Blackburn

Blackburn (population 140,000) is a large town in Lancashire in North West England.

The town has some attractive public buildings and parks, but it is mostly known for its contribution to the cotton weaving industry and for its successful premiership football team, Blackburn Rovers. Due to the town's association with cotton, it was a natural choice for early immigrants from cotton producing countries, such as Pakistan and India, to settle. Consequently, Blackburn is a great place to sample South Asian cuisine. After years of industrial decline, the town is undergoing a 'quiet' renaissance with fast rising property prices.

Understand
The name Blackburn is derived from the river Blakewater, which runs through the centre of town. Famous visitors to Blackburn include Condoleezza Rice, HM Queen Elizabeth II, and Mahatma Gandhi.
 * Visit Blackburn tourist information

By plane
Blackburn is serviced by Manchester Airport and Liverpool John Lennon airport, each of which is approximately 1½ hr away.

Do

 * Football:
 * Football:

Eat
Blackburn has the usual run of places to eat at a budget level: McDonald's, Pizza Express, Chiquito, Wetherspoon. The town centre also has a large number of takeaways and restaurants, many being curry houses and kebab shops. The quality of these changes quite rapidly, but this is a quick list of a few good cheap to mid level places:


 * Tea and butties (sandwiches), pies, chips - any of the cafés in the Market Hall.
 * Tea and butties (sandwiches), pies, chips - any of the cafés in the Market Hall.
 * Tea and butties (sandwiches), pies, chips - any of the cafés in the Market Hall.
 * Tea and butties (sandwiches), pies, chips - any of the cafés in the Market Hall.
 * Tea and butties (sandwiches), pies, chips - any of the cafés in the Market Hall.

Upmarket is a bit harder and there isn't really much in the centre. Locally try:
 * The Market Hall (especially on the full market days, 3 days a week) is a good source for some excellent local food: Black Pudding, cheeses, breads, curries, fruit and veg. Some of the cafés do seriously good value meals as well although it probably isn't the venue for a romantic lunch for two.
 * The Market Hall (especially on the full market days, 3 days a week) is a good source for some excellent local food: Black Pudding, cheeses, breads, curries, fruit and veg. Some of the cafés do seriously good value meals as well although it probably isn't the venue for a romantic lunch for two.
 * The Market Hall (especially on the full market days, 3 days a week) is a good source for some excellent local food: Black Pudding, cheeses, breads, curries, fruit and veg. Some of the cafés do seriously good value meals as well although it probably isn't the venue for a romantic lunch for two.
 * The Market Hall (especially on the full market days, 3 days a week) is a good source for some excellent local food: Black Pudding, cheeses, breads, curries, fruit and veg. Some of the cafés do seriously good value meals as well although it probably isn't the venue for a romantic lunch for two.

Stay safe
Like several towns in the North West, racial separation between whites and Muslim Asians has increased in certain areas of the town. Blackburn avoided the riots that plagued neighbouring towns such as Burnley and Oldham. The majority of people in Blackburn are perfectly decent and tolerant, but there are still many racists and bigots in both the White and Asian communities, who are more than willing to make life difficult for people they dislike.

Connect
As of May 2022, Blackburn has 5G from EE and Three, and 4G from O2 and Vodafone.

Go next

 * Ribble Valley
 * Clitheroe
 * If you enjoyed visiting Blackburn, the natural next choice would be Nelson