You are here: Home > Explore Cumbria > 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
South Walney isolated position on the southern tip of Walney Island makes it a special place for…
Bright, modern hotel in the heart of Barrow in Furness with free WI-FI and breakfast included..
We are pleased to announce that our new Shipyard Town gallery is fully open. We are honoured to…
A stunning piece of musical theatre which tells the real story of people who come to Barrow as…
St Mary and St Michael's church is said to have very early origins, as 9th and 10th century richly…
An eight-year-old troublemaker, mistakenly left home alone, must defend his home against a pair of…
Wedding Open Day
Michael Keaton is a rock 'n roll dad who gets one last chance to fine-tune his life - and prove…
BarrowFull is an arts organisation led by Barrow-based partners with the aim of increasing…
A Premium Hotel & Wedding Venue based in Barrow in Furness in Cumbria. Set in 14 acres of private…
Following last year's sell out performance, FMC presents another concert filled with festive fun.
The Spirit of Swing featuring Stevie Kay is the epitome of the UK's Frank Sinatra tribute scene.…
Express Bar & Lounge serving International cuisine, ranging from pizza, pasta, burgers, sandwiches…
Get your friends, family, or workmates together and join us in the beautiful Drawing Room at Barrow…
Follow the Money is a musical comedy based on the memories of women who were the frontline…
Aldingham church hugs the Cumbrian side of Morecambe Bay and is open to the wild beauty of the Bay,…
Make your child's Christmas wishes come true this year with a special visit to see Father Christmas…
Have this special coastal nature reserve all to yourselves for an after-hours adventure! Track…
SIGNAL proudly presents its first major group exhibition in their newly refurbished gallery spaces.…
Now a ruin, Furness Abbey was once the second most powerful Cistercian monastery in Britain, after…
An Eastern European visitor becomes a resident of a New York airport terminal when a war breaks out…
You will find a diverse range of events and activities at The Forum, as we again aim to bring…
Built in a historic nineteenth century dock, the museum is home to a wealth of objects on the…
A multimedia exhibition at the Dock Museum from 5th December to 23rd February exploring local…


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

Number of results: 32
, currently showing 1 to 20.
Barrow-in-Furness
Following last year's sell out performance, FMC presents another concert filled with festive fun.
Barrow-in-Furness
BarrowFull is an arts organisation led by Barrow-based partners with the aim of increasing participation in the arts. We work with the people of Barrow, enabling creative experiences to happen across the town including a vibrant programme of public…
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
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
A multimedia exhibition at the Dock Museum from 5th December to 23rd February exploring local stories of fragility & survival - of nature, of people - in South Cumbria. Through sound, film, images and words, an unseen, unheard world emerges. A world…
Barrow-in-Furness
We are delighted to bring to you an exhibition all about Dave Myers at the Museum. It will open on Friday June 20th to coincide with Dave Day 2.
"Dave - a Barrow lad" is a must see exhibition displaying many of his much loved and personal…
Abbey Rd, Barrow-in-Furness
Wedding Open Day
Barrow-in-Furness
This year we are grateful to be hosted by
Chetwynde School
The New Venue for our
62nd Exhibition.
As Usual there will be working layouts including a Thomas layout for the youngsters to drive.
Other displays should include; Preservation stands,…
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…
Barrow-in-Furness
The Spirit of Swing featuring Stevie Kay is the epitome of the UK's Frank Sinatra tribute scene. Timeless and sophisticated, Stevie embodies the essence of Sinatra, exuding that unmistakable swagger and authenticity reminiscent of the genre's…
Ulverston
Aldingham church hugs the Cumbrian side of Morecambe Bay and is open to the wild beauty of the Bay, an area of designated county landscape importance and scenic beauty.
Barrow-in-Furness
Follow the Money is a musical comedy based on the memories of women who were the frontline workforce of Barrow's banks.
The ladies who stamped the cheques, counted the cash and kept the wheels of industry turning from the 1960s to the 1990s…
Barrow-in-Furness
Make your child's Christmas wishes come true this year with a special visit to see Father Christmas in his magical grotto! *breakfast with Santa + hot chocolate optional.
Barrow-in-Furness
It is 1944. Barrovian soldier, Michael Lowden, has been captured at the fall of Singapore.
The prisoner of war ship he is on is torpedoed and he is left floating in the South China Sea.
Meanwhile back in Barrow his father, Charles, launches an…
Barrow-in-Furness
An Eastern European visitor becomes a resident of a New York airport terminal when a war breaks out and erases his country from the map, voiding his passport. He makes friends with the airport staff and falls in love with a flight attendant.
Barrow-in-Furness
Get your friends, family, or workmates together and join us in the beautiful Drawing Room at Barrow Town Hall for a night of festive fun, food, and a few laughs along the way! Test your Christmas knowledge (and maybe your teamwork skills!) in our…
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
An eight-year-old troublemaker, mistakenly left home alone, must defend his home against a pair of burglars on Christmas Eve.
Barrow-in-Furness
A stunning piece of musical theatre which tells the real story of people who come to Barrow as refugees.
We all have ideas in our heads about who the migrants in Barrow are, how they got here and why they came.
For the past 18 months…
Barrow In Furness
Indulge yourself with a sumptuous smorgasbord of seasonal treats! Enjoy a festive get-together with your friends and treat yourself to some delicious food and drink in the stunning surroundings of our Banqueting Hall!
Receive all the latest news, special offers and information from the Lake District, Cumbria
Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL