Pictures of Chorley

in the county of Lancashire

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About Chorley

Chorley is a pleasant market town resting close to the banks of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The town's historic roots go back beyond the Bronze-Age, as evidenced by findings in the 20th century.

It is a pleasant spacious town, with none of the grimness normally associated with Lancashire cotton town's. Chorley was granted a market charter in the 13th century, by the 15th century it was hosting a flourishing market attended from far and wide. These days the town hosts two markets, a covered market and a street market. Here you can buy all manner of goods, including tasty Lancashire Cheese. Once a year a French market arrives, and for one weekend there is a "continental" flavour in the air.

The prosperity of the town initially came from cotton weaving and calico printing. As the town developed some rather pleasing properties were built. These include Astley Hall, a fine Jacobean mansion built on the foundations of where once there stood an Elizabethan Hall. Astley Hall stands in attractive parkland and dates from around 1666, Oliver Cromwell is said to have been a visitor here. Chorley's 14th century parish church is notable and well worth a visit. It is also likely that William Shakespeare may have passed through Chorley, he once worked at Hoghton Towers, a stately home on the edge of Chorley where King James I supposedly conferred a knighthood upon a piece of Sirloin steak!

Interestingly, this is the birthplace of Henry Tate who from humble beginnings as a grocers assistant, went on to become the founder of the Tate sugar empire, and founder of the renowned Tate Gallery.

20th century plans to combine Chorley with other parts of Lancashire to form a new town fortunately came to nothing, but it has benefited from a by-pass of the town centre and new shopping facilities. Hence, the town has become a delightful blend of old and new. It offers excellent shopping and leisure facilities, pleasant relaxing pubs and inns, and a choice of restaurants serving differing cuisines. There is a range of hotel accommodation to suit all tastes.

There are pleasant town walks, attractive riverside strolls and Camelot Theme Park offers entertainment for all the family.

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 Chorley

Astley Hall	(0.8 miles, 1.3 km)	Pictures
Camelot Theme Park	(3.1 miles, 4.9 km, direction W)	Pictures
Cuerden Valley Country Park	(3.8 miles, 6.1 km, direction N)	Pictures
Haigh Hall Country Park	(5.8 miles, 9.4 km, direction S)	Pictures
Hoghton Tower	(5.9 miles, 9.5 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Bold Venture Park	(7.0 miles, 11.2 km, direction E)	Pictures
Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Preston	(7.4 miles, 11.9 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Darwen Tower	(7.5 miles, 12.0 km, direction E)	Pictures
Rufford Old Hall	(7.5 miles, 12.1 km, direction W)	Pictures
Smithill's Hall	(7.8 miles, 12.5 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Preston Guildhall	(8.0 miles, 12.9 km, direction N)	Pictures
Samlesbury Hall	(8.5 miles, 13.7 km, direction N)	Pictures
Blackburn Cathedral	(8.6 miles, 13.8 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Jumbles Reservoir Country Park	(9.9 miles, 15.9 km, direction E)	Pictures
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Martin Mere	(10.1 miles, 16.3 km, direction W)	Pictures

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Recommended towns near Chorley

Hoghton, in the county of Lancashire (5.3 miles, 8.6 km, direction NE)
It was here that James I created "Sirloin" when he supposedly knighted his beef!
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Croston, a Picturesque Village in the county of Lancashire (6.0 miles, 9.6 km, direction W)
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Wigan, in the county of Greater Manchester (7.5 miles, 12.0 km, direction S)
Wigan is a sociable town with a long history, it received it's Royal charter in the middle of the 13th-century, but prior to that the Roman's had built a settlement here.
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Rufford, in the county of Lancashire (7.6 miles, 12.3 km, direction W)
Noted for its picturesque late-medieval manor house Rufford Old Hall, the village of Rufford occupies a fine setting on the fertile Lancashire Plains.
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Preston, in the county of Lancashire (8.1 miles, 13.1 km, direction N)
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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Edgworth, in the county of Lancashire (9.8 miles, 15.7 km, direction E)
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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Bolton, in the county of Lancashire (10.0 miles, 16.1 km, direction SE)
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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Oswaldtwistle, in the county of Lancashire (11.1 miles, 17.9 km, direction NE)
This is a large, typical Lancashire village lying close to the urban sprawl of Blackburn and Accrington.
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Ribchester, a Picturesque Village in the county of Lancashire (11.8 miles, 19.0 km, direction N)
A picturesque village in the Ribble Valley
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Rainford, in the county of Merseyside (12.3 miles, 19.8 km, direction SW)
Rainford is a small village attractively set in open countryside between St. Helen's and Wigan.
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Accrington, in the county of Lancashire (12.7 miles, 20.5 km, direction NE)
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.
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Ramsbottom, in the county of Greater Manchester (12.8 miles, 20.6 km, direction E)
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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Hurst Green, a Picturesque Village in the county of Lancashire (14.0 miles, 22.6 km, direction NE)
This pretty Lancastrian villages the setting for historic Stoneyhurst, a noted school which was founded in the 16th-century.
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St Helens, in the county of Merseyside (14.3 miles, 23.0 km, direction S)
Having transcended the Industrial Revolution and shaken off its old image, St.Helens is rapidly developing into a place of culture and style.
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Lydiate, in the county of Merseyside (15.7 miles, 25.3 km, direction SW)
This attractive village was mentioned in the Doomsday Book. It is perhaps best known for the evocative ruins of St. Catherine's Church.
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Nearby travel help

Chorley Station	(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
M61 Junction 8	(1.3 miles, 2.1 km, direction N)
Euxton Balshaw Lane Station	(1.5 miles, 2.5 km, direction W)
M6 Junction 28	(3.4 miles, 5.5 km, direction NW)
Blackpool Airport	(18.5 miles, 29.8 km, direction NW)
Liverpool John Lennon Airport	(24.0 miles, 38.6 km, direction SW)
Chorley to London	(182.0 miles, 292.8 km, direction SE)

Hotels & Accommodation in Chorley

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Chorley center
Hunters Lodge Motel	(2.1 miles, 3.4 km, direction SW)
Best Western Park Hall Hotel	(2.9 miles, 4.6 km, direction SW)
Welcome Lodge Charnock Richard	(3.0 miles, 4.8 km, direction SW)
Leyland Hotel	(3.5 miles, 5.6 km, direction NW)
The Pines Hotel	(3.7 miles, 5.9 km, direction N)
The Crown At Worthington	(3.9 miles, 6.3 km, direction S)
Macdonald Kilhey Court Hotel	(4.2 miles, 6.8 km, direction S)
The Preston Hotel	(4.6 miles, 7.4 km, direction N)
Britannia Hotel Wigan	(5.0 miles, 8.0 km, direction SW)
The Quality Hotel Chorley	(5.3 miles, 8.5 km, direction W)
All hotels in Chorley