Preston Accommodation

Gracie playing her part! Find out more about Gracie Fields at the 'Grin Up North' exhibition.

Victoria Wood of course.

I told My Baby With My Ukulele', George Formby's Ukulele: magic! Find more Formby memorabilia at 'GrinUp North'.

'Audiences love an anarchist' says Roy Hudd of Ken Dodd. He's still strutting his stuff

Preston Tourist Information, History of Football, Football History, Lancashire NorthWest UK

It is more than fitting that the National Football Museum should be located 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, now a city, gets it's edge through it's multiculturalism and large student population. For restaurants, cafes, clubs and pubs you can do no better. The town centre is crammed with listed buildings and the Harris Art Gallery and Museum has some of the most exciting exhibitions in the North West, many with a nod to Preston's history.

Check out the superb range of exhibitions at the Museum of Lancashire and, if you didn't know, Nick Park, creator of Wallace, Gromit and friends is from Preston if you didn't know already.

The National Football Museum, Preston

Ever heard of Arthur Wharton, the great black footballer and athlete who played in goal for Preston North End between 1886-87. There's an exhibition on Wharton and other great black footballers here at the fascinating National Football Museum. Or how about Nettie Honeyball, the Victorian women's football player who believed that women should be able to play physically demanding sports if they wanted to. The museum itself, located conveniently off Junction 31 of the M6, is split into three sections - First Half, Second Half and the Hall of Fame. It's a brilliantly structured journey which begins in the 'First Half', taking you back through the origins of the game and 150 years of football history. This social history of football pays attention to detail, highlighting perhaps some of the hidden names in football like the first black players in the 1880s, through to women's football teams which apparently attracted great attention in the early 1920s. The pride of the First Half exhibition space is it's FIFA collection of football memorabilia, the best collection in the country! Did you know that before the 1880s football was largely the property of ex-public school members and the rich who had money to pursue leisure interests. Or perhaps you didn't know that the game of football originated in the Far East and was called emari'. The object of 'Kemari' however was to keep the ball in the air - a ritual display of balance, skill and control. This museum is crammed with such titbits of knowledge and make fascinating viewing. Later in the 16th century tactics were developed in the playing of 'Calico' in the squares of Italian cities, pretty rough stuff this was!

Who do you think you are, Jimmy Greaves'? Check out the 'Second Half' section of the museum - kids will love this interactive bit with lots of different football games on display plus interactive technology where you can join Alan Hanson and the gang on the 'Match of the Day' panel. Then mosey on into the Hall of Fame - they're all here, Stanley Matthews, Jimmy Greaves, Dixie Dean - it's a museum not to be missed. The best!

The National Football Museum, Sir Tom Finney Way, Deepdale, Preston, PR1 6RU Tel: 01772 908 442, Fax: 01772 908 433

The Harris Museum and Art Gallery

The Harris is rather special, not only because of it's permanent renowned collection of fine art including work by Andre Derain, Matthew Smith, and Graham Sutherland, but also for the originality of it's changing exhibitions. These exhibitions reflect a great deal on Preston's history. Take the current 'Avenham' (on view until February 2004). Avenham is an area of Preston, and this exhibition is a mix of oral history testimonies by residents past and present here, as well as photographs detailing it's changing shape.

Also of particular interest is an exhibition of the illustration work of David Hughes, although that's finishing in November 2003. Never mind, if you miss it check out 'Cinema India: The Art of Bollywood' running until Feb 2004, to view images of Indian history as viewed through Indian Cinema. The Harris has an extensive costume collection and also currently on show is an exhibition focusing on the rituals of weddings, births and deaths in the Victorian period - with many costumes and postcards / posters on display. The Harris hosts numerous themed events for adults and children alike, so check out the website for the full programme. It is truly one of the best Museums and Art Galleries in the North West. Explore the full history of Preston on the first floor of the gallery. If you want to dig deeper why not pop along the Lancashire Records Office.

Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Market Square, Preston PR1 2PP Tel: 01772 258248

OPENING TIMES: Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sundays 11am - 4pm. Closed Bank Holidays. ADMISSION: Free

Preston Tourist Information

Tourist Information Point: Guild Hall Arcade, Lancaster Road, Preston, Opens Mon-Sat 10am to 5.30pm

T: 01772 253731

Click Search

Tourist Information

Internet Links

Home Top