Pictures of Darwen
About Darwen
The pretty town of Darwen with its attractive building and cobbled streets sprawls beneath the watchful eye of Darwen Tower which was built towards the end of Queen Victoria's reign to celebrate the freedom of the moors. From it lofty heights there are views stretching for miles, echoing the words of the song "On a Clear Day" for it really is as though you can see forever more! The vista enfolds the contours of the Welsh mountains, dramatic peaks of the Lake District, and the edge of the distant Pennines.
Darwen is fortunate to be situated in an area of spacious countryside, to its south-side is Sunnyhurst Wood, a place of scenic splendour filled with trees, flowers, plants and trickling streams tumbling over boulders beneath quaint bridges. This is a place of lightness and joy, in the early morning glory little can be heard but sweet songbirds and the sound of tiny squirrel's in search of food. The woods hold a wealth of interest for everyone, it has many wildlife habitats and a visitors centre.
Other open spaces in the town are Whitehall Park and Bold Venture Park, both offer much beauty, a calm peaceful atmosphere and in the dizzy heights of summer Bold Venture Park echoes with the sound of actors performing Shakespeare plays in the open air.
The town has long since shed its "clog image" to give way to an interesting town of handsome proportions and some magnificent properties built during the 19th century. Some of these are former mansions that once belonged to rich Lancastrian industrialists, now converted to provide luxurious hotel accommodation.
Shopping facilities in the town are excellent, there is even a covered open market, a lively affair drawing crowds from several outlying districts. This can be found close to the town's handsome market hall. Visitors to Darwen will find much of interest including churches and good recreational facilities.
Darwen is ideally situated for exploring the vast Cheshire Plain, enchanting villages, half-timbered towns and the fascinating cities of Blackburn, Manchester and Liverpool.
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 Darwen
| Bold Venture Park | (0.4 miles, 0.6 km) | Pictures |
| Darwen Tower | (0.4 miles, 0.7 km) | Pictures |
| Blackburn Cathedral | (3.6 miles, 5.7 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Hoghton Tower | (5.1 miles, 8.3 km, direction NW) | Pictures |
| Jumbles Reservoir Country Park | (5.5 miles, 8.8 km, direction SE) | Pictures |
| Smithill's Hall | (6.3 miles, 10.1 km, direction S) | Pictures |
| Samlesbury Hall | (7.0 miles, 11.2 km, direction NW) | Pictures |
| Astley Hall | (7.5 miles, 12.1 km, direction W) | Pictures |
| Cuerden Valley Country Park | (7.9 miles, 12.6 km, direction W) | Pictures |
| Whalley Abbey | (8.8 miles, 14.1 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Moses Gate Country Park | (9.4 miles, 15.1 km, direction S) | Pictures |
| East Lancashire Railway | (9.9 miles, 16.0 km, direction SE) | Pictures |
| Gawthorpe Hall | (10.2 miles, 16.4 km, direction NE) | Pictures |
| Camelot Theme Park | (10.4 miles, 16.7 km, direction W) | Pictures |
| Preston Guildhall | (10.5 miles, 17.0 km, direction NW) | Pictures |
All attractions in DarwenAll attractions in LancashireComplete A to Z of attractions in EnglandRecommended towns near Darwen
Oswaldtwistle, in the county of Lancashire (4.1 miles, 6.6 km, direction NE)
This is a large, typical Lancashire village lying close to the urban sprawl of Blackburn and Accrington.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Edgworth, in the county of Lancashire (4.5 miles, 7.2 km, direction SE)
This attractive hillside village occupies a pleasant rural location close to two pretty reservoirs and the historic house known as Turton Tower.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Hoghton, in the county of Lancashire (5.1 miles, 8.2 km, direction NW)
It was here that James I created "Sirloin" when he supposedly knighted his beef!
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Accrington, in the county of Lancashire (5.6 miles, 9.1 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.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Ramsbottom, in the county of Greater Manchester (6.9 miles, 11.1 km, direction SE)
The countryside surrounding the town offers lakes, woods and hills, with distant Winter Hill rising to a height of 456 feet.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Chorley, in the county of Lancashire (7.3 miles, 11.8 km, direction SW)
The town's historic roots go back beyond the Bronze-Age, as evidenced by findings in the 20th century.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Ribchester, a Picturesque Village in the county of Lancashire (8.6 miles, 13.8 km, direction N)
A picturesque village in the Ribble Valley
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Bolton, in the county of Lancashire (8.6 miles, 13.9 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.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Padiham, in the county of Lancashire (9.7 miles, 15.6 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...
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Hurst Green, a Picturesque Village in the county of Lancashire (9.7 miles, 15.7 km, direction N)
This pretty Lancastrian villages the setting for historic Stoneyhurst, a noted school which was founded in the 16th-century.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Preston, in the county of Lancashire (10.7 miles, 17.2 km, direction NW)
This is the town that was at the centre of the cotton spinning industry for well over a hundred and fifty years.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Wigan, in the county of Greater Manchester (12.5 miles, 20.1 km, direction SW)
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.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Croston, a Picturesque Village in the county of Lancashire (12.9 miles, 20.7 km, direction W)
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Waddington, in the county of Lancashire (13.6 miles, 21.8 km, direction N)
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Rufford, in the county of Lancashire (14.8 miles, 23.9 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.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
All towns in LancashireComplete A to Z of towns in EnglandNearby travel help
| Darwen Station | (0.3 miles, 0.4 km) |
| M65 Junction 4 | (1.5 miles, 2.4 km, direction N) |
| M65 Junction 5 | (2.2 miles, 3.5 km, direction N) |
| Mill Hill Station | (3.3 miles, 5.3 km, direction NW) |
| Blackpool Airport | (23.9 miles, 38.4 km, direction W) |
| Manchester Airport | (24.8 miles, 39.8 km, direction S) |
| Darwen to London | (180.5 miles, 290.4 km, direction SE) |
Hotels & Accommodation in Darwen
| Hotel Name | Approximate distance from Darwen center |
| Astley Bank Hotel | (0.6 miles, 1.0 km) |
| The Whitehall Hotel | (1.0 miles, 1.6 km) |
| Egerton House Hotel | (4.8 miles, 7.7 km, direction S) |
| Holden Vale Hotel | (5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction E) |
| Mercure Last Drop Village Bolton | (5.4 miles, 8.8 km, direction S) |
| The Old Mill Hotel & Leisure Club | (6.7 miles, 10.8 km, direction SE) |
| Sparth House Hotel | (6.9 miles, 11.1 km, direction NE) |
| The Pines Hotel | (7.1 miles, 11.3 km, direction W) |
| Swallow Preston Hotel | (7.5 miles, 12.1 km, direction NW) |
| The Preston Hotel | (7.8 miles, 12.6 km, direction W) |
| All hotels in Darwen |