Group Travel > Blue Badge Guides > Preston Tours

Preston Tours

Each tour starts by the obelisk in the Flag Market. Tours last approximately 90 minutues and take place rain or shine!

Prices for all tours
Adults £4 Concessions £3

Avenham
This is our original city tour. It takes you along ancient thoroughfares to uncover a mixed history of agriculture and industry, poverty and wealth. Discover some of Preston's hidden delights.
Dates:
May 14, 2pm
July 16, 2pm
August 6, 7pm

Catholic Preston
Preston, the town of the priests, abounds in Catholic history. From St Wilfrid to 'Daddy' Dunn. Learn of the struggles in penal times and understand the great gift of education and welfare the catholic movement has bequeathed our city.
Dates:
May 28, 2pm
July 2, 2pm
September 10, 7pm
October 22, 2pm

Central Preston
Join us as we discover why the Flag market was the economic and social heart of Preston for centuries. We also visit the covered markets, old town halls, old police station and the corn exchange.
Dates:
May 7, 2pm
July 9, 2pm
September 17, 7pm

Church Street
Come and discover Patten House, a couple of ancient churches, a famous cheese shop, a wire works, mounted police, a massive cotton works and lots of cobbles!
Dates:
May 21, 2pm
June 25, 7pm
August 27, 2pm
October 29, 2pm

Friargate
This ancient street once led to a Friary, a canal, schools, railways, warehouses, gasworks and churches. Most of this ancient and industrial past.has vanished now, but we can still find clues as we weave in and out of this transforming neighbourhood.
Dates:
May 14, 7pm
July 9, 7pm
September 3, Friargate

In and Around Frenchwood
Let's take a stroll around Frenchwood and learn a little of its history from cotton empires to convents; from Roman soldiers, and Oliver Cromwell to St. Augustine''s 'the church with the especial concern for the poor.'
Dates:
June 11, 2pm
July 2, 7pm
August 20, 7pm
October 8, 2pm

Jacobites 1715
On 14th November 1715 the Jacobite army surrendered in Preston. A description of the events and tour of the sites associated with this dramatic event in British history.
Dates:
July 30, 7pm

Pubs and Beerhouses
A leisurely walk around the historic centre of Preston looking at one of the world's oldest pastimes - drinking beer! From Scotch ale to the modern pub the walk will pass the sites of famous and not so famous Inns, pubs and taverns. The walk will involve visiting some of the most interesting "watering holes" in the city centre.
Dates:
June 4, 7pm
July 16, 7pm
September 3, 7pm

Spotlight on Entertainment
A look for the sites and stories of entertainment in Preston. Theatres, Cinemas, fun and games in the Centre of Preston.
Dates:
June 18, 7pm
August 13, 2pm

Spotlight on Transport
Roads, Canals, Railways. Transport technology has always been at the centre of Preston's economic success. This tour looks at some of the most important developments which have helped to create the modern city.
Dates:
May 7, 7pm
June 18, 2pm
August 13, 7pm

Winckley Square
An evening stroll around the delightful Winckley Square. Beautiful Georgian and Victorian homes full of unique stories from individuals that shaped our city.
Dates:
May 21, 7pm
July 30, 2pm
September 24, 7pm

Avenham Park
Ladies Walk, Avenham Park, Miller Park, and the river Ribble -all right in the heart of Preston. Come on a walk, enjoy the beauty, and learn of the history of the area.
Dates:
August 20, 2pm
September 24, 2pm

Charles Dickens and Coke Town
A walk through Victorian Preston and a look at evidence for the popular belief that Charles Dickens famous novel Hard Times was based on his visit in 1854.
Dates:
June 4, 2pm
August 27, 7pm

Ghosts and Murderers
Preston has more than its fair share of spooky sightings and macabre tales of murder and violent death. Come on this trail through old Preston ........ if you dare !
Dates:
July 3, 7pm
July 17, 7pm
July 31, 7pm
August 14, 7pm
August 28, 7pm
September 11, 7pm
September 25, 7pm

Preston's People
Some of the saints and sinners we heard about in the tour last year, and a few new ones!
Dates:
June 11, 7pm
July 23, 2pm
September 10, 2pm
October 1, 2pm

Lost Churches of Preston
So many churches of every denomination flourished in our city centre in the 1800s. Now so many of them are car parks or shopping arcades. Where were they? Why were they demolished? What remains?
Dates:
May 28, 7pm
August 6, 2pm
October 15, 2pm

Preston at War
Come and discover how Viking skirmishes, the Battle of Preston, the Jacobites, the American War of Independence, the Napoleonic War, the Boer War, the American Civil War and the two World Wars all influenced Preston - often in quite dramatic ways.
Dates:
June 25, 2pm
July 23, 7pm
September 17, 2pm