Adventures around Prestonwith PlusBus
Preston is one of those places that might surprise a casual visitor with its wealth of great places to eat and drink, stroll, shop and explore the area’s history and culture. It’s surrounded by some breath-taking countryside and a PlusBus can take you out of the city and into the neighbouring villages for peaceful farmland and magnificent views.
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1. Walk into the Forest of Bowland from Longridge
Buy a Preston PlusBus ticket when you book your train travel or simply take your train ticket to the desk at Preston station to ask for PlusBus as an add-on. It costs less than two single bus fares and gives you unlimited bus travel all day in Preston and Leyland. The pretty market town of Longridge is at the eastern end of the PlusBus area and well worth a trip for its cafe-lined lanes and breath-taking countryside. Nearby Longridge fell is England’s most southerly fell and impressive to look at even if you’re not up for climbing it.
- How do I get to Longridge by bus? Arriving at Preston railway station, it’s an easy ten-minute stroll along Fishergate into the heart of the city. As you reach Church Street, with the spire of Preston Minster ahead, look out for Victorian Miller Arcade on the left, Preston’s first indoor shopping centre and modelled on Burlington Arcade in London. Just beyond this, turn left into Lancaster Road to find bus stop K5 on the right.
- Bus 1 leaves every ten minutes from this stop and takes half an hour to reach the town of Longridge. Get off towards the end of the route near Brewery Street, walk a few steps back down Berry Lane and left at the Dog Inn up Higher Road. Towards the top of this road, you’ll find a bridleway running right for views across Spade Mill reservoirs or, later, left into woods and fields.
- Forking left along Forty Acre Lane, you could simply keep going for another two miles to reach the spectacular Jeffrey Hill viewpoint. Sitting on the bench here, you can see famous Pendle Hill and the beautiful Forest of Bowland national landscape. There are footpaths leading here too, but – be warned – they are quite rough and boggy so you’ll need a good map and boots!
- Wherever you wander around Longridge, there are rural sights and flowery lanes, big views and distant hills. And – best of all – a good choice of pubs and cafes to get back to.
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2. See England's tallest parish spire
Towering high over the city, the spire of St Walburge’s church is nearly 100m high (or more than 300 feet). It’s the tallest parish church spire in England and beaten only by Norwich and Salisbury cathedrals. Designed by architect Joseph Hansom (who gave his name to the hansom cab) in the mid-19th-century, it’s an ornate example of the French gothic revival style with a wide rose window, carved altars, a hammer-beam roof, and life size colourful statues of 24 saints.
- So how do I get there by bus? Bus 44 runs every 30 minutes from Preston railway station to Abbey Street, very close to the church. From there, you can’t miss the spire!
- The interior is only open on certain days, including weekly heritage tours on Saturdays, when it might be possible to climb the spire for great views.
- The church is close to the University of Central Lancashire, where you can visit the Degree Show each summer or even take in a gig at The Ferret. The area has good value bars and cafes to serve the student population, like the fabulous Coco’s Soul Food, serving up everything from jalapeno poppers to fried chicken burgers.
- Preston is stuffed with great places to eat and drink so hop back on the bus a couple of stops and head to Fishergate again for a huge choice of bars and eateries and – from 2025 – a great museum. Read on for more…
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3. British Commercial Vehicle Museum
Your PlusBus ticket is valid in Leyland too, where you can explore The British Commercial Vehicle Museum. The history of Leyland Motors is closely connected to the town and here, in the old factory, you can see all kinds of amazing vehicles, from horse-drawn carts and steam-driven engines to early electric and hybrid technologies.
- How do I get to the British Commercial Vehicle Museum by bus? Frequent bus 111 runs more or less directly there from Stand B outside Preston railway station. It stops near Leyland’s Gables pub about 40 minutes later. The museum is a very short walk away along Sumner Street and has a heritage cafe on site.
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4. Eat your way round the world
Back in Preston, there are no shortage of places to eat and drink. You could have South American tacos at Chamo or Korean ‘shrooms on toast at Rise. You could even take a culinary round-the-world tour on your way to the station.
- You might like to start near the neoclassical Harris Art Gallery and Museum, which is closed for a big renovation project and due to open in 2025.
- From Leyland, stay on bus 11 as far as Ring Way. From the university area, you could either stroll down Friargate or hop on a bus, for instance bus 46 to the bus station. This is another bus that goes to Longridge (see 1 above). Its hourly route between Preston and Longridge is leisurely and scenic, passing through a string of pretty villages.
- On Market Place, close to the museum, is popular Caribbean restaurant Turtle Bay. Whether you’re looking for a little pepper roti or a huge Jerk platter, this is a good call.
- Across Brierly Street is a branch Of Street Food Mowgli. In these flamboyant restaurants, décor includes whole trees, fairy lights and swinging seats. The Preston Mowgli’s adds stylish green tiles and tall windows as part of the art deco arcade it’s built into. The menu features street food faves like chaat, tamarind fries and puri.
- A couple of minutes’ walk down Fishergate towards the station, you can’t miss Bistro Pierre in a converted Victorian church. With stained glass and high ceilings, it’s a super-stylish venue for your pre-train cocktails!
- For more car-free adventures in the area, see our guide to Blackpool and have a day by the sea.
