Carnforth Station

Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor
Visit Lancashire, Carnforth Station Heritage Centre

Carnforth Station is no ordinary railway station. The pivotal setting for much of film director David Lean’s iconic Brief Encounter, the station has embraced its place in cinema history to become a tourist attraction unlike any other. Stand on Platform 1 with its vintage suitcases and railway posters and you can cast yourself back to 1945…to a time when steam trains stopped here, when Lean pointed his camera at stars Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard. Film would have been whirring and the big movie lights would have emitted some warmth on the winter nights.

Lovingly restored in 2003, the station has been careful to preserve as much of that atmosphere as possible. Staffed by volunteers, today there is a refreshment room and Heritage Centre where there are exhibits which outline the life of David Lean, and the films — which include The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Lawrence of Arabia (1962) and Doctor Zhivago (1965) — he directed. Visitors can also watch Brief Encounter in a vintage mini cinema, complete with tip up seats, or pay a visit to the on-site gift shop, which is stocked with enough themed merchandise to almost feel like an exhibition in itself.

The Heritage CentreWarton RoadLA5 9TR View map
Telephone: 01524735165 Visit Now

Culture Guides

Music

We go all in on festivals, with a round-up of everything from city-spanning giants to grassroots gems you may not know about.

Exhibitions

There's no rest for the art lover - this month brings outdoor sculpture, musings on water, political drawings and Liverpool Biennial 2023!

Classical Music

Summer's classical music calendar is filling up nicely! Read our top picks of concerts happening in Manchester and the North.

Winnie the Pooh at Manchester Opera House
Families

The sun has finally got his hat on! Enjoy our top picks of family-friendly events and activities, both indoors and outdoors.

Gerry Potter (credit Lee Baxter)
Literature

Books are big this summer, with festival readings, poetry slams, creative writing activities and famous faces all putting in an appearance.

Food and Drink

All signs point toward June being a scorcher of a month, so let’s take a look at all things summery food and drink.

Tours and Activities

From literary activities to brilliant independent shops, keep your minds and homes filled with the good stuff this month.

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre

Check out our updated guide for lively theatre festivals, rip-roaring rooftop circus and dreamy outdoor shows.