Group Travel > Group Attractions in Lancashire > Shopping

Shopping

Lancashire proudly boasts what is probably the highest concentration of factory and mill shops in the country.

Oswaldtwistle Mills Shopping Village in Accrington offers over 80 different shopping concessions including fabrics, crafts, gifts, pottery, glass, furniture, silk flowers, cards and clothing. Popular with groups, a choice of group itineraries combine this leisurely shopping trip with a wide range of local attractions. New for 2007, the Variety Show package will include lunch followed by singing and dancing to old time favourites.

Nearby, Barden Mill in Burnley features 50 departments in one mill store.'The Ultimate Day Out' group itinerarycombines this shopping experience with other localattractions such as a canal cruise aboard the Marton Emperor, Pendle Witch Tours, Towneley Hall or Rourke's Forge.

Groups are also welcome at Boundary Mills in Colne. Conveniently located at the end of the M65, the Mill offers top quality branded products at highly discounted prices. Refreshments are available.

From Colne, it is just a short drive along the M65 to Junction 12 Shopping Outlet with over 50 departments from fashion to furniture and a new restaurant - the Chocolate Strawberry.

On the coast at Fleetwood, the outlet shopping centre, Freeport Fleetwood, features 45 shops selling famous brands up to 60% off the retail price. Regular entertainment and live events are staged throughout the year.

The Arndale Centre in Morecambe offers groups a number of retail outlets including high street shops for your shopping pleasure. Built in 1972, it is open 7 days a week and includes a good choice of cafes such as the Green Room. Located in the heart of Morecambe, there is also the opportunity to explore the surrounding seaside town.

In a converted Victorian mill in Chorley, Botany Bay comprises five floors of shops, three restaurants and a contemporary garden centre. Conveniently located at junction 8 of the M61, Botany Bay also makes a good refreshment stop for groups travelling further afield. Pre-booked refreshments can be arranged ranging from coffee and biscuits to cream teas and three course meals.

Elsewhere in Lancashire, other mills include Empress Mills in Pendle, specialists in thread, materials and crafts while Winfields Outdoor Mill in Haslingden focuses on outdoor garments, footwear and accessories.

Also of interest, Cedar Farm Galleries, west of Chorley, is dedicated to promoting high quality British arts and crafts while the Barn at Scorton comprises of a garden centre, gift shop and coffee bar.

A good mix of local crafts, garden gifts and regional foods are also on offer at Bridge House Farm in Wray.

The biggest market in Lancashire with over 300 stalls is Blackburn Market. Ideal for visits throughout the year, this undercover market features several specialist stalls for arts and crafts, musical instruments, collectors items andjewellery. The popular Fish, Meat and Game Market offers an extensive selection of fresh produce from seasonal venison, wild boar and pheasant to lobster, sea bass and a wide choice of ocean delicacies.


Preston Market is held daily in Market Hall (except Sundays)On two floors, the lower floor features 75 stalls selling fresh produce including traditional Lancashire foods such as black puddings and tripe while on the upper floor, 60 stalls sell non-food items. Four days a week (Mon,Wed, Fri and Sat), the splendid Victorian canopy next to the Market Hall comes to life with a traditional open market featuring over 140 stalls.

Meanwhile, Garstrang Market offers local produce including meat from local farms, fruits and vegetables, cheeses made locally and plants and shrubs.

Accrington Victorian Market Hall, the oldest market hall in Lancashire, you will find just about everything you need.As well as the finest Lancashire fayre, there's a host of other goods on sale at this fine historic building. Accrington also boasts several other markets including the Antique & Bric-a-Brac Market and the Accrington Sunday Market with over 150 stalls.

A historic traditional Lancashire market is Fleetwood Market. Selling a wide variety of goods ranging from fish to cosmetics from over 250 stalls, most of the market is undercover. A Farmers' Market is held on the third Friday of every month.

Preson city centre's excellent shopping facilities have significantly grown during the last decade.With the major expansion of The Mall St. George's Shopping Centre and the refurbishment of the Fishergate Centre, there has never been so much choice. In the heart of this magnificent 'shopping city' is the Flag Market where shoppers may come across a range of activities from street entertainment, a continental market, funfair or even live music.

Shopping in Lancaster's traffic free centre is so easy and relaxing, with attractive shopping centres and the new market hall offering traditional fayre in comfortable modern surroundings.The 'Assembly Rooms', situated opposite, is home to stalls selling curios and collectables and in the nearby streets and alleyways can be found a wealth of individual shops, pubs and cafés.

The Hounds Hill Shopping Centre is situated in the centre of Blackpool beside the Blackpool Tower complex and is literally one minute from the main Blackpool promenade.The only enclosed shopping centre in the town, it is undergoing extensive refurbishment and will emerge bigger and brighter for 2008.

Near Chorley, there are a number of antique centres worth adding to your itinerary. Housed in one of the best examples of Tudor architecture in Northern England, Heskin Hall Antiques is packed full of antiques, memorabilia, objects d'art and collectables.

Nearby, Park Hall Antiques Fair is the largest Antiques fair in the North West, held every Sunday at Park Hall Hotel.

Antique and craft fairs are held throughout the year at Samlesbury Hall, where antiques and collectors items are displayed in seven rooms of this 14th century manor house. The Hall specialises in furniture, silver and books and there is now a dedicated Bric-a-Brac Room open in the old Bookshop. Hammer auctions, sealed bid auctions and outright sales also take place.The Hall also runs Ghost Investigation evenings and Ghost Walks.