The city of Preston may not be the most famous or
glamorous place in the north of England, or even in Lancashire, but there is
plenty to keep visitors entertained for at least an enjoyable day trip, if not longer.
Preston got a bad rap a few years ago when its high
street was awarded the dubious honour of the Unhealthiest High Street in Britain owing to the number of businesses considered unsavoury by the
public. These include establishments from tanning salons to bookmakers, loan
shops to fast food outlets (presumably including bakeries).
Despite its unwanted reputation, the main high street (Fishergate and Church Street) does serve as a handy reference point for visitors, more or less connecting the main transport links to some key attractions. Indeed, public transport is a great way to arrive in Preston. The railway station named one of Britain’s 100 best by Simon Jenkins and the brutalist bus station featured in a book listing 1001 buildings to see before you die, which covers the whole world. In the latter case, I suspect the compilers were starting to run out of options.
If you arrive at the (genuinely good, though no Huddersfield) train station, turn right and you’re almost immediately into the action. You could hit the shops at Fishergate or St George’s Shopping Centre, but I’d recommend venturing as far as the market. When you reach Waterstones, turn left down Cheapside (no jokes please) and past the cenotaph onto Market Street. A short stroll will bring you to the city’s newest attraction, a bench and sculpture of Wallace and Gromit, two much-loved animated characters created by one of Preston’s most famous sons, Nick Park.
 |
| Wallace and Gromit Bench, Preston |
The market itself is in a modest but pleasant hall now
mostly selling food and drink, from fresh fruit and vegetables to baked goods,
local meat, and craft beer. You can grab a bite to eat and a coffee here,
although I recommend retreating down Cheapside to Cafuné for a delicious South American sandwich
or arepa. The less adventurous can still purchase a toastie here. Another good and
very reasonably priced lunch option is the quirky Clare’s Kitchen and Vintage
Tea Room (see photo below), situated on Cannon Street, just off Fishergate.
 |
| Clare's Kitchen and Vintage Tea Room, Preston |
If you’re prepared to venture a little out of the city
centre, you can visit Deepdale football stadium, complete with its fountain
statue of Preston North End and England
legend Sir Tom Finney, or the Lancashire Infantry Museum
(currently closed due to covid). Staying in the heart of things, when I visited
a few years ago the Harris Museum and Art Gallery was a great way to spend an
hour or so, but the Grade I listed building has just begun a £10M revamp
and won’t be open again until 2024.
 |
| Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston |
Also undergoing some improvements is the city’s Avenham
Park, where the steps and balustrades are being renovated near the statue of the
Earl of Derby. The park itself – along with adjacent Miller Park – is a hilly
green space featuring a Japanese garden, water fountain, children’s play area
and the Pavilion Café (see map above for location).
 |
| Japanese Garden at Avenham Park, Preston |
 |
| Fountain at Avenham Park, Preston |
Down by the River Ribble is a particularly nice (and
relatively flat) place for an afternoon stroll, run or cycle. Beware though –
very few cyclists when I visited were obeying the frequently signposted 5mph
speed limit. The café marks the start and end point for Preston’s Guild Wheel, a walking, running or cycling route stretching for over 20 miles alongside the river, past the marina
and around the outskirts of the city.
 |
| River Ribble, Preston |
All in all, the city of Preston offers enough to keep one
entertained for a day trip and I look forward to returning in a few years when
the Harris Museum reopens to see how they’ve improved it. I also hope the city
moves away from pawnbrokers and generic chain outlets (although Waterstones can
stay) in favour of more independent traders, with their friendly staff and more
creative menus and products.
Getting there: I travelled to Preston by rail, with an adult off-peak day return ticket from Manchester costing between £12-14 (October 2021). The journey takes around 35-50 minutes depending on the service you catch. To check train prices from other starting points, visit the National Rail website.