St Helens

1 story · 1 publicationRSS

The GuardianJul 16, 2026

Where tourists seldom tread, part 21: two northern powerhouses on the rise once more

Preston and St Helens were heartbeats of the industrial age, but their power faded. In the last of our series, we discover how their legacy is finally being celebrated Where tourists seldom tread, parts 1-20 This double act of “Lancashire” locations is my final celebration of Britain’s bypassed towns. My native county has dominated my life of late , and one key question asked in these columns h…

24 things in this story
  • St Helens MinsterSightmother-church of the whole community
  • No 7 Cannington Shaw Bottle ShopSightsole survivor of largest glass bottle production site
  • Gamble buildingSightwill house library, youth space, offices
  • Beecham's buildingSightbuilt in 1887, topped by clock tower
  • Elsewhere
  • St Walburge's churchPlace of worshipPreston, United Kingdomtallest parish church in the UK, designed by Joseph Hansom
  • Harris museum and galleryMuseumPreston, United Kingdomreopened after £19m refurbishment, art, history, textiles, fashion
  • River RibbleSightPreston, United Kingdomlocation where Cuerdale hoard was unearthed
  • bus stationSightPreston, United KingdomEarmarked for demolition just six years ago, the brutalist gem that is Ove Arup’s Preston bus station has been…
  • Miller ArcadeSightPreston, United KingdomVictorian era shopping arcade
  • Winckley SquareParkPreston, United Kingdomarea with park and Georgian terraces
  • St Wilfrid'sSightPreston, United KingdomA warm welcome to St Wilfrid’s Roman Catholic Primary School which is situated in Longridge on the outskirts of Preston…
  • Saint Alphonsa Syro-Malabar CathedralSightPreston, United Kingdomcathedral in Preston
  • Centenary MillSightPreston, United Kingdombuilt for textile firm Horrockses, Crewdson & Co
  • Black HorseRestaurantPreston, United KingdomPreston's most beautiful old pub
  • KimjiCaféPreston, United Kingdomcool Korean restaurant
  • PintxosRestaurantPreston, United Kingdomauthentic Spanish dishes
  • AvenRestaurantPreston, United Kingdommodern British restaurant
  • Guild WheelTrailPreston, United Kingdom21-mile walk or cycle path
  • Tram BridgeSightPreston, United Kingdombridge in Preston
  • Preston England TemplePlace of worshipPreston, United Kingdomtemple in Preston
  • Devil's HouseSightPreston, United Kingdomon St Wilfrid Street
  • Ribble Steam Railway and MuseumMuseumPreston, United Kingdomrailway and museum
  • Guild HallSightPreston, United Kingdom
  • St John's MinsterPlace of worshipPreston, United Kingdom
Read the full piece at The Guardian →
↑↓ to navigate · Enter to open · Esc to close