Accrington
Accrington is an attractive Victorian town, situated between Blackburn and Burnley. In the 18th and 19th centuries it developed as a centre of textile manufacturing and now has a population of around 35,000.
Hotels
There are some excellent hotels and places to stay in and around Accrington. The 4-star Mercure Dunkenhalgh Hotel is one of the most popular and offers a spa, swimming pool and decent restaurant. Guest houses include the Norwood and Maple Lodge.
| Name | Hotel Star | Prices From |
|---|---|---|
| Mercure Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa | 4 | £55.00 |
| Norwood Hotel | 4 | £42.00 |
Attractions
A memorial in the garden of St James Church on Church Street pays tribute to the members of the 11th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment, better known as the Accrington Pals.
The Pals were perhaps the most famous of the battalions raised at the start of WWI in response to Lord Kitchener’s call for a volunteer army.
Kitchener strongly believed that army units would fight better if comprised of groups of friends or work colleagues. In response to the call, groups of friends from Accrington and other towns in East Lancashire eagerly enlisted, taking only 10 days to form a full battalion.
In their first major action, the Pals suffered devastating losses. Of the 720 men that attempted to attack the German defences at the French village of Serre on April 1 1916, 584 were either killed or wounded in a 30 minute period.
The Haworth Art Gallery stands in 9 acres of attractive parkland just south of Accrington town centre. It is best known for its display of Tiffany glass, the largest collection in Europe. Other items in its permanent collection are 18th and 19th century oil paintings, including works by John Frederick Herring and Lord Leighton. Admission to the gallery is free.
Accrington also boasts a small leisure park, the Viaduct. It is home to a 4-screen Vue cinema and the Accrington Superbowl tenpin bowling alley.
Accrington Stanley, the town’s professional football club, plays their home fixtures at the Crown Ground on Livingstone Road. They achieved cult status after being featured in a 1980’s TV advert for milk.
In April the Lancashire Food Festival features cookery demonstrations from renowned chefs plus over 50 exhibitors showcasing the finest produce from Lancashire and beyond.
Shopping
The main shopping centre in the town is the Accrington Arndale. This low-rise shopping mall opened in 1987 and houses around 40 shops, mostly high street names.
Accrington Market is one of the finest in the UK. It opened in 1869 and features a magnificent glass roof and ornate cast iron frame. A £2 million refurbishment of the Grade II listed building, completed in 2010, opened up the balcony to new shops and art studios.
Transport
Train
Accrington’s new eco-friendly train station opened at the end of 2010, replacing its crumbling predecessor.
Trains to and from Accrington station are operated by Northern Rail. Their service between York and Blackpool North calls at Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, Burnley, Accrington, Blackburn, and Preston.
The Northern Rail train service from Colne to Blackpool South stops at Burnley, Accrington, Church & Oswaldtwistle, Blackburn, Preston, Lytham, St Annes-on-Sea, Squires Gate, and Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Passengers travelling to Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Airport, London, Birmingham, and Scotland, need to change trains at Preston.
For train times and ticket prices to and from Accrington go to National Rail Enquiries.
Coach
National Express run a couple of coach services that pass through Accrington.
The daily service from London to Burnley calls at Manchester, Salford, Bolton, Darwen, Blackburn, and Accrington.
Their coach from Birmingham to Burnley stops at Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Manchester Airport, Stockport, Manchester, Bolton, Darwen, Blackburn, and Accrington.