Preston Tourist Information Preston Tourism Museums Attractions Transport Theatres Preston UK

Preston UK City Guide & Transport

Gateway to Lancashire and the county's capital city (city status came in 2002), Preston has all the ingredients of an exciting and attraction packed city break. Getting here couldn't be easier as the city has a principal station on the West Coast Main Line with direct trains running regularly from both London and Glasgow. The city has three main North West Airports within easy reach - Blackpool, Manchester and Liverpool Airport. By road Preston sits just off the M6 main motorway and at the end of the M65.

Preston is a city with a fascinating history from its earliest roots as one of England's oldest boroughs. Mentioned in the Doomsday Book, the then town of Preston received its charter in 1179. The 17th century saw Preston as Lancashire's wealthiest market town - Preston's particular position as the last bridging point on the River Ribble, that it was the main gateway between North and South and the fact that it was surrounded by prime agricultural areas were all factors in development as one of the country's richest market towns. It was the 19th century when Preston really exploded on the world industrial stage as a cotton and textile finishing centre. The city's many Victorian Parks and many of its Grade I & II listed buildings (over 750 of them) date from this industrial boom period, with the famous Winckley Square containing some of Preston's most historic houses. The city's outstanding selection of museums and galleries are where to head to find out more including main Museum of Lancashire on Stanley Street housed within the Grade II listed former court house and for a particular Preston history and art focus the acclaimed Grade I Listed Harris Museum & Art Gallery fronted by Market Square which is often a centre for events.

Preston North End is one of England's oldest and most historic football clubs founded in 1881 at the Deepdale ground. The club were the world's first winners of the first Football League and first winner of the League/FA Cup double in 1889. The UK's National Football Museum then is well placed in Preston adjacent to the Deepdale Stadium. Free to enter, this is Preston's most popular museum. A university city, Preston has a superb nightlife and shopping scene. The city boasts a choice of shopping centres, markets, craft, designer and independent shops alongside big name high street names. Fishergate and Friargate are the main shopping hubs. Numerous chic cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars are situated in the city centre. Acclaimed theatres are here too including the Guild Hall and Charter Theatre plus a selection of cinemas including a Vue, Odeon and independent cinema on the UCLAN campus - the discovery of the Mitchell & Kenyon film clips in the 1990s in Blackburn have given new life to independent cinema in the city and across Lancashire.

Preston Tourist Information Centre, Guildhall Arcade, Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 1HT. Tel. 01772 253731.

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Preston Museums, Parks, Festivals & Riverside

The City of Preston's history and heritage is rich indeed - world famous industrial names herald from here including Richard Arkwright (1732-1792) who was born in Preston. Arkwright was the youngest of 13 children, born into a poor family - his father was a tailor in Preston. His spinning frame design was developed around 1769 and led directly to the first water-powered cotton mill built in Derbyshire in 1771. Arkwright is credited with sparking off one of the major developments leading to the Industrial Revolution. The Harris Museum & Art Gallery is currently seeking to bring back to Preston the famous portrait of Richard Arkwright by Joseph Wright of Derby (see the Harris webguide right for details).

A hub for industrial heritage and transport history, Preston's superb choice of museums include the Harris, the Museum of Lancashire, The Ribble Steam Railway and Steam Museum and The British Commercial Vehicle Museum at Preston suburb Leyland. The Leyland name is of course legendary within British transport heritage. Other heritage centres not to be missed include The Museum of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment with its extensive military archive and the famous Samlesbury Hall which dates from 1325 and is thought haunted by Lady Dorothy!

The city has a particular edge with its Riversway Docklands and Marina. Preston Docklands is Europe's largest single dock basin and a waterside centre for leisure, entertainment and shopping. The new Ribble Link now connects the Lancaster Canal and National Waterways to the dock. The annual Riversway Festival in July takes place here with dragon-boat racing, Jet Ski Displays, kids entertainment, an International Food area and fireworks finale. Checkout the Preston Docks and Riversway Festival weblinks right for details.

Another big Preston event is the annual May Caribbean Carnival (weblink right) and Preston's fine choice of parks, particularly Avenham and Miller Parks, host a number of events through the summer season including the Preston June Mela and also in June the BBC RaW Roadshow. Preston is a city of parks boasting an outstanding choice of historic parks including Ashton Park, Avenham & Miller Parks, Grange Park, Haslam Park, Moor Park and Ribbleton Park. For details on this history of Preston Parks, many of which are Victorian, and the numerous events including Easter Egg runs and more see the Preston Park's weblink right.

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Preston Entertainment Events & Festivals

Lancashire's capital Preston offes an impressive calander of events, festivals and entertainment venues. The city is home to the UK's sixth largest university, which gives a boast to entertainment venues and the arts particularly recently independent cinema. Boasting a choice of cinemas, theatres, two of the North West's best festivals and a host of events across its many city parks, Preston features high if you're on the hunt for theatre breaks, festival breaks or big music, club and comedy names at the new outstanding 53 Degrees venue.

Preston's new revamped Riversway waterfront with leisure hub marina and new Ribble Link which connects the Lancaster Canal to the Marina is the site for the annual Riversway Festival in July. A fun packed weekend of Dragon Boat Racing, Jet Ski Displays and Fireworks are on the menu during this Preston festival which runs over a weekend. Also top of Preston's Festival calendar is the superb Caribbean Carnival end of May annually. Preston hosts an eclectic mix of events, including big Radio 1 Weekenders, across its choice of five city parks with the centrally located Avenham Park the most popular choice for events. The tightly packed city centre, with historic streets Fishergate and Friargate and stunning Flag Market Square overlooked by the mighty Harris Museum & Art Gallery offers a fine shopping experience, blending modern shopping centres with independent retailers, historic Victorian outdoor markets and arcades and chic boutiques and specialist shops. Preston is also home to a great selection of restaurants, bars and pubs all conveniently close to theatre and music venues and indeed the central West Coast Mainline Preston Station. Preston's biggest and most historic event only happens every 20 years - the famous Preston Guild celebrations. The next Guild promises to be an exciting one in 2012 - this will be Preston's first Guild as a city!

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