Lancashire is one of the counties which offers everything. Wild walks, vibrant towns and an amazing coastline. It’s home to a wide range of local shops, pubs and almost everything you’d like or require, as well as an intriguing and fascinating background.
Naturally, living here is not only about having fun, in fact, earlier in the year, Morecambe was found to experience the highest amount of rainfall in England. But Lancashire attracts visitors from far-flung parts of the world.
Here are nine reasons we love living in this stunning Northern county, and no order is required:
It’s the absolute happiest place to live
No, we’re not in any way biased. Perhaps a little. Lancashire has several places within the county that has been voted the best place to live and work.
In the spring of this year, Trawden, a tiny village located in the ‘unspoken part of Lancashire’ was named the top place to reside for people living in the North West. The village is located near Colne was chosen by judges for the highly regarded Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide, in light of the region’s schools, transportation, broadband, to green spaces, culture and the overall health of the high street.
Preston was also named the most desirable place to reside and to do business in the North West in the Demos-PWC Good Growth for Cities Index earlier in the year. It’s the third time in consecutive years that this Lancashire city has earned this accolade, and has scored above average across various categories that the public think are most crucial when it comes to economic health.
They include the availability of jobs, a healthy balance between work and life, the capabilities of the people and the variety of roles on offer. It’s not necessary to prove that Lancashire’s the most ideal location for a home and work, but it’s nice to have facts to prove it.
The rolling hills
It is possible that Lancashire is rough because it is just a few miles from some of the most stunning landscapes in the nation (yes you’re talking about Lake District) but Lancashire has its own gems of its own.
We too have our own beautiful rolling hills, like The Forest of Bowland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (the part that’s part of Yorkshire isn’t counted).
The Forest of Bowland is for the most part filled with endless miles rolling hills and farmland, meaning there’s an abundance of breathtaking scenic trails for everyone to take in You might even spot an establishment at the end of some of them too.
In the middle of the county, we have Longridge Fell and Beacon Fell with stunning views of the surrounding area, in a bright day of course. Also, who can forget the famed Pendle Hill which is only about 165 feet away from being called an mountain. But even in the wild Lancashire weather the hilly landscape is breathtaking.
The Coastline has won awards for its beauty
If the hills aren’t enough for you, then take a glance to westwards in our gorgeous county and you will find the beaches that have won multiple awards like Blackpool, Lytham St Annes, and Morecambe.
In a bright day in the hills of the Lakes as well as the Isle of Man and even Wales can be spotted from our shores. It is the Lancashire Coastal Way stretches stretches 137 miles, starting from Merseyside up to Cumbria.
It is believed that the Lancashire coastline is made up of many different landscapes, limestone landscapes from Arnside and Silverdale saltmarshes and saltmarshes. It also has architectural land, seaside resorts and the river estuaries of the Lune, Wyre and Ribble, meaning if you’re not a fan of walking in the hills, it is possible to stroll along the coast instead.
The beaches along coast are among the top in the country, with awards being handed to beaches in Morecambe, Fleetwood and Blackpool that brings us on to point number two.
Blackpool
It’s not difficult to see that Blackpool is a source of controversy in Lancashire. Some don’t love the location and claim it’s outdated and tacky. Some (like me) are in love with the seaside resort, and all of its quirky aspects.
Blackpool has attracted millions of tourists over the years, and families visit year on many years to explore the many things Blackpool offers to visitors. The town is the only seaside resort in the UK that has three piers, each having bars, their own bar, and other attractions. The pier even has a mini theme park. Squires Gate, now known as Blackpool International Airport, was actually the UK’s first airport.
The tower is the Paris of the north (no I’m not going to argue about this) It is the only county gets hoards of Strictly Come Dancing stars making an extra trip to take part in their unique spring-floor ballroom.
I could go on about how I love Blackpool, and I’m sure many others would go on about how much they dislike the place however the fact remains that there’s no other place quite like it.
An extensive history, including KFC
Lancashire has its own colourful story, beginning with its founding in 1183. The towns of mills, Blackburn as well as Burnley were the origins of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century. In 1764 Spinning Jenny was invented in 1764. Spinning Jenny was invented by James Hargreaves a cotton weaver who was from Stanhill near Oswaldtwistle that revolutionized the field of cotton.
In the northern part of the county The case of Pendle Witches in Lancaster in 1612 is the UK’s most famous witchhunt and in 2012 Lancashire commemorated the 400th Centenary.
A little more sweet, Jelly Babies were though to have begun their journey in the Lancashire town Nelson. The sweets were first being made by Thomas Fryer and his sweet company in the 19th century. Thomas Fryer was born in Barrowford in 1841 , and in 1864, he established a sweetshop in the Colne Road. Colne Road.
Many famous people have been born in this county, such as George Booth (George Formby) who was born in Wigan in 1904; Jimmy Clitheroe, who was born in Clitheroe in 1921 and of course Eric Morcambe who was born in Morcambe in 1926. Also, who could forget that the very first KFC was launched right on Preston’s main road.
Friendly and nice people
Everyone is aware that Lancashire residents are some of the most friendly people you’ll ever meet.
The news has countless stories about people joining together in times crisis, specifically in the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw cities set up food banks, Covid safe meeting places and even saw neighbors create bubbles in order to prevent those who were shut off by the stay at home orders.
Throughout Lancashire are a myriad of villages and towns that aren’t afraid of having to ask for sugar or a cup of coffee, and in recent years towns like Burnley and Lancaster are both considered to be one of the most friendly places throughout the UK.
Our local cuisine
This county has developed a variety of dishes that have stuck with us through the ages. Butter pie, as an example was a popular dish on a Friday, a day when meat wasn’t meant to be consumed by Lancashire’s Catholics. Today, you can find it available at any time, all across the county in traditional bakeries, in farm shops as well as at football matches.
It’s impossible to forget Chorley cakes. A less well-known variant of this Eccles cake, Chorley cakes with cinnamon with sugar and currants, then encased in flaky, buttery pastry and baked. They’re topped with an egg glaze whites and sugar gives them the perfect crunch.
And of course, there’s the traditional Lancashire Hotpot that has been a staple in this county from the 18th century onwards. The dish is thought to have come into existence in the heyday manufacturing of cotton and the basic meal was cooked slowly throughout the day long, waiting for hungry cotton workers at the end of their shift.
I could continue to list Black Pudding that comes from Haslingden as well as Corned Beef Hash or Parkin the list is endless.
Musicians
Sometimes overlooked in comparison to our bigger and bolder neighbors of Manchester and Merseyside, people often forget that Lancashire has produced its own host of musicians who are truly amazing.
Did you know that Rick Astley is from Newton-le-Willows? The “Never Gonna Give You up singer is among many world-class musicians to emerge from Lancashire. Although the town might no longer be Lancashire since the late 1970s boundary reviews, but with Rick born in the county known as the red rose We’ll soon be calling him.
Famous Tenor Alfie Boe is from Fleetwood, whilst Rae Morris is from Blackpool. X-Factor aspirant Dianna Vickers was born in Accrington.
Kevin Simm is also from Chorley. The singer started out in Liberty X before winning The Voice UK and becoming the lead singer of Wet Wet Wet. Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie is also from the town of Bouth. While now Cumbria it was the old Lancashire when she was a child when she was born.
It’s not Yorkshire
When I was trying to find the ideas for this article, this was the most frequent item I was informed of. And on the surface it appears to be a reference to the long-standing Lancashire/ Yorkshire rivalry, but when you consider it in the context of way more than that.
Lancashire as well as Yorkshire are two counties that are independent each with a wealth of things to offer. They are often smushed together as “the North’. However, Lancashire has merits it’s own acknowledgement.
It’s a region of history, music gorgeous coats, beautiful scenery, rolling hills. It’s everything we’ve mentioned above. We have our own cuisine and tea bags. Our staff are the most friendly people you’ll ever meet. Lancashire isn’t only better than Yorkshire it’s the greatest region in the world which is why we love it so much.
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