Blackburn is a large industrial town located in Lancashire, England. Always a textile hub, Blackburn became the “weaving capital of the world” during the Industrial Revolution when the Leeds and Liverpool Canal unloaded a constant stream of raw cotton. Here, you will definitely be amazed by its plethora of attractions and beautiful landmarks. Alongside, life in Blackburn will always grant you the best convenience, whether it is shopping, eating, or visiting beautiful landmarks - there will always be something for everyone.

1. What makes Blackburn unique?
2. Blackburn's popular attractions
3. Nightlife in Blackburn
4. Sports in Blackburn
5. Food in Blackburn
6. Shopping in Blackburn
7. Blackburn living costs
8. Travel in and around Blackburn
9. Explore the UK from Blackburn

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1. What makes Blackburn unique?

Blackburn has a thriving cultural scene with three excellent arts centres in the town or within easy reach. King George’s Hall consists of three separate venues offering everything from pop to pantomime, while Blackburn Empire Theatre also welcomes big names from the world of entertainment. A couple of miles away is Darwen Library Theatre, a vibrant community arts centre which combines professional touring productions with the best in amateur dramatics.

Art and heritage also have a major role in Blackburn’s cultural life. The historic and beautiful Cathedral, with its iconic modern sculpture, ‘Healing of the Nation’, is a must on any cultural tour of the town, while the Museum and Art Gallery showcases Blackburn’s cotton legacy as well as housing important collections from across the globe.

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2. Blackburn’s popular attractions

Blackburn is full of fun things to do and unique places to visit. Despite being just a town, within this wonderful place are numerous spots you can not miss, including:

• Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery. On opening in 1874, this museum became one of the first purpose-built museums outside London.
• Blackburn Cathedral. The cathedral’s most fixtures can be found in the choir, which has eight 15th-century misericords.
• Hoghton Tower. Built in the 1560s, there have been many famous figures that passed through these doors in the last 500 years, like William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens, along with royalty like James I, William III, Queen Mary and George V.
• Corporation Park. A source of pride for Blackburn, this park is the main central green space entered from the south on Preston New Road via a ceremonious triumphal arch.
• Samlesbury Hall. A romantic Medieval manor house with more than 750 years of occupation, leaving the house with lots of exciting tales about witches, and ghosts.
• Bee Centre. A place where you can find out all about honeybees and how they shape the countryside.
• Witton Country Park. 480 acres of woodland, landscaped parkland and farmland, this is a perfect place for you to take leisure strolls.
• Leeds and Liverpool Canal. This canal was a massive undertaking that helped kindle the Industrial Revolution in the north.
• Old Town Hall. An exuberant building dating back to 1856, this is one of a few big sights in Blackburn’s pedestrian-friendly town centre.
• Queen’s Park. A peaceful open space far from any main roads.
• King George’s Hall. Blackburn’s premier performance space is the cavernous Neoclassical King George’s Hall, named for George V who laid the foundation stone in 1910.
• Queen Victoria Statue. This monument was inaugurated in 1905, four years after her death, by the queen’s fourth daughter, Princess Louise.

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3. Nightlife in Blackburn

Blackburn’s evening scene can be enjoyed at one of the many traditional pubs, craft beer taverns or lavish cocktail bars. There are still many old favourite night clubs such as The Cellar Bar, Electric Church Club – all providing a great night out with live music & DJs to dance the night away.The Sir Charles Napier, a community run pub also offers live music, club nights, quizzes & food.

Also on Cathedral Square is Starbucks Coffee Shop and the new Checks & Greys Café, tucked under Blackburn Cathedral. And if you are craving something sweet try Haute Dolci hand crafted desserts at their new restaurant on Church Street, Blackburn.

Blackburn’s first Micro Pub, The Drummer’s Arms, has quickly become a popular spot for locals & visitors with a taste for local ales and right next door to The Drummers Arms is The Rock Box which specialises in classic rock and blues music. And if gin is your thing, seek out the new speakeasy on Northgate.

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4. Sports in Blackburn

Blackburn is home to the EFL Champion Blackburn Rovers, which is based at the Ewood Park stadium. Established in 1875, this team became a founder member of The Football League in which they made numerous achievements in FA Cup and League Club.

Blackburn also has an Olympic-sized ice rink housed at the 3,200-seat Blackburn Ice Arena. The arena is the home of the Blackburn Hawks and Lancashire Raptors ice hockey teams, both of which play in the English National Ice Hockey League.

Other state-of-the-art facilities open to the public include:

• Blackburn Sports and Leisure Centre
• Powerleague Soccerdome
• Witton Park Arena
• Darwen Leisure Centre

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5. Food in Blackburn

Blackburn has a diverse range of restaurants from high street names such as Nandos, Weatherspoon's at The Postal Order and Pizza Hut, local favourites such as Calypso Caribbean Restaurant to country pubs such as Clog and Billycock & The Butlers Arms. The fine dining establishments of Northcote Manor & Stanley House are also close by.

Scholars is Blackburn College's fully licensed restaurant & offers a great dining experience in the centre of town. They also hold regular themed nights on Thursday evenings, which give their students a chance to try new & exciting menus.

New restaurants are springing up around Blackburn town centre offering a wider variety to choose from like Turtle Bay, offering a Caribbean flavour in Cathedral Square. One of Blackburn's newest town centre food offerings is Franksters offering tasty burgers & piri piri chicken.

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6. Shopping in Blackburn

Blackburn is the perfect destination for undercover shopping, with a plethora of fashion boutiques and high street brands. Shopping in Blackburn caters for all styles, ages and budget. Shopping in Blackburn is definitely unique to its history, leaving you with cherishable memories.

Blackburn Market is a contemporary market hall occupying the ground floor of the Mall Shopping Centre. This modern market hall is bright and spacious with all the traditional market offerings. Food lovers can buy fresh, seasonal fish, meat or take home traditional Lancashire specialities such as black pudding and local cheeses. There are also a number of locally sourced fresh fruit and vegetable stalls plus a host of non-food stalls. You can now get everything you need at Blackburn Market including textiles, electrical items, fashionwear, cards and gifts.

Outside the Mall shopping centre, the independents are going strong with a variety of specialist products and the best personal care and services. Eve Lingerie in Fleming Square is quickly becoming the place in Lancashire to purchase your lingerie. Fleming Square is also home to the Coffee Exchange cafe, coffee roasters & tea merchants, Jeff Stone's hairdresser and Heiress Hair & Gossip Beauty Salon.

King William Street mixes high street chains such as Marks and Spencers with local favourites such as Toplex, for electrical goods. Darwen Street is home to some of the oldest family-run shops in Blackburn: Ainsworth’s Jewellers, Hobkirks Sewing Machines & Edmondson’s Furniture shop. Whilst Reidys Home of Music on Nab Lane is THE destination for music lovers whatever your taste or instrument! The guitar wall at Reidy’s just has to be seen!

These and many other hidden treasures are dotted around the town centre with more opening all the time. In fact it is fair to say that Blackburn now offers the best shopping scene in East Lancashire and it is certainly time to pay a visit.

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7. Blackburn living costs

Budget guide:

• One-way Ticket (Local transport): £2.00
• Meal out: £12.00
• Fast Food (McDonalds): £5.80
• Gasoline (1 litre): £1.33
• Cinema ticket: £9.90
• Taxi (normal tariff): £2.50

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8. Travel in and around Blackburn

By canal

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal runs through Blackburn from Feniscowles in the Southwest to Whitebirk in the Northeast, skirting the town centre to the east of Blackburn railway station.

By car

The M65 motorway passes to the south of Blackburn. It runs from Colne to the village of Lostock Hall near Preston. Junction six of the motorway is located at the eastern edge of Blackburn, near the Intack area, where junctions five and four are located to the south which is near the village of Guide and the Lower Darwen area. Junction three is located at the south-western edge of the town, close to the Feniscowles area.

The M65 links Blackburn to the national motorway network, connecting to junction nine of the M61 and junction 29 of the M6.

Other major roads in and around Blackburn include the A666 and the A677. The A666 runs from the A59 near the village of Langho to the north-west of Blackburn. The A677 runs from the east part of Blackburn. It passes through the centre of the town and continues to the western outskirts.

By train

Blackburn's newly redeveloped station is in the town centre, and is served by Northern railway. The nearest station on the West Coast Main Line is in Preston.

By plane

Blackpool International Airport, about 23 miles to the west, is the nearest airport. Manchester Airport, the busiest in the UK outside London, is located about 28 miles to the southeast of the town.

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9. Explore the UK from Blackburn

Blackburn is an ideal base for you to start exploring neighbouring cities, towns, and the rest of the UK.

Wigan

Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It is known as the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town was also swept up in the Industrial Revolution in which it became a coal mining and cotton-spinning centre in the UK.

The amount of positive energy this city possesses is more than enough to attract millions of tourists each year. From magnificent concert halls to excellent shopping malls, it harbors a rich collection of cultural heritages. But with a closer look, you will be amazed by its cultures, humbled by the generous local, and of course, excited with its thumping nightlife and excellent eateries.

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Manchester

Widely known to the world as the birthplace of the industrial revolution, Manchester has a proud history in politics, science, sport, and arts. In this place, you will find numerous museums, art galleries, sport stadiums, that will fulfill your every desire.

It is one of the most exciting cities to visit in the UK. Popular for its youthful, diverse, bustling, and energetic vibes, everyone is warmly welcomed to experience all that it has to offer. Whether it is from shopping at the Trafford Centre or watching an intense football match at Old Trafford, this city offers something for everyone.

Burnley

With just a 21-minute drive from Blackburn, Burney is a perfect destination for any family trip. Here, you can discover the town’s rich and diverse cultural heritage from museums, historic buildings, churches, art galleries and exploring the beautiful countryside. The Forest of Burnley was created between 1997 and 2001 when one million trees were planted in the borough. The forest adds to the beautiful countryside surrounding the town and gives both walking enthusiasts and other visitors the chance to take in the fresh air in a beautiful setting.