A guide to living in Blackburn

Blackburn is a large industrial town located in Lancashire and boasts a thriving cultural scene with rich history and beautiful parks and surrounding countryside. But is it a nice place to live? We’ll give you a comprehensive guide to living in the area and all it has to offer and then you can decide for yourself!

Blackburn has a host of spectacular things to do and see that suit all ages and any budget. Not only is it a great day out, but we think living in the area is just as exciting. There’s all you could ever need in the town with a plethora of shops, mosques, churches, schools, leisure centres, and more. Let’s find out more.

Is Blackburn A Nice Place To Live?

Loaded with history and with plenty of new and exciting developments as well as its older charms, we think Blackburn is a great place to live. It’s a wonderfully diverse town with areas to suit every kind of homebuyer. Plus, Blackburn has been named one of the safest places to live in the UK with many ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ schools in the local area. A great place to raise a family, if you ask us!

Blackburn Area Guide – Things To Do

Darwen Tower

With views stretching as far as Yorkshire, North Wales, and even the Isle of Man on a clear day, is there a better way to take in this stunning scenery than from the top of Darwen Tower? Built in 1898 to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, and the reopening of the moors to the local people, this magnificent red sandstone structure features a beautiful spiral stone staircase, which leads to a viewing platform at the top of the Tower. For those living in Blackburn, this is certainly something that earns bragging rights and is the ideal way to spend a sunny Sunday.

Live Theatre

Blackburn is home to several excellent arts centres. King George’s Hall consists of three separate venues offering everything from pop to pantomime, having hosted household names such as The Beatles and David Bowie. Blackburn Empire Theatre also welcomes big names from the world of entertainment. And if that wasn’t enough, a couple of miles away is the Darwen Library Theatre, a vibrant community arts centre, that combines professional touring productions with the best in amateur dramatics.

Blackburn Rovers FC

As a founding member of the football league, the Blackburn Rovers are the heart and soul of Blackburn’s sporting world. They famously won the Premier League title in 1995, and for all you football fans, a trip to Ewood Park is a must. You can even take a tour of their grounds and visit behind the scenes to find out about the history of this proud club.

Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery

Art and heritage also play a major role in Blackburn’s cultural life. The historic and beautiful cathedral, with its iconic modern sculpture, is a must see. There’s also the Museum and Art Gallery that showcases Blackburn’s cotton legacy as well as remarkable collections from across the continents. From books to beetles and mummies to machinery, this attraction has something to intrigue and inspire all ages. This beautiful Grade II listed building is internationally renowned for its unique collection of coins, manuscripts, and books gifted by local notable Robert Edward Hart which cannot be matched by any public collection outside London. The museum has ever changing exhibitions and holds regular craft sessions for children as well as live music events in the evenings.

Turton Tower

Turton Tower is a distinctive English country house located in the small village of Turton on the edge of the popular walking area of the West Pennine Moors. The house remains true to the Tudor and Victorian ages and displays one of the finest collections of period furniture and paintings in existence. Sitting amongst beautiful gardens, Turton Tower is a fascinating trip back in time.

Blackburn Area Guide – Shopping & Lesuire

Blackburn Mall

Blackburn’s redeveloped town centre offers a host of popular retailers. As well as this, the bustling Blackburn market is open 6 days a week and offers traditional goods from local independent sellers from across Lancashire. This includes butchers, fishmongers, traditional Asian deli, and lots of clothing stalls. Don’t forget to step outside and support the high street. For all those with a musical ear, Blackburn is also home to Reidy’s Music Superstore where you’ll find an incredible ‘guitar wall’ to rival any other.

Countryside and Parks

Surrounded by public open spaces, Blackburn encompasses some of the best countryside Lancashire has to offer. Home to Corporation Park, Witton Country Park, and Bold Venture Park, residents are spoilt for choice. Facilities such as traditional bowling greens, tennis courts, duck ponds, and children’s play areas can be found at Corporation Park. However, if you are feeling more adventurous then head to Witton Country Park and explore the 480 acres of beautiful mixed woodland and grassland that are perfect for family walks. The recently developed leisure facility also offers Mountain Bike Trails, a dedicated cycle centre where you can borrow bikes for all the family for free, and a new cycling Pump Track.

The town is also surrounded by some of the most picturesque countryside, including The West Pennine Moors Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The countryside offers plenty of opportunity for quiet enjoyment such as walking, cycling, and sampling local produce in the local pubs, restaurants, and cafes. You can even take a Llama for a walk from The Wellbeing Farm at Edgworth.

Leisure and Sports

If you like to remain active then head to Blackburn Sports and Leisure Centre, they have a 25m swimming pool, gym and sport hall offering a wide range of activities to build up a sweat. For those seeking an adrenaline rush, Junction 4 indoor skateboard & BMX park or on the climbing walls at Boulder UK could be for you. More indoor fun for all the family can be found at the Blackburn Ice Arena, where you can also cheer on the cup-winning Blackburn Hawks Ice Hockey team.

Events

There are lots of exciting family friendly events that take place annually across Blackburn and Darwen. Keep up to date with all these events and more at the Visit Blackburn website.

Living In Blackburn

Has all of the above got you sold on Blackburn? We don’t blame you! We have a number of developments in areas that are an easy commuting distance from the town including in Cliviger, Clitheroe and all over Lancashire! Head to our homepage to browse by postcode.