Summary
Historically recognized as a textile manufacturing hub, Blackburn evolved into the “weaving capital of the world” during the Industrial Revolution, facilitated by the continuous delivery of raw cotton via the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
Although textile production experienced significant decline post-World War II, traces of the prosperity it generated can still be observed today.
These legacies are prominently showcased within the exceptional collections at the Blackburn Museum, as well as in the elegant avenues of Corporation Park.
The town’s multicultural center has recently undergone a revitalization thanks to the £45 million Cathedral Quarter project, which has introduced a new square along with hotels and office buildings surrounding the Gothic Revival cathedral.
Below are the top attractions in Blackburn:
1. Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery
Upon its establishment in 1874, Blackburn Museum became one of the first museums purpose-built outside London.
Its extensive collections were generously contributed by local textile industrialists, such as Thomas Boys Lewis, who left a splendid assembly of Japanese prints.
R. E. Hart, a rope-maker, donated one of the nation’s premier coin and manuscript collections, showcasing items such as Psalters, Books of Hours, a page from the Gutenberg Bible, and the Leges Aureus, a rare gold coin from Octavian’s reign.
Visitors can explore Shakespeare folios, traditional South Asian jewelry, and a vast Egyptology collection featuring a mummy, mask, Shabti figures, and a reproduction of the Rosetta Stone.
The Art Gallery exhibits works by Pre-Raphaelite artists like Albert Moore, alongside a remarkable collection of Japanese woodblock prints.
2. Blackburn Cathedral
Established as a cathedral in 1926 following the formation of the Diocese of Blackburn, the expansive parish church has a rich history dating back to the Norman Conquest.
The present structure is a Gothic Revival masterpiece, originally initiated in 1820, with numerous enhancements culminating in 1977. As of 2018, the cathedral occupies a central position in the revitalized Cathedral Quarter, featuring the contemporary Cafe Northcote near the south transept.
Historians will find great interest in the choir area’s notable fixtures, including eight 15th-century misericords, believed to have originated from Whalley Abbey after its dissolution in the 16th century.
3. Hoghton Tower
Dominating the surrounding landscape, Hoghton Tower is perched upon a hill 170 meters above sea level.
This fortified manor house was constructed in the 1560s and has undergone two significant restorations during the Victorian era after a period of abandonment.
Over the last 500 years, numerous prominent individuals have visited, including William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, and members of royalty such as James I, William III, Queen Mary, and George V. Visitors approach the tower via an impressive 1,200-meter straight drive.
During the summer, guided tours offer insight into the heritage of its illustrious guests, showcasing the exquisite panelled state apartments and grand hall adorned with splendid bay windows.
There are also engaging experiences for children, including mysterious underground passages, dungeons, and a dollhouse collection, while the formal walled gardens provide a tranquil escape.
4. Corporation Park
Corporation Park is a point of pride for Blackburn, serving as the principal green space of the town, with entry from the south via a grand triumphal arch on Preston New Road.
Established in 1857, this quintessential Victorian park is recognized as a Park and Garden of Special Historic Interest by English Heritage.
The park features a central Broad Walk, a magnificent lime tree avenue created in the 1860s to provide employment for weavers during the cotton famine.
The larger of the park’s two lakes, excavated in 1772 as Pemberton Clough to supply water to Blackburn, predates the park itself.
As a Green Flag park, Corporation Park offers various amenities, including two playgrounds, six tennis courts, and a cycle track.
5. Samlesbury Hall
With a heritage stretching back to 1325, Samlesbury Hall is a charming Medieval manor house open daily throughout the year, excluding Saturdays.
Over 750 years of inhabitation have bestowed the house with engaging narratives about witches and ghosts, all passionately narrated by costumed guides during complimentary tours on Sundays.
Among the notable interiors are the finely carved paneling and painted ceiling in the Long Gallery, the 1545 Dining Hall fireplace, and the magnificent 14th-century Great Hall.
The outdoor area includes the thoughtfully designed Mayflower playground, named in honor of descendants of the resident Southworth family who journeyed aboard the Mayflower in 1620. Additionally, a small menagerie featuring goats, sheep, rabbits, hens, and pigs ensures delight for all family members.
6. Bee Centre
Located on the grounds of Samlesbury Hall, the Bee Centre is an independent venue open on Wednesdays and Sundays.
This attraction provides insights into honeybees and their critical role in shaping the countryside.
Inside, an observation hive allows for an unparalleled view into the bee’s activities, including nectar collection, honey production, and honeycomb construction.
Visitors may even witness the queen laying eggs and baby bees taking flight for their first time.
Beekeeping experts are available to answer queries, and the shop offers locally produced honey, beeswax candles, and honey confections.
For those interested in practical experience, the 90-minute “Honeybee Experience” offers an immersive introduction to beekeeping.
7. Turton Tower
Situated approximately ten miles south on the edge of the West Pennine Moors, this fortified manor house originated as a stone pele tower in the 1400s before becoming a more comfortable timber-framed residence in the subsequent century.
During the Victorian era, it underwent enlargement and modifications, including the introduction of a Dutch gable facade.
Visitors can still identify elements of the original Tudor cruck frame, alongside 500-year-old wattle and daub, as well as lath and plaster wall paneling.
Open from March to October, the tower invites visitors to admire tapestries, a 1590 oak bed, 17th-century Swiss painted glass in the Dining Room, and Arts and Crafts decorations in the Morning Room.
The kitchen has been repurposed as the Victorian Tea Room, which opens onto a picturesque garden terrace.
8. Witton Country Park
Situated less than a mile from Blackburn’s town center, Witton Country Park offers a beautiful expanse of unspoiled Lancashire countryside.
Spanning 480 acres at the confluence of the rivers Darwen and Blakewater, the park features a combination of woodland, landscaped parkland, and farmland that was once part of the Witton House estate, sold to Blackburn in the 1940s.
Children are particularly fond of the Wits adventure playground, developed at a cost of £750,000, which includes a zip-line, tree sculptures, balancing beams, and musical sculptures, inaugurated in 2010. Although Witton House was demolished in 1952, interesting remnants like the outbuildings and stables remain.
The park also hosts a small children’s zoo with degus, rabbits, chipmunks, and more.
The visitor center shares space with the Pavilion Cafe, which is open every day of the week.
9. Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Spanning 127 miles and traversing the Pennines, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal represented a monumental engineering feat that propelled the Industrial Revolution in the northern region of England.
Blackburn became the final significant town connected to the canal in 1810; upon its opening, the initial barges transported around 380 tons of coal, in addition to various goods such as timber, lead, yarn, tallow, molasses, malt, and oil.
The entirety of Blackburn’s towpath is accessible for pedestrians, revealing historic bridges, locks, and intriguing remnants of its past infrastructure, including the aqueduct at Ewood and the evocative Eanam Wharf.
Located four miles west of Blackburn, Canal Boat Cruises of Riley Green operates a variety of summer excursions, while also offering charter options and narrowboat rentals for those wishing to explore the Leeds and Liverpool Canal independently.
10. Old Town Hall
One of several significant landmarks in Blackburn’s pedestrian-friendly town center, the Old Town Hall is a striking structure that dates back to 1856. Designed by the Scottish architect James Paterson, the building exhibits an Italianate style, featuring Corinthian columns, a balustrade, and ornamental reliefs of garlands and eagles above its cornice.
The Old Town Hall was undergoing an 18-month restoration process in 2018.
Adjacent to it via a raised footbridge is the New Town Hall, a modern tower block completed in 1969 that has recently undergone refurbishment including new cladding.
11. Queen’s Park
Situated in a residential neighborhood southeast of the town center, Queen’s Park offers a serene escape away from busy roads.
The park has achieved the Green Flag designation annually, serving as a standard for excellence in English parks, and was established in celebration of Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee in 1887. Spanning 33 acres, the park’s crowning feature is the elegant lake located at its summit.
Once used for boating, the lake now serves as a habitat for various waterfowl that visitors can feed (oats are preferable to bread for their health!). Two oaks were planted near the Victorian boathouse in 1987 to commemorate the park’s centenary, while an additional 40 trees were planted in recognition of Elizabeth II’s golden jubilee in 2002.
12. King George’s Hall
As Blackburn’s premier performance venue, the expansive Neoclassical King George’s Hall is named for George V, who laid its foundation stone in 1910. Construction was delayed by the First World War, and the 3,500-seat theater officially opened in 1921. This impressive structure is worth viewing even from outside if you find yourself on Northgate.
The facade facing Blakey Moor features four pairs of Corinthian columns above an arcade.
Inside, visitors can appreciate the vast main hall and the smaller Windsor Suite.
Given the venue’s significant capacity, King George’s Hall regularly hosts major performances, including comedy acts, live music, celebrity speakers, and children’s shows.
Highlights from 2018-19 featured comedians such as Sarah Millican, Dara Ó Briain, and Joanna Lumley, alongside a diverse range of musical acts from Jake Bugg to the BBC Philharmonic.
13. Queen Victoria Statue
Prominently located in the Cathedral Quarter, a dignified statue of Queen Victoria stands as a testament to history.
Unveiled in 1905, four years after her passing, this monument was inaugurated by the queen’s fourth daughter, Princess Louise.
Over a century later, the statue remains a focal gathering point for the community and underwent restoration as recently as 2015, which restored her reattached arm and hand.
Carved from Sicilian marble, the statue measures 3.4 meters in height and rests on a 4.3-meter granite plinth.
Visitors can relax on the newly installed benches surrounded by the formal flowerbeds, providing a delightful photo opportunity featuring the statue in front of the cathedral.
14. Blackburn Market
Located centrally, the Mall Blackburn serves as the primary shopping center, having originally opened in the 1960s.
In the past decade, the site has undergone significant renovations, and in 2011, Blackburn’s market relocated from across Ainsworth Street to a new space beneath the shopping center.
The market operates from Monday to Saturday, featuring over 120 vendors offering local fresh produce, artisan coffee, cheese, fashion, yarn, gifts and cards, cosmetics, and household appliances.
For those looking for a meal, hot food options such as paninis, pasta, traditional Lancastrian dishes, Thai noodles, and Greek street food are also available.
15. Blackburn Rovers F. C.
As of our latest review in 2018, the local football team was competing in the EFL Championship, the second tier of professional football in England.
Blackburn Rovers possesses a notable historical legacy.
In the early 1990s, the club was acquired by steel industrialist Jack Walker, who played a pivotal role in assembling a team led by Alan Shearer that clinched the Premier League title in 1995. While those days may seem distant, Blackburn Rovers maintains the attributes of a Premier League team, including its 31,000-seat Ewood Park stadium.
The most substantial stand within the stadium is named in memory of Jack Walker, who passed away in 2000. The season features 23 home league matches between August and May, and Ewood Park generally has availability for fans wishing to attend a game.
