Pictures of Accrington

in the county of Lancashire

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About Accrington

This is the town that made its name from bricks. During Victorian times smooth red bricks made in Accrington spread throughout England, finding their way to some of the countries most imposing public buildings. In the days of the Industrial Revolution the town was widely known for its cotton and linen mills. The mills have long disappeared, but a few have been retained and converted for other uses such as luxury hotels or apartments.

Some of the town's loveliest architecture comes from the Victorian era, this can be seen in the elegant Victorian Market Hall with its clock and rich display of sculpture. The town hall too is of interest, this throws open its doors to stage a variety of events including The Lancashire Food Festival, featuring regional and exotic food and drink. This lively event is linked to other events held in the town's Hawarth Art Gallery and Oswaldtwistle Mills. For the duration of the festival a bus runs visitors between each venue.

For anyone interested in shopping the town has two main shopping areas, the wide modern Broadway and the atmospheric Victorian Arcade, which has all the charm of a bygone era with tables and chairs where you can sit, enjoy a drink whilst planning were to go next! Perhaps you might try Oswaldtwistle Mills, a family attraction set within a working mill and its grounds. Here you will find a treasure trove of fabrics, ceramics, pottery, glass and crafts, even a children's play area with Wendy house and sweet factory. This has something for everyone, nature trails, garden centre, wild fowl reserve and picnic area.

The town's Cog Wheel Sculpture vividly portrays Accrington's industrial heritage, this contrasts sharply with the historic church dedicated to St.James. Originally founded in 1546, the church we look at today replaces the earlier church which served the town for over two hundred years, with the present church dating from 1763, with later additions. In 1805 a peal of six bells was installed. The bells, cast by Thomas Mears and Son of London, were paid for by public subscription and rung for the first time on Christmas Day. In 1974 a new treble was added making the peal up to 12 bells, at the time these were the lightest ring of twelve bells in the country.

Country lovers will appreciate the lovely nature reserve at nearby Oswaltwistle. Foxhill Bank Nature Reserve offers an insight into the history of local industry as well as providing a host of habitats for local wildlife. This is a wonderful spacious landscape hidden in an urban area, where the emphasis is on conservation. There is around 40 species of birds, 200 or more plants, water, woodland, wildflower grassland, and two former mill lodges set beside the river.

The town of Accrington is close to the valley's of the River Ribble and Calder, it is also close to the waters of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, which offers opportunities for boating and fishing.

Visitors will find Accrington a pleasant place to visit, it has choice hotels and friendly bed and breakfast houses together with good pubs, cafe's and restaurants. It gives access to the city of Blackburn and to Burnley. A few miles north of the town lies the majestic beauty of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Accrington

Gawthorpe Hall	(4.6 miles, 7.4 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Whalley Abbey	(4.9 miles, 7.8 km, direction N)	Pictures
Blackburn Cathedral	(4.9 miles, 7.9 km, direction W)	Pictures
Darwen Tower	(5.7 miles, 9.2 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Bold Venture Park	(6.0 miles, 9.7 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Towneley Hall Art Gallery & Museum	(6.4 miles, 10.3 km, direction E)	Pictures
Forest of Burnley Country Park Millennium Site	(6.5 miles, 10.5 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Clitheroe Castle	(7.9 miles, 12.7 km, direction N)	Pictures
The Ribble Valley	(8.0 miles, 12.9 km, direction N)	Pictures
Pendle Hill	(8.3 miles, 13.3 km, direction N)	Pictures
Hoghton Tower	(8.5 miles, 13.7 km, direction W)	Pictures
Samlesbury Hall	(8.6 miles, 13.8 km, direction W)	Pictures
Jumbles Reservoir Country Park	(8.6 miles, 13.8 km, direction S)	Pictures
Healey Dell	(10.7 miles, 17.2 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Smithill's Hall	(10.9 miles, 17.6 km, direction S)	Pictures

All attractions in Accrington
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Recommended towns near Accrington

Oswaldtwistle, in the county of Lancashire (1.6 miles, 2.6 km, direction SW)
This is a large, typical Lancashire village lying close to the urban sprawl of Blackburn and Accrington.
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Padiham, in the county of Lancashire (4.1 miles, 6.6 km, direction NE)
Padiham is a thriving Lancashire town lying on the Calder River. It is most famous as the home of Gawthorpe Hall, a noted...
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Hurst Green, a Picturesque Village in the county of Lancashire (7.3 miles, 11.7 km, direction NW)
This pretty Lancastrian villages the setting for historic Stoneyhurst, a noted school which was founded in the 16th-century.
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Edgworth, in the county of Lancashire (7.4 miles, 11.9 km, direction S)
This attractive hillside village occupies a pleasant rural location close to two pretty reservoirs and the historic house known as Turton Tower.
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Ramsbottom, in the county of Greater Manchester (7.6 miles, 12.2 km, direction S)
The countryside surrounding the town offers lakes, woods and hills, with distant Winter Hill rising to a height of 456 feet.
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Ribchester, a Picturesque Village in the county of Lancashire (7.8 miles, 12.5 km, direction NW)
A picturesque village in the Ribble Valley
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Barley, a Picturesque Village in the county of Lancashire (8.4 miles, 13.5 km, direction NE)
Barley is a picturesque village in Lancashire, close to Pendle hill, and is often used as a starting point for those who come to...
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Hoghton, in the county of Lancashire (8.9 miles, 14.3 km, direction W)
It was here that James I created "Sirloin" when he supposedly knighted his beef!
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Waddington, in the county of Lancashire (9.6 miles, 15.5 km, direction N)
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Todmorden, in the county of West Yorkshire (11.5 miles, 18.5 km, direction E)
Todmorden lies on the historic border between Yorkshire and Lancashire in an area of the Calder Valley ringed by the hills of the Pennines.
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Chorley, in the county of Lancashire (12.7 miles, 20.5 km, direction SW)
The town's historic roots go back beyond the Bronze-Age, as evidenced by findings in the 20th century.
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Bolton, in the county of Lancashire (12.8 miles, 20.6 km, direction S)
The clogs and black smoke image of Bolton has long since gone, in its place is a fine city with beautiful buildings and a diverse range of attractions sufficient to satisfy the most demanding tourist.
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Preston, in the county of Lancashire (13.6 miles, 21.8 km, direction W)
This is the town that was at the centre of the cotton spinning industry for well over a hundred and fifty years.
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Dunsop Bridge, in the county of Lancashire (14.6 miles, 23.4 km, direction NW)
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Hebden Bridge, in the county of West Yorkshire (14.7 miles, 23.7 km, direction E)
This beautiful old town grew up close to the River Hebden at the point where a stone bridge was built as part of a pack-horse route in the 16th century.
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Nearby travel help

Accrington Station	(0.1 miles, 0.2 km)
Church & Ostwaldwistle Station	(0.8 miles, 1.3 km)
M65 Junction 7	(1.2 miles, 2.0 km, direction NW)
M65 Junction 8	(3.0 miles, 4.8 km, direction NE)
Blackpool Airport	(27.2 miles, 43.8 km, direction W)
Manchester Airport	(27.7 miles, 44.6 km, direction S)
Accrington to London	(181.7 miles, 292.3 km, direction SE)

Hotels & Accommodation in Accrington

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Accrington center
Sparth House Hotel	(1.9 miles, 3.1 km, direction N)
Holden Vale Hotel	(4.3 miles, 6.8 km, direction S)
Higher Trapp Country House Hotel	(4.5 miles, 7.3 km, direction N)
Clarion Hotel Blackburn	(4.7 miles, 7.5 km, direction NW)
The Keirby Park Hotel	(6.0 miles, 9.6 km, direction NE)
Astley Bank Hotel	(6.1 miles, 9.8 km, direction SW)
The Sparrow Hawk	(6.1 miles, 9.8 km, direction NE)
The Alexander Hotel	(6.2 miles, 9.9 km, direction E)
The Whitehall Hotel	(6.3 miles, 10.1 km, direction SW)
Oaks Hotel	(7.0 miles, 11.3 km, direction NE)
All hotels in Accrington