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With the sea on three sides and the Lakes on the other, the bustling Victorian town of Barrow-in-Furness makes the most of its enviable location. There’s some great walking and cycling routes that start in the town centre, whose wide streets lined with impressive sandstone buildings are evidence of the town’s 19th century prosperity as one of the country’s major shipbuilding centres.
Barrow-in-Furness enjoys 60km of stunning coastline and takes in two estuaries. With impressive coastal views you just have to stop for a while to take in the sheer expanse of Morecambe Bay and the Duddon Estuary.
Where to start? You are spoilt for choice with attractions, indoor and out, in Barrow-in-Furness.
Learn about the fascinating history of the town’s industrial and maritime past at the Dock Museum, which is free to visit and has a great outdoor adventure playground. Families will also love the nearby Safari Zoo at Dalton-in-Furness. Home to over 1000 of the rarest and most endangered species, the zoo’s collection is housed in unique natural environments which enable you to get as close as physically possible to some amazing creatures.
Barrow has a wealth of heritage buildings including Piel Castle and an imposing Victorian town hall. But you can’t come to Barrow without paying a visit to the impressive remains of Furness Abbey, which are located on the outskirts of town in an area once known as the ‘Vale of Nightshade’. The abbey was completed in 1123 and passed to the Cistercians in 1147, becoming the second richest and most powerful abbey in England. It is now managed by English Heritage.
Stay a while longer and enjoy some retail therapy. Barrow’s indoor market (open Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday) is the largest in Cumbria and recently featured on the Hairy Bikers Go North BBC2 series. The town centre is home to a surprising array of quirky independent retailers who offer a friendly welcome and helpful customer service.
The surprises just keep on coming! For all its industrial heritage in 2016 Barrow-in-Furness was rated the ‘Number 1 Borough in England’ for natural heritage assets by The Royal Society of Arts & Industry. For nature lovers, a visit to Walney is a must. And it’s not just birds to spot but an abundance of wildlife, including Grey (Atlantic) seals, thanks to its two nature reserves.
From Walney head along the north-western peninsula to Roanhead beach and sand dunes, alongside the Sandscale Haws Nature Reserve. A sun-trap on a bright day, families will love exploring the natural world and playing hide and seek among the dunes.
Culture & Heritage
Barrow has come a long way since it was first occupied by the Vikings (the Romans, oddly, just bypassed the place altogether). The Vikings’ legacy is in placenames like North Scale (from ‘skali' - Norse for summer dwelling), Biggar (from ‘bygg gar' meaning barley field) and Roa (red island). The name ‘Furness’ is derived from ‘Far Ness’ (or ‘distant headland’) – its remoteness being one of the main reasons why the monks chose to build an abbey here.
The establishment of Furness Abbey in 1127 had a major impact on the area. By the early 13th century, as mentioned earlier, the abbey was the second largest monastery in England. Piel Castle was also used by the monks as a warehouse to store grain and wool prior to shipment overseas.
For centuries Furness was part of Lancashire and being an isolated northern outpost it was left quietly undisturbed until the mid-19th century. The arrival of the Furness Railway in 1846 made it much easier to transport iron ore and slate out of the area. Within 40 years, Barrow went from being a small village on a remote headland to a large industrial town with railway, docks, iron/steelworks and a thriving shipyard.
Barrow’s growth was really down to the efforts of three men: local iron ore magnate Henry Schneider, Furness Railway Company general manager James Ramsden and Lord Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire, who put up most of the money.
Ramsden had the notion of using Barrow's steel to build ships and with money invested by the railway company and the Duke of Devonshire, the Barrow Shipbuilding Company was formed in 1871. Two years later the company launched its first sailing vessel and started building ships for clients all over the world. Over 1000 vessels, from warships to oil tankers and passenger liners, have been built here since 1873.
In 1897 the shipyard and engineering works were taken over by Vickers who ran it for nearly a century. The Company developed the model estate of Vickerstown on Walney in the early 1900s to provide homes for shipyard workers, complete with shops, churches, a farm and a park. At around the same time, a bridge was opened to link Walney with Barrow (re-named Jubilee Bridge in 1935).
Today, the steel industry has disappeared but shipbuilding is still at the economic core of the town with BAE Systems continuing to build submarines for the Royal Navy in the huge Devonshire Dock Hall that dominates the southern part of the town.
Askam-in-Furness - Askam and Ireleth are villages just outside of Barrow.
Dalton-in-Furness - In medieval times Dalton was the administrative centre of Furness, with strong links to nearby Furness Abbey.
Walney Island - The Furness Peninsula is capped by Walney Island - a curving ‘whale tail' that has protected Barrow from the sea for centuries.
Did you know?
Set in 45 acres, Barrow's award-winning park provides the perfect place to stroll on sunny…
You will find a diverse range of events and activities at The Forum, as we again aim to bring…
Roo Stars Rocky Horror Experience comes to Barrow
Tired of spring-cleaning, Mole leaves Mole End and ventures out to the riverbank, where he…
Mini family-friendly festival of theatre, craft, music and fun! Free for all.
Now a ruin, Furness Abbey was once the second most powerful Cistercian monastery in Britain, after…
A celebration of diversity and inclusion. Parade, performers, stalls and workshops. All free. …
South Walney isolated position on the southern tip of Walney Island makes it a special place for…
Express Bar & Lounge serving International cuisine, ranging from pizza, pasta, burgers, sandwiches…
Arvo Pärt Summa Bach Concerto for Two Violins in D minor*# Grieg Holberg Suite Piazzolla Four…
Mini family-friendly festival of theatre, craft, music and fun! Free for all.
Mini family-friendly festival of theatre, craft, music and fun! Free for all.
SOME OF THE BEST BAND IN THE UK ALL FOR 1 NIGHT AND ALL AT A GREAT PRICE
Have this special coastal nature reserve all to yourselves for an after-hours adventure! Track…
Mini family-friendly festival of theatre, craft, music and fun! Free for all.
In 2024 we're teaming up with the National Trust Rangers at Sandscale Haws to offer a unique guided…
Meet talking rocks, find sunken trinkets and explore quarry portals at Signal Film and Media's next…
Mini family-friendly festival of theatre, craft, music and fun! Free for all.
Roo Stars Rock Fest
Mini family-friendly festival of theatre, craft, music and fun! Free for all.
A Premium Hotel & Wedding Venue based in Barrow in Furness in Cumbria. Set in 14 acres of private…
We've hidden space-themed geocaches as well as planet-themed and sea-themed painted rocks. While…
Bright, modern hotel in the heart of Barrow in Furness with free WI-FI and breakfast included..
Here Comes The Girls - 3 of the top female tributes in the UK for one night and with a pie and pea…
Watching the sun go down over Morecambe Bay is the stuff memories are made of
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Barrow-in-Furness
Set in 45 acres, Barrow's award-winning park provides the perfect place to stroll on sunny afternoons. Barrow Park..... always something going on, always something growing on!
Barrow-in-Furness
You will find a diverse range of events and activities at The Forum, as we again aim to bring exciting entertainment to Barrow-in-Furness. There should be something for everyone during the current season and we are very proud to welcome…
Barrow-in-Furness
Roo Stars Rocky Horror Experience comes to Barrow
Barrow-in-Furness
Tired of spring-cleaning, Mole leaves Mole End and ventures out to the riverbank, where he befriends the resourceful Ratty, the gruff Badger, and the infamous Toad of Toad Hall (Poop-poop!).
Barrow-in-Furness
Mini family-friendly festival of theatre, craft, music and fun! Free for all.
Barrow-in-Furness
Now a ruin, Furness Abbey was once the second most powerful Cistercian monastery in Britain, after Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire.
Barrow-in-Furness
A celebration of diversity and inclusion. Parade, performers, stalls and workshops. All free. The theme for 2024 is education.
Barrow-in-Furness
South Walney isolated position on the southern tip of Walney Island makes it a special place for wildlife and people. It is a haven for bird life, many of which nest on the shingle beaches in the spring. No dogs allowed because of risk to wildlife.
Barrow-In-Furness
Arvo Pärt Summa
Bach Concerto for Two Violins in D minor*#
Grieg Holberg Suite
Piazzolla Four Seasons of Buenos Aires*
Sarasate Introduction and Tarantella*
Simone Lamsma violin*/director
Eva Thorarinsdottir violin#
Strings of the Royal Liverpool…
Barrow-in-Furness
Mini family-friendly festival of theatre, craft, music and fun! Free for all.
Walney
Mini family-friendly festival of theatre, craft, music and fun! Free for all.
Barrow-in-Furness
SOME OF THE BEST BAND IN THE UK ALL FOR 1 NIGHT AND ALL AT A GREAT PRICE
Barrow-in-Furness
Have this special coastal nature reserve all to yourselves for an after-hours adventure! Track wildlife across the reserve using different equipment and techniques, with the help of our expert guides.
Barrow-in-Furness
Mini family-friendly festival of theatre, craft, music and fun! Free for all.
nr Barrow-in-Furness
In 2024 we're teaming up with the National Trust Rangers at Sandscale Haws to offer a unique guided nature tour and conservation experience as part of their 40th anniversary celebrations.
These days will run from 10am to 3pm. On average we will…
Barrow-in-Furness
Meet talking rocks, find sunken trinkets and explore quarry portals at Signal Film and Media's next exhibition, Psychogeology, opening at Barrow Market on Saturday the 4th of May.
Barrow-in-Furness
Mini family-friendly festival of theatre, craft, music and fun! Free for all.
Barrow-in-Furness
Roo Stars Rock Fest
Barrow-in-Furness
Mini family-friendly festival of theatre, craft, music and fun! Free for all.
Barrow-in-Furness
A Premium Hotel & Wedding Venue based in Barrow in Furness in Cumbria. Set in 14 acres of private woodland and gardens with 59 beautifully decorated rooms with a rosette acclaimed Bar & Restaurant, Oscar's. It's one of the Lake Districts hidden gems…
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Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL