You are here: Home > Explore Cumbria > Barrow-in-Furness
Supported by
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?
Bright, modern hotel in the heart of Barrow in Furness with free WI-FI and breakfast included..
Bikes and Banter are proud to bring you. BIKE NIGHT A 2024 ISLE OF MAN TT PREVIEW NIGHT WITH John…
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…
Rhinos, Tigers, Giraffes, Lions and Bears living in the heart of the Lake District….this is…
An Evening with Mark Cox and Jane McCarry (Still Game's Tam & Isa) A SPECIAL up close and personal…
T Rextasy T.Rextasy are the only tribute band to have been authorised and endorsed by Marc Bolan's…
Prokofiev Classical Symphony Jasdeep Singh Degun Arya, Concerto for Sitar and Orchestra Harrison…
Mini family-friendly festival of theatre, craft, music and fun! Free for all.
The Straits UK Founded in 2018, The Straits UK are made up of six musicians all with a passion for…
Mendelssohn Symphony No.4, 'Italian' Mozart Oboe Concerto Ravel Pavane pour une infante…
SCOUTING FOR GIRLS 2024 tour Scouting For Girls return to Barrow after a sell-out gig in 2023 as…
Francis Rossi – Tunes & Chat Tunes & Chat Status Quo legend Francis Rossi is taking up his acoustic…
Programme to feature works by De Falla, Handel and Vaughan Williams. Claire Henry…
Musicals – The ultimate live band sing-along Get ready to unleash your inner star and experience…
Claire Henry presenter We're inviting you to come along and join the Musical Professors in their…
Michael Jackson Tribute
Beethoven Violin Concerto Beethoven Symphony No.3, 'Eroica' Domingo Hindoyan conductor Veronika…
Domingo Hindoyan conductor Members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Ever wondered…
Tribute to Showaddywaddy in Barrow
The Illegal Eagles Celebrating the music of the legendary US west coast country rock band Eagles,…
In 2024 we're teaming up with the National Trust Rangers at Sandscale Haws to offer a unique guided…
There will be working layouts including a Thomas layout for the youngsters to drive. The Rev W. V…
Count Arthur Strong is Charles Dickins in 'A Christmas Carol' Arthur delivers the Charles Dickens…
Watching the sun go down over Morecambe Bay is the stuff memories are made of
Number of results: 57
, currently showing 1 to 20.
Barrow-in-Furness
Bright, modern hotel in the heart of Barrow in Furness with free WI-FI and breakfast included..
28 Duke St, Barrow-in-Furness
Bikes and Banter are proud to bring you.
BIKE NIGHT
A 2024 ISLE OF MAN TT PREVIEW NIGHT WITH John McGuinness, Dean Harrison and James Whitham.
Friday 20th September 2024
John McGuinness is simply the god of TT racing. A complete legend of the…
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
Bach Brandenburg Concerto No.3
Bach Concerto for Oboe d'amore
Marianna Martines Overture / Symphony in C
Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Dittersdorf Concerto in A for oboe d'amore
Thelma Handy…
Lindal in Furness
Rhinos, Tigers, Giraffes, Lions and Bears living in the heart of the Lake District….this is something you need to see for yourself!
28 Duke St, Barrow-in-Furness
An Evening with Mark Cox and Jane McCarry (Still Game's Tam & Isa)
A SPECIAL up close and personal show featuring Mark Cox and Jane McCarry, best known for their iconic roles as Tam and Isa in Still Game, is touring in 2024.
The evening promises…
28 Duke St, Barrow-in-Furness
T Rextasy
T.Rextasy are the only tribute band to have been authorised and endorsed by Marc Bolan's catalogue management. The band are now officially recognised as the world's No.1 group dedicated to the greatest glam rocker of them all, Marc Bolan…
28 Duke St, Barrow-in-Furness
Prokofiev Classical Symphony
Jasdeep Singh Degun Arya, Concerto for Sitar and Orchestra
Harrison (arr. Jackson) Within You Without You*
Jasdeep Singh Degun (arr. Gupta) Lament
Mozart Symphony No.36, 'Linz'
Chloe Rooke conductor
Jasdeep Singh Degun…
Barrow-in-Furness
Mini family-friendly festival of theatre, craft, music and fun! Free for all.
28 Duke St, Barrow-in-Furness
The Straits UK
Founded in 2018, The Straits UK are made up of six musicians all with a passion for delivering quality music and performance every time.
Residing in the North East of England, the idea to form a tribute to Dire Straits originated…
28 Duke St, Barrow-in-Furness
Mendelssohn Symphony No.4, 'Italian'
Mozart Oboe Concerto
Ravel Pavane pour une infante défunte
Poulenc Sinfonietta
Karel Deseure conductor
Helena Mackie oboe
November's drawing in but here at The Forum it's summer all over again! Mendelssohn's…
28 Duke St, Barrow-in-Furness
SCOUTING FOR GIRLS 2024 tour
Scouting For Girls return to Barrow after a sell-out gig in 2023 as part of Barrow Music week, with their new tour 'The Place We Used to Meet – Part 2'.
28 Duke St, Barrow-in-Furness
Francis Rossi – Tunes & Chat
Tunes & Chat
Status Quo legend Francis Rossi is taking up his acoustic guitar to bring you a selection of well-known hits and some previously not-performed-live-before tunes. It'll be a unique evening in which Francis…
Barrow-in-Furness
Programme to feature works by De Falla, Handel and Vaughan Williams.
Claire Henry presenter
Members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra perform a concert of popular classics. This programme has been designed to be an informal, engaging…
28 Duke St, Barrow-in-Furness
Musicals – The ultimate live band sing-along
Get ready to unleash your inner star and experience the magic of the musicals like never before! Join us for an unforgettable night that will have you singing and dancing in your seats.
Barrow-in-Furness
Claire Henry presenter
We're inviting you to come along and join the Musical Professors in their laboratory! Claire Henry will work with their musicmaking machines to create musical experiments with players from our Orchestra. These concerts…
28 Duke St, Barrow-in-Furness
Michael Jackson Tribute
28 Duke St, Barrow-in-Furness
Beethoven Violin Concerto
Beethoven Symphony No.3, 'Eroica'
Domingo Hindoyan conductor
Veronika Eberle violin
Ludwig van Beethoven saw red when his hero Napoleon betrayed the revolution, tearing up the score of his Eroica symphony. That same…
28 Duke St, Barrow-in-Furness
Domingo Hindoyan conductor
Members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Ever wondered what a conductor does? As part of Barrow's Festival of Colours, come meet Venezuelan maestro Domingo Hindoyan and members of the Royal Liverpool…
Barrow-in-Furness
Tribute to Showaddywaddy in Barrow
Receive all the latest news, special offers and information from the Lake District, Cumbria
Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL