Where is Preston?
Preston is situated on the North Bank of Lancashire’s River Ribble; about half an hour’s drive from Blackburn, 40 minutes from Burnley and 35 minutes from the seaside resort town of Blackpool.
Transport in Preston
As the largest settlement in Lancashire and its county town, Preston is relied on by many in the county as a key commuter hub.
The city has an extensive 9-platform railway station, with regular services offered to the likes of London Euston, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool, and more, with the service to Euston taking about 2 and a half hours to get you into the capital.
Commuters can also catch a train to Manchester Airport from Preston station, with it taking a little over an hour to get to Manchester Airport from Preston by train.
Several motorways also pass through Preston, notably the M6 – which connects Preston to the likes of London, Liverpool and Manchester – and the M55 – which connects Preston to the resort town of Blackpool.
Shopping in Preston
The largest shopping centre in Preston is St George’s Shopping Centre.
Situated near the city’s two main shopping districts – Fishergate and Friargate – the shopping centre houses over 100 stores and a large car park.
Retailers at St George’s include the likes of Holland & Barrett, Marks and Spencer, Specsavers, and WH Smith, and everything in between, as well as a good selection of restaurants and cafés.
Miller Arcade is also worth exploring. With its boutique stores and its stylish cafés, this Grade II listed Victorian arcade really makes shopping feel like an experience.
Preston’s artistic disposition is infused into every element of its cultural scene.
From the picturesque Avenham and Miller Parks – with their Japanese Garden, fountains and ornamental flowerbeds – to the Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library – Preston’s Victorian aesthetic is a pleasure to exist within.
In terms of live entertainment, the Preston Guild Hall & Charter Theatre regularly puts on well-produced productions, and there’s always live music happening somewhere, in one of the city’s many bars – with a live music festival taking over the city every summer.
Popular places to live in Preston
There are several lovely villages in Preston, perfectly suited to those after somewhere slightly more residential, that are still within easy reach of the city centre.
The following are some of our favourites:
Fulwood
A largely rural suburb of Preston, several of Preston’s landmarks can be found in Fulwood, like the Royal Preston Hospital and the main campus of Preston College.
Fulwood is about 12 minutes’ drive from Preston city centre and boasts several primary and secondary schools, as well as several parks – with much of the suburb being part of the Fulwood Conservation Area.
Lea
A leafy part of Preston, Lea is only about 20 minutes’ drive from the city centre, with several bus routes connecting the village to the city centre.
Lea offers a nice combination of mellow scenes, with the Lancaster canal running through the village, and an abundance of amenities – including a choice of primary schools, a large Morrisons and Aldi, and a number of parks to explore.
The village is also home to the popular golf course – the Ashton and Lea Golf Club.
Explore some of the properties we have available in Lea
Ashton-on-Ribble
Just west of Preston city centre, Ashton-on-Ribble is best known as being home to the historic Preston Docks.
About 10 minutes’ drive from the city centre, Ashton-on-Ribble offers beautiful riverside views as well as several well-regarded primary schools.
Popular, family-friendly parks in the area include the likes of Ashton Park and Haslam Park, with a number of independent cafés and pubs scattered across the suburb.
Considering living in Preston?
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