19 Iconic Buildings to Explore in Lancashire

One of the most beautiful houses in Lancashire. It is now a museum and art gallery. The Hall is set within the beautiful surroundings of Astley Park which include historic woodland, a lake, a fully renovated Victorian walled garden alongside clean and modern facilities for visitors to enjoy. Astley Hall today contains Tudor, Stuart, and Georgian architecture that reflects the times and building tastes of the three families that owned it throughout most of its history.

Browsholme Hall has been the ancestral home of the Parkers, Bowbearers of the Forest of Bowland since the time Tudor times. Today it is still the family’s home and visitors are invited to enjoy its magnificent architecture, fabulous interiors and antique furnishings set in the stunning landscape of the Hodder Valley.

A majestic castle perched above the town of Clitheroe where it has dominated the skyline for 800 years. This majestic house tells the story of the town, the formation of the landscape 350 million years ago and why the Ribble Valley is a haven for Lancashire's wildlife. Moving through the galleries,

The Custom House, Lancaster is a grade II* listed building located on St Georges Quay, Lancaster, Lancashire, England. It is now the home of the Maritime Museum, packed with fascinating exhibits from the town’s time as a port and a centre of the fishing industry. Its exhibits include local fishing vessels, ship models, area merchants and trade, including the slave trade, the Lancaster Canal, area fishing industry, the development of the local ports of Glasson, Heysham, Sunderland Point, and Mor

Hoghton Tower is an Elizabethan-era mansion house that has subsequently been extensively modified. The Grade I listed building was originally built in 1109 and was the ancestral home of the de Hoghton family. It makes the perfect day out for all kinds of visitors, with so many things to see, do, and admire. The tower is also home to the Vaio Tea Room, the perfect place to relax with a hot drink and a treat after exploring the grounds and gardens.

The Judges’ Lodgings is Lancaster’s oldest townhouse, standing on the site of an earlier hall. It was built around 1625 and was the residence of wealthy Lancaster citizens and visiting judges for nearly 200 years. Today the house is home to beautiful Georgian furniture by Gillows of Lancaster, elegant period rooms, and the popular Museum of Childhood.

This is the "largest Regimental archive and the premier centre for military historical research in the North of England and it has the largest regimental military heritage collection in the North of England, and possibly the whole country with over 60,000 items catalogued. This Museum provides a most unusual museum experience that covers over 300 years of our history with the prime appeal being to those who served or have family members who served in the present or ancestor Regiments.

Lancaster Castle, often known as John O’ Gaunt’s Castle is one of the most historically fascinating surviving buildings in the country. The castle has witnessed scenes of significant historical, cultural, and political impact throughout the centuries. These include incidents of religious persecution, the trials of the ‘Lancashire Witches’ and 200 executions for everything from murder to stealing cattle.

Leighton Hall is set in beautiful parkland and garden which stretches over some 1550 acres and is surrounded by a working estate comprising livestock farms, rental accommodation, clay pigeon shooting facilities, and an off-road driving track. Children can run wild in the play area or explore a woodland trail and are encouraged to get involved. There are no roped-off areas. Leighton is very much a lived-in house, brought to life by the enthusiasm of the guides.

Lytham Hall is a Grade I country house and parkland managed by Heritage Trust for the North West. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building, the only one in the Borough of Fylde. It is constructed in the Palladian style of red brick in Flemish bond with stone dressings and stuccoed features. It has three storeys on a rectangular, symmetrical plan and sits on a stone plinth.

A beautiful Elizabethan country house, which was built in 1600-5 for the Reverend Lawrence Shuttleworth whose family had settled at Gawthorpe at the end of the 14th century.  Inside the Hall's beautiful historic rooms show life as it was in the Victorian period for the Kay-Shuttleworth family and have a homely feel, despite the grandeur of the building. The hall is financed and run by the National Trust in partnership with Lancashire County Council.

The National Trust's Rufford Old Hall, Lancashire, is a beautiful Tudor building surrounded by Victorian and Edwardian gardens. The amazing-looking House is also open with a fine collection of 16th and 17th century of oak furniture. It also has collections of armory and tapestry. The Great Hall's hammer-beam roof with Angels must be seen. It was designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.

Oswaldtwistle Mills is an award-winning shopping village in Lancashire that has something to amaze, charm and intrigue visitors of all ages. We have over 100 retail concessions selling everything from arts and craft supplies to gadgets to furniture to locally produced foods, and everything in between. The company is based in an historic cotton mill in the East Lancashire village of Oswaldtwistle and was one of the first mill shopping villages in Lancashire.

The Preston Cenotaph stands in Market Square, Preston, Lancashire, England, and is a monument to soldiers from Preston who perished in World War I and II. It was designed by famous English architect, Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, who also designed Britain's iconic red telephone box. The memorial is now one of the most impressive free-standing war memorials in the country. With its scale and sophistication, the Cenotaph is a true architectural gem.

Samlesbury Hall is a historic house in Samlesbury, Lancashire, England, six miles east of Preston. It was built in 1325 by Gilbert de Southworth, and was the primary home of the Southworth family until the early 17th century. The Hall has history from every age. With the turbulent tales of its Catholic families, witches, and the haunting of Lady Dorothy, a captivating insight into life from the early 14th to the 21st century is all waiting to be discovered.

St Annes Beach Huts feature everything you need for a perfect day at the seaside. These attractive structures in an array of pastel colours offer visitors a unique and exciting addition to their holiday experience ideal for all the family. Day rentals are available to book this huts for a maximum of ten persons.

The Ruskin Library and Museum sits at the entrance to Lancaster University and is open to everyone. It is free to visit, with stunning exhibits on display from John Ruskin’s life and work. In this piece, we will begin with a short discussion on Ruskin’s contributions to Victorian society and his relevance today. We will then turn to the construction of this very modern-looking building and the work its staff are doing to engage the wider public with the thoughts and philosophy of John Ruskin.

Towneley Hall historic house, art gallery and museum located in 400 acres of beautiful parkland provides all the ingredients for a fun, educational and adventurous day out. It houses an eclectic collection including an Egyptian mummy, the Whalley Abbey vestments, Lancashire-made oak furniture, Pilkington Pottery and the Towneley Bear. There are also so many other things to see and feel around.

This 14th century gatehouse belonged to the nearby Cistercian abbey, which was once the second wealthiest monastery in Lancashire. The abbey was founded in 1296 by the De Lacy family for monks from Stanlow Abbey in Cheshire and grew to become the second most powerful abbey in Lancashire. The ruins of the abbey are recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.