Preston

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Preston [1] is a city in Lancashire, England.

[edit] Understand

Preston is the largest city in the county of Lancashire, and historically was a major port and industrial center. It is one of the few cities that has an "old northern" culture, with many words of the Lancashire dialect still in use.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Nearby Blackpool Airport has flights to Dublin, Isle of Man, France and Spain, while Liverpool and Manchester airports offer a world-wide service. Manchester Airport's services include London. Local airlines include Jet2 [2], British Airways [3], British European [4], and VLM [5].

[edit] By train

Preston is a major terminal on the WCML "West Coast Main Line", and services to and from most major cities around the UK are offered by Virgin Trains [6]. The Virgin website sells tickets between any two stations in the National Rail network, so getting to Preston by train should be easy, wherever you are.

[edit] By car

Preston is well linked to the motorway network (M6, M61, M62, M60, M65). There are many reasonably priced taxi firms in the city - see by taxi in Get around.

There are two Park & Ride sites in Preston: Preston PortWay which is situated close to Preston Docks, and Walton-le-Dale. For more information consult Preston Bus [www.prestonbus.co.uk].

[edit] By bus

National Express [7] offer intercity coaches from most towns and cities in the UK, and many in France and Spain, while Megabus [8] offers extremely low cost (£1 one way) bus travel to and from London. Other bus companies are available, and can be booked via the UK public transport gateway transportdirect [9] which is a database of all British Public Transport, and can effectively link any two buildings in the UK with Public Transport using Postcodes

[edit] Get around

Preston has an extensive local bus network operated by Stagecoach Northwest, Preston Bus and JFS (Fishwicks), details of which can be found via transportdirect.

Preston has a number of reliable taxi companies - the largest/most notable of which are:

  • Call-A-Cab (Citywide Service) - +44 1772 513344
  • 24-7 Taxis Ltd (South Preston Service)- +44 1772 424-247
  • Hutton Taxis Ltd (Rural West Preston Service)- +44 1772 610-610

[edit][add listing] See

Preston has several cultural attractions worth visiting, such as the city museum, Minster Church and the UK's National Football Museum [10].

[edit][add listing] Do

  • Football - visit the National Football Museum [11] (free entrance); see Preston North End FC, the first ever team to win the English League (They achieved this without losing a game, also winning the FA Cup in the same year without conceding a goal) play at the 20,000 seater Deepdale Stadium [12]
  • Rail - visit the Ribble Steam Railway [13] on the docks.
  • Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Market Square, Preston. PR1 2PP., ☎ 01772 258248, [14]. Mon - Sat 10am -5pm. Except Tues 11am - 5pm. Collections of fine and decorative art, costumes, textiles, photography with displays about the history of Preston, in an impressive 19th Century Grade I listed building in the centre of the city. Includes a new gallery dedicated to ceramics and glass. edit

  • Museum of Lancashire, Stanley Street, Preston. PR1 4YP., ☎ 01772 264075. Mon - Wed, Fri - Sat 10.30 - 5.. Museum dedicated to the county's past set in an old courthouse. Includes Victorian and World War II exhibitions. edit

  • Queens Lancashire Regiment Museum, Fulwood Barracks, Preston. PR2 8AA., ☎ 01772 260362. Tues - Thurs 9.30am - 4.30pm. The largest military heritage centre in the North West. Dedicated to the county's military history. Includes memorabilia collections, an archive and library. edit

  • British Commercial Vehicle Museum, King Street, Leyland, near Preston. PR25 2LE., ☎ 01772 451011, [15]. Describes the history of the British road transport industry. Includes historic commercial vehicles and buses. edit

  • Shopping - Preston has several shopping centers.

[edit] Learn

Preston is the home of the University of Central Lancashire [16] with over 30,000 students.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Preston City Centre has a wide range of shops.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Preston has a wide range of restaurants in its city center, and many local pubs serve meals as well.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

  • Travelodge Preston [17] offers room rates from GB£20 per night

[edit] Mid-range

  • The Novotel Preston South [18] is a mid-priced hotel with restaurant, room rates from GB£45
  • The Hotel Barton Grange [19] Rooms from £55. This is an exquisite four star hotel north of Preston, with several restaurants and a swimming pool with spa, Barton Grange is the perfect place for a high class stay in Preston.
  • Swallow Preston[20] (Preston New Road, Preston, Lancashire, PR5 0UL, ☎ 01772 877351 (). Offers restaurant / bar and leisure facilities.

[edit] Splurge

[edit] Contact

  • The area dialing code for Preston is 01772. From overseas, dial +44 1772 XXX-XXX

[edit] Stay safe

Preston is relatively safe compared with larger cities like London or Manchester, but still you need to keep aware. As a northern industrial town - rather than a regular tourist haunt - it can be rough in places, so don't wander around the town center late at night and get tangled up with drunken youths, unless of course you are or wish to be a drunken youth!.

Preston Police are available on +44 1772 203-203 for non-emergencies, in Emergencies Only dial 999 or 112 from any phone for fire, police, or ambulance

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