Shopping in Lancashire

Polly Checkland Harding

There’s a definite retro theme to some of the best shops in Lancashire: take The Regent antiques centre in Blackpool, which not only stocks three floors of vintage wares, but is also housed in an original 1920s cinema. Then there’s Charabanc, or GB Antiques in Lancaster, both of which are go-to places for antiquities in the county. Morecambe‘s long-running second hand bookshop is an absolute treasure trove (somehow the owner knows where everything is amongst the towering stacks), while Records and Relics pretty much does what it says on the tin. Also steeped in tradition are the Port of Lancaster Smokehouse and Glassmonkey Studio in Burnley, both of which showcase skills passed down for generations. If, however, you’re after something more modern, you need only head for Remix Casuals in Blackburn for streetwear and skate brands. Read on to discover more.

Our top picks

Me To A Tee

Me To A Tee, Heatleys Arcade, 47 Darwen Street, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 2BL - Visit now

Me To A Tee sells vintage and sought after football casual brands, such as Iceberg, Moncler, Stone Island CP and Company.

ME TO A TEE

Port of Lancaster Smokehouse

Port of Lancaster Smokehouse, West Quay, Glasson Dock, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA2 0DB - Visit now

Port of Lancaster Smokehouse is an award-winning family owned business using traditional methods to smoke fish, meat and cheese products.

The Port of Lancaster Smokehouse eatery
Courtesy of The Port of Lancaster Smokehouse

Records & Relics

Records & Relics, 9B Caunce Street, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY1 3DN - Visit now

From rock to reggae, jazz, punk and soul, the vinyl revival is going strong at Records & Relics in Blackpool.

Blackpool record shop
Image from Records & Relics

Glassmonkey Studio

Glassmonkey Studio, Unit 1 Oakmount Mill, Wiseman Street, Burnley, Lancashire, BB11 1RU - Visit now

Glassmonkey Studio is the largest glass fusing studio in the Burnley area. The gallery here sells glassware jewellery, art and greeting cards.

Glassmonkey Studio
Courtesy of Glassmonkey

GB Antiques Centre

GB Antiques Centre, Lancaster Leisure Park, Wyresdale Road, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA1 3LA - Visit now

GB Antiques Centre is now the country’s biggest indoor antiques and furniture centre, attracting 220,000 visitors every year. Recently extended, and set all on one floor, there’s 120 individual dealers, each with their own specialties, offering an amazing choice and variety of wares.

GB Antiques Centre, Lancaster
Courtesy of GB Antiques Centre

The Regent

The Regent, The Regent, 181-189 Church Street,, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY1 3NY - Visit now

The Regent is as an antiques centre and auction house, as well as a 1920s cinema with a vintage tea room and diner.

Courtesy of The Regent

The Old Pier Bookshop

The Old Pier Bookshop, 287 Marine Road Central, Morecambe, Lancashire, LA4 5BY - Visit now

The Old Pier Bookshop on Morecambe’s seafront is family run and almost proudly disorganised and overflowing with many a printed treasure.

The Old Pier Bookshop, Morecmabe
Courtesy of The Old Pier Bookshop

Remix Casuals

Remix Casuals, 8-12 Railway Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 5AX - Visit now

With a mini skate ramp in the basement, Remix Casuals is a long term favourite for skate brands and streetwear alike.

Remix Casuals
Courtesy of Remix Casuals

Filbert’s Bakery

Filbert’s Bakery, 20 King Street, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA1 1JY - Visit now

Filbert’s Bakery started out on a kitchen table in Lancaster with a simple aim in mind: to create artisanal crusty loaves for Lancaster.

Filbert's Baker artisan bread in Lancaster
Courtesy of Filbert's Bakery

Where to go in Lancashire

Morecambe
Theatre
Morecambe Winter Gardens

The Grade II listed Morecambe Winter Gardens opened its doors to the public on 17 July 1897 designed to be both a grand variety theatre and a concert hall.

Blackburn
Hotel
Northcote Hotel

Northcote’s luxury hotel perfectly matches its Michelin-star restaurant, nestled in the Ribble Valley hills on the edge of the Forest of Bowland.

Lancashire
Bed & Breakfast
Everything Retreat

A haven of luxury and serenity in the heart of the Ribble Valley, Everything Retreat is an idyllic spot for an indulgent getaway.

Morecambe
Guide over Sands

At low tide, the exposed bed of the Irish Sea connects the Lancashire coast with the Cumbrian hills across Morecambe Bay, allowing crossings over the sands.

Lancashire
Anderton Centre

Lower Rivington Reservoir is a scenic setting in which to try stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing or sailing.

Morecambe
Horizon Line Chamber

Horizon Line Chamber, a handmade stone oratory on the shoreline at Sunderland Point, is one of a series of Chamber works by the artist Chris Drury.

Lancashire
Library
The Ruskin Library, Lancashire

The Ruskin Library is a library of the University of Lancaster which houses the Whitehouse Collection of material relating to the English poet, author and artist John Ruskin and his circle.

Blackburn
Event venue
The Bureau Centre for the Arts

The Bureau is an artist led arts and community centre, providing a versatile and inclusive space for theatre, music, cultural events and community participation.

Lancaster
Gallery
Carnforth Station

Carnforth Station is the famous setting of the film Brief Encounter. As you stand on Platform 1 with its vintage suitcases and railway posters, you can almost imagine the era when steam trains frequently passed through.

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