon Sculpture - Atom situated near the Haworth Road car park affords stunning views of Wycoller and Pendle Hill beyond and Wycoller village is where to head for the remains of Wycoller Hall and the popular Wycoller Craft Centre with tearoom. Earby village is home to the Dales Lead Mining Museum and was also the former home of one of UK's pioneer Socialists Katherine Bruce Glasier.

Colne makes the perfect base to explore the West Craven area including the villages of Earby and Barnoldswick. The town is a centre for live music all year round and contains a superb choice of live music pub and cafe venues which all play host to the acclaimed Rhythem & Blues Festival at the end of August annually. Colne's central Municipal Hall - The Muni is the main host venue for the R&B Festival and offers a eclectic mix of drama, music nights and concerts year round, attracting prestigious acts including recently Peter Green.

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Clitheroe & The Ribble Valley

The Ribble Valley has the affectionate nickname 'Little Switzerland' and stands easily as one of Lancashire's most beautiful rural havens. Much of the Ribble Valley sits within the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the area around Stonyhurst is thought to be the inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Middle Earth' in the Lord of the Rings. The 9km/5.5 mile Tolkien Trail is a circular walk taking you around key areas and sights of influence including Stonyhurst College grounds in which the guest house where Tolkien and his family stayed was situated. You can see why this area might have inspired Tolkien - it's stunning moorland with striking and spectacular scenery steeped in legend and market by ancient historic sights. This is the land of charming villages, historic centres including Clitheroe with its great Norman Castle ruins, superb fine ale pubs, and speciality shopping galore, especially in market town Clitheroe.

Castles, Abbeys, moorland, woodland and 44 stunning villages in the Ribble Valley all make for a heritage rich area of outstanding beauty.

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The Fellsman Steam Railway, Settle to Carlisle Line Lancashire Departures

Great news for steam railway fans, particularly the historic 'Settle to Carlisle' line, is that from high summer 2009 steam trains will run every Wednesday along this famous railway route.

A variety of steam engines will be used for the return journey including the LMS Royal Scot Class 46115 'Scots Guardsman' and more good news is that pick ups now depart from Lancaster, Preston, Bamber Bridge, Blackburn and Clitheroe.

The all-inclusive return journey travels for 260 miles through some of Britain's most spectacular scenery, taking in the famous Victorian arched Ribblehead viaduct. Time is also available for sightseeing at either Carlisle or Appleby.

For more details on train times departing from Lancaster, Preston, Bamber Bridge, Blackburn and Clitheroe see the Fellsman website link right, which also gives more information on this famous railway line. Tickets are very reasonably priced and great value family tickets are also available. Discounts apply if you book online.