Blackburn’s original, Italian renaissance style town hall was completed in 1856. A tower block extension was constructed in 1969 at a cost of £650,000, equal to about £6.6 million as at 2008. The two buildings are known locally as the new town hall and old town hall respectively.
Taking place in Blackburn each year, The National Festival of Making is a unique celebration of UK making, from the kitchen table to the factory floor.
free entry
Join over 100 singers from different choirs coming together on the Flag Market to sing all the favourite Carols and Christmas songs.
free entry
From traditional Christmas choirs and concerts to historical talks and festive family films, there’s lots to do in Preston this Christmas.
free entry
Winckley Square will be transformed into a magical winter wonderland this Christmas, as part of the Christmas in Preston programme of events.
free entry
Head down to the Christmas Makers Market, where local artisans and craftsmen will gather to showcase their talents, offering a wide range of unique and handcrafted gifts.
free entry
Feel the heat as dazzling fire sculptures transform Avenham and Miller Parks into a place of wonder and excitement.
free entry
Rooms to Live consists of two interrelated sculptural installations; Trout House Replica recreates the interior of the Los Angeles house where Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band wrote and rehearsed their seminal 1969 album Trout Mask Replica.
free entry
Head to Manchester Jewish Museum to see the multi-award winning documentary film tracing the extraordinary life of the pioneering street photographer.
from £11.00
Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery houses a rich and fascinating collection covering fine art, decorative art, Egyptology, coins, manuscripts, natural history, social history and South Asia.
Dating back to 1865 when it opened as one of four exchange halls in the country, The Exchange is an iconic Blackburn venue
One of the North West of England’s best known and loved entertainment venues the historic King George’s Hall in Blackburn was built in the classical style from stone quarried at Butler’s Delph in Pleasington.
Blackburn’s home of live music, Electric Church Club hosts artists from the whole of the UK.
Established in 2016, Prism Contemporary is an independent gallery run by artists, curators and producers.
You can be sure of consistency from The Chippery. A wide range of usual chop shop fayre including good sized portions of cod, sausages, fishcakes and of course chips. The staff are friendly and you can’t go wrong with a takeaway Friday fish supper. You can call ahead and order if you have a large order and you can be sure that all the portions are on the large side.
This is dessert heaven served in the most amazing surroundings. A beautiful destination for all manner of sweet treats and the added bonus of a click and collect service. Vanilla Milk cake, Mintberry Mojito or test yourself with a Lick Your Lips – Fudge Brownies, Belgian Milk Chocolate, with Milk Chocolate Curls and Strawberries.
Serving award winning coffees and a great choice of loose teas, cold drinks and takeaway delights including toasted fruit teacakes, crumpets and toast all of which you can order online through its click and collect service.
This quality bistro offers fine dining at fabulous prices. One of the leading training restaurants, Scholars Restaurant is run by both industry professionals and fantastic Blackburn College students.
A long term favourite for skate brands and streetwear with a mini skate ramp in the basement.
The Bureau is an artist led arts and community centre, providing a versatile and inclusive space for theatre, music, cultural events and community participation.
Blackburn is synonymous with a great curry and Thira offers exactly that. With a discount available for click and collect, you can call and pre-order from a wide menu of home dining options. Starters include Grilled King Fish , boneless diced lamb sauteed with crushed ginger and shallots or a deep dish of mussels marinated with Kerala spices and deep fried.
Keep warm with festive feasts, Hollywood stars and 90s nostalgia across the North's cinemas this December.
Provocative new writing, glitzy burlesque and big budget shows, our theatre guide spans the festive season and beyond.
It might be curl-up-with-a-book season, but there's lots to get out and about for and plenty of events where you can stock up on new reads.
Spotlighting global artists who all, in one way or another, break the mould, we preview the best gigs happening this side of Christmas and beyond.
Festive frolics, monstrous theatre and magical outdoor adventures all feature in our latest picks of things to do with the family.
While rainy late autumn may not be the most energising of seasons, there is plenty of new art to see and inspire this month!
We're unapologetically entering into the Christmas spirit here at Tours and Activities with some alternative festive fun.
The best food and drink options in Manchester and the North for the upcoming winter months.
