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Barrow-in-Furness

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 a 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.

Things to do

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. Barrow also has a wealth of heritage buildings including Piel Castle, an imposing Victorian town hall, and Barrow Park.

Stay a while longer and enjoy some retail therapy. Barrow’s indoor market is one of the largest in Cumbria and featured on the Hairy Bikers Go North BBC2 series. The town centre is home to a vibrant array of quirky independent retailers who offer a friendly welcome and helpful customer service.

There's also a vibrant array of nature and wildlife to enjoy. A visit to Walney Island is a must: it's home to the North and South Walney Nature Reserves, the latter of which is home to Cumbria's only grey seal colony. It's also a great place for bird watching.

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 can trace its heritage back thousands of years. It's Viking legacy can be seen 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, it 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.

Surrounding Areas

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?

THE BARROW BLITZ

During World War II, Barrow was targeted by the Germans because of its ability to build warships and submarines. In May 1941 the Luftwaffe launched a mighty bombardment aimed at the shipyard and steelworks, which were left relatively unscathed. Instead, thousands of homes were either destroyed or damaged.

HOUSEWIFE, 49

Victoria Wood’s compelling drama ‘Housewife, 49’ charts the daily life of a Barrow housewife and mother through her diaries, written during the Second World War. The film won two BAFTA awards for the actress, comedian and writer.

DALTON CASTLE

The castle, built by Furness Abbey in the 14th-century as a courthouse and prison, was also used as a refuge for Dalton townsfolk and livestock during Scottish raids.

FURNESS ABBEY

Founded in 1127 Furness Abbey was one of the wealthiest Cistercian abbeys in England until it was ‘dissolved' by Henry VIII in 1537. Its treasures were removed, the lead stripped from the roof and the walls partly demolished to leave the ruins standing testimony to the Abbey's former glory days.

'LEADING LIGHTS'

The tall structure on the beach at Rampside is one of 13 ‘leading lights’ that were erected between 1850 and 1870 to guide ships through the Walney Channel. After being threatened with demolition, the brick-built ‘lighthouse’ is the only one of its kind and still flashes a light to ships at sea.

PIEL CASTLE

This 14th century stronghold on Piel Island, built by Furness Abbey as a warehouse to store grain and wool, was also the centre of a lucrative trade in smuggling organised by the monks. In 1487 the castle was invaded by Lambert Simnel and his followers as part of their abortive attempt to seize the crown from Henry VII. On the island is the Ship Inn where the landlord, known as the ‘King of Piel', can bestow the title ‘Knight of Piel Island' on visitors.

Highlights

A Foreigners Journey

Featuring the incredible vocals and stage presence of Adam J Oades, and cherry picking the very…

Family Silent Disco

Join us for our fab, fun, family silent disco with the following channels to choose from: Ch. 1…

RLPO presents – Pops Goes Classical

An evening of iconic pop hits transformed through the sound of the Orchestra and performed by…

Family Event: Mini Magic Flute

Part of the Lake District Music Summer Festival Showtimes: 11am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm Come with us on…

Tom Hingley of Inspiral Carpets

Tom Hingley is an accomplished singer songwriter and guitarist , best known as the Ex lead singer…

Upbeat Beatles

Celebrate 30 years of Up-Beatlemania with The Upbeat Beatles as they bring their special 30th…

RLPO presents – Beethoven in Barrow

Chief Conductor Domingo Hindoyan brings our Beethoven Celebrations to Barrow with a concert that's…

Abbey House Hotel & Gardens

A Premium Hotel & Wedding Venue based in Barrow in Furness in Cumbria. Set in 14 acres of private…

Dave Rowntree: No One You Know

Through unheard stories alongside candid photos from his new bestselling book 'No One You Know',…

Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote

Cult hit event Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote comes to Barrow with an interactive screening of the…

Celine – My Heart Will Go On

Step into the world of Celine Dion like never before with My Heart Will Go On, a breathtaking…

Barrow AFC 125

We are excited to be working with Barrow AFC and Bluebird Supporters club to bring you the Barrow…

Voulez Vous ABBA Tribute

It's 50 years since the release of Dancing Queen so we're celebrating this special anniversary,…

RLPO presents – Philharmonic Tracks 2027

Discover symphonic sounds up close and personal, as musicians from the Orchestra dive into…

Sleeping Beauty Pantomime

Get ready, Barrow! As this Christmas, your fairy tale pantomime adventure returns as Sleeping…

The Dock Museum

Built in a historic nineteenth century dock, the museum is home to a wealth of objects on the…

King Alfred Hotel

The King Alfred Hotel on Walney is a thriving community pub with 10 en-suite bedrooms. With rooms…

Heaven Can Wait – The Meat Loaf Concert Experience

Heaven Can Wait returns with a spectacular, high-octane production celebrating the 50th Anniversary…

Express Bar & Lounge at Holiday Inn Express Barrow - South Lakes

Express Bar & Lounge serving International cuisine, ranging from pizza, pasta, burgers, sandwiches…

RLPO presents – Under-5s Concert: Prehistoric Party

We're heading back through the musical mists of time to meet everyone's favourite prehistoric pals……

Sleeping With Beauty Adult Pantomime

Forget the fairy tale you remember. This is the adults-only version, bursting with outrageous…

Woof & Wag Dog Show

CancerCare will return to Abbot Hall Park on Saturday 22nd August to host our doggy-themed day out…

My Favourite Things – Celebrating 15 Years in Amateur Theatre

Charity concert celebrating local amateur musical theatre.

ADHD Unfiltered with Hester Grainger

ADHD Unfiltered is packed with laugh out loud stories, accurate observations and audience…

Watching the sun go down over Morecambe Bay is the stuff memories are made of

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Bootleg Blondie

Address

Town Hall, Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2LD

Telephone
+441229820000

John.boyd@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Barrow-in-Furness

Following their sold out performance in January 2026, Bootleg Blondie returns to Barrow Town Hall!

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Can you Catch a Serial Killer?

Address

Town Hall, Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2LD

Telephone
+441229820000

John.boyd@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Barrow-in-Furness

Step inside real-life cases through dramatised crime scene mock-ups, criminal profiling, investigative techniques, forensic evidence, and simulated autopsies. You'll connect the dots, analyse the clues, and catch a killer – LIVE!

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The Miss Rachel Experience – Summer Special

Address

Town Hall, Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2LD

Telephone
+441229820000

John.boyd@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Barrow-in-Furness

Step into a sunshine-filled world of fun, music and learning with The Miss Rachel Experience – Summer Special! This interactive show will have your little ones singing, dancing and smiling from the very start.

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Sleeping With Beauty Adult Pantomime

Address

Town Hall, Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2LD

Telephone
01229820000

John.boyd@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Barrow-in-Furness

Forget the fairy tale you remember. This is the adults-only version, bursting with outrageous innuendo, shameless double entendres, and enough cheek to make even the Fairy Godmother ask you to behave.

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BounceFest

Address

Island Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2SB

Telephone
+447725834699

info@hardysoftplayhire.co.uk

Barrow-in-Furness

BounceFest is a high-energy inflatable play experience for children aged 0–12 years, filled with giant bouncy castles, thrilling slides, obstacle courses, interactive games and a dedicated toddler area for little adventurers. Families book timed…

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Holiday Inn Express Barrow - South Lakes

Address

Holiday Inn Express Barrow-in-Furness, an IHG Hotel, Market St, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2LE

Telephone
01229 444600

reservations@hiexbarrowinfurness.co.uk

Barrow-in-Furness

Bright, modern hotel in the heart of Barrow in Furness with free WI-FI and breakfast included..

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Tourism For All

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Logan Paul Murphy

Address

Town Hall, Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2LD

Telephone
01229820000

John.boyd@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Barrow-in-Furness

Following his sell out show in June 2026, Logan Paul Murphy is back at Barrow Town Hall with his only show in Barrow in 2027!

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King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys

Address

Town Hall, Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2LD

Telephone
+441229820000

John.boyd@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Barrow-in-Furness

With nearly 7,000 performances across 27 countries in 40 years, King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys are one of the world's leading jump, jive and swing bands.

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Seann Walsh: This is Torture

Address

Town Hall, Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2LD

Telephone
+441229820000

John.boyd@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Barrow-in-Furness

After his sell-out 2023 tour, the UK's dishevelled king of stand-up, award-winning Seann Walsh returns with a brand-new hour of side-splitting comedy. Don't miss his trademark high-energy exasperation and razor-sharp observations that leave…

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Woof & Wag Dog Show

Address

Cumbria, DALTON-IN-FURNESS, Kirkland, Kendal, Cumbria, LA15 8EH

Telephone
01524 381820

fundraising@cancercare.org.uk

Kirkland, Kendal

CancerCare will return to Abbot Hall Park on Saturday 22nd August to host our doggy-themed day out for the whole family, with dog, puppy or pack invited, too!
Running from 12noon, Woof & Wag promises to be an action-packed afternoon with a host of…

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Wildlife Tracking After Hours at South Walney Nature Reserve with Cumbria Wildlife Trust

Address

South Walney Nature Reserve, Walney, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 3YQ

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.

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Heaven Can Wait – The Meat Loaf Concert Experience

Address

Town Hall, Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2LD

Telephone
+441229820000

John.boyd@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Barrow-in-Furness

Heaven Can Wait returns with a spectacular, high-octane production celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Bat Out of Hell — the album that redefined rock theatre forever. This is not a tribute band. This is a full-scale rock concert experience.

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RLPO presents – Dementia Friendly Concert: An Invitation to Dance

Address

Barrow Library, Ramsden Square, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 1LL

Telephone
+441229820000

John.boyd@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Barrow-in-Furness

Join presenter Claire Henry and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra musicians for a concert inspired by dance. This performance has been designed to be informal, engaging and enjoyable for people living with dementia, along with their friends,…

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Look North, an exhibition by John Duffin

Address

The Dock Museum, The Dock Museum, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2PW

Telephone
01229 876400

jirving@barrowbc.gov.uk

Barrow-in-Furness

The Dock Museum are proud to bring you the latest exhibition from John Duffin, "Look North" The exhibition will be full of new and unseen paintings. The exhibition is accessible to all and is free to enter.

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Furness Country

Address

Town Hall, Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2LD

Telephone
+441229820000

John.boyd@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Barrow-in-Furness

A celebration of homegrown Country and Americana artists, with local Furness acts bringing you a special evening of live Country and Americana music.

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Barrow AFC 125

Address

The Dock Museum, The Dock Museum, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2PW

Telephone
01229 876400

jirving@barrowbc.gov.uk

Barrow-in-Furness

We are excited to be working with Barrow AFC and Bluebird Supporters club to bring you the Barrow 125 Exhibition. This year, our football club is 125 years and this exhibition takes you on a journey through the history of the club. The Museum is…

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'What the sea decides to give you' photographic exhibition

Address

The Dock Museum, The Dock Museum, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2PW

Telephone
01229 876400

dockmuseum@barrowbc.gov.uk

Barrow-in-Furness

Photography exhibition about the Morecambe Bay fishing community by Tessa Bunney

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St Mary the Virgin and St Michael, Great Urswick

Address

Church Road, Great Urswick, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 0TA

Ulverston

St Mary and St Michael's church is said to have very early origins, as 9th and 10th century richly carved crosses were found on the site and are now on display in the church.
The building's history is palpable and its setting is peaceful. Clues to…

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Concert: Alison Cotton

Address

Piel View House, Abbey Road, Barrow, Cumbria, LA13 9BD

Telephone
07706166787

info@fonfestival.org

Barrow

Alison Cotton returns to Full of Noises in Barrow Park playing music from a phenomenal new album The Gods Laugh on Saturday 27 June.
She last played at the venue in 2024 to a sold out crowd. This time she will be accompanied by Mark Nicholas on…

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Where's Your Head At? - a drama about autism

Address

Barrow Library, Ramsden Square, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 1LL

Telephone
01229 430636

info@theatrefactory.org

Barrow-in-Furness

A check-up from the neck up about autism.
How we interpret the world means everything to us. Our day to day existence can change dramatically based on our understanding of simple prompts
Where's Your Head At? takes the synapses less travelled in a…

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Barrow-in-Furness

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Did you know?

THE BARROW BLITZ

HOUSEWIFE, 49

DALTON CASTLE

FURNESS ABBEY

'LEADING LIGHTS'

PIEL CASTLE

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