Property for sale in Preston, Lancashire

Living in Preston

Preston can be found in the heart of Lancashire, in north-west England, and has been a city since Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee in 2002. The River Ribble flows through the southernmost part of Preston, whilst the Forest of Bowland lies to the north-east, and has been classified as an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’, filled with deep valleys and gritstone fells.

Preston has a rich history, from Roman occupation to the Norman invasion of 1066, it also featured in the Domesday book under the name of 'Prestune'. Preston is the only place in the UK to still celebrate its Guild, and has been doing so every 20 years since King Henry II granted it a Guild Merchant and a royal charter.

The Harris Museum, built in 1893, is a Grade I listed building, enriching visitors and locals alike with fine art, historical artefacts and enthralling exhibitions. Another landmark Grade I listed building in Preston is St Walburge's Church, which is famed for having the tallest spire on a church in the UK. There are a number of well-known people who hail from Preston, such as England cricketer, Andrew Flintoff, ex-footballer Mark Lawrenson and writer, Robert W. Service.

Information About the Local Residents

Preston is home to around 135,100 people, and is set to increase to 146,600 by 2033. Preston is a generally younger place when compared to the national average, largely due to the high student contingency. 35.2% of people in Preston are aged under 25, compared to 30.7% in the rest of the country. Over 65s are only represented by 14.1% of the population which is lower than the national figure of 16.5%.

83.7% of people living in Preston were born in England, while 3.7% were born in India, 1.6% in Scotland and 1.3% in Pakistan. English speakers make up 89.8% of Preston's residents, followed by Gujarati at 3.2% and Polish at 1.8%. 61% of people are Christian, 17.9% are non-religious, while 11.2% are Muslim.

Local Schools

Preston has many good choices when it comes to schooling, with St Peter's Church of England Primary School, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, and New Longton All Saints Church of England Primary are amongst the front-runners when it comes to primary education. For secondary schools, look no further than Archbishop Temple School, All Hallows Catholic High School and Moor Park Business and Enterprise School, all of which have received positive reports from Ofsted. For higher education, University of Central Lancashire is located in Preston and offers a wide range of different courses.

Getting Around

Travelling by bus in Preston is very convenient, with 5 different operators functioning in and around the city. Preston Railway Station makes it possible to travel to long distance locations, such as London in 4 hours, Glasgow in just over 3 hours, and Edinburgh in 3 and a half hours. The Preston bypass connects to the M6, which also joins up with the M55, while the M61 connects to Manchester, the M65 to Colne and the M55 goes straight to Blackpool. Blackpool Airport is easily accessible by road, located just 16 Miles away.

Local Shops

There are 2 main shopping centres in Preston, with St George's being home to a vast 106 shops and eateries, such as H&M, M&S and Tiger Store. Fishergate Shopping Centre is the other go-to place for shops, featuring stores such as Primark, Debenhams and Argos. For alternative shopping experiences, Preston Market is your best bet, opening all 52 weeks a year, regardless of weather, as it is weather protected.

The Legh Arms Restaurant is a lovely British gastropub that serves fine ales and lagers, as well as some tasty roast dinners. The Black Bull Inn is a welcoming, dog-friendly pub that has exceptional standards of cask ales for cheap rates, as well as serving up excellent fish & chips.