There are some buildings and things which instantly say Preston to us. Here’s a selection of them in all their glory and a few snippets of information about them.

St Walburge’s Church

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The tallest spire of a Church in England that isn’t a Cathedral, and St Walburge’s can be seen from nearly everywhere in the city. Despite Preston’s modern industrial heritage it is the church, on the edges of the university campus, which offers a bold reminder of Preston’s religious past. You can go up the spire on open days and the view is breathtaking, as this video posted on Flickr shows.

Deepdale

The home of the mighty, well once mighty, Preston North End. One of the oldest football grounds in the UK and also until recently where the National Football Museum was based. It also features ‘The Splash’ a statue and ode to PNE legend Sir Tom Finney.

River Ribble

You can’t mention Preston without thinking of the river which cuts its way through the flood plain to the south. Ramble along its banks in Avenham Park, think about how it helped shape the docklands area or enjoy the peace and quiet as it heads of the Ribble Valley. The River Ribble is the flowing heart of Preston.

Preston Bus Station

Definitely a landmark and one that every Prestonian has an opinion on. Should it stay, should it go? It’s at the heart of the Tithebarn development which would see the city centre changed beyond all recognition but which 11 years of wrangling has yet to resolve. Built in the 1960s it was once one of the largest bus stations in Europe.

Harris Museum

An oasis of art and culture in the centre of the city, the Harris Museum was completed in 1893 and regularly holds art exhibitions and overlooks the Flag Market. Its imposing Victorian style is a reminder of what has come before and much of the public buildings in the city were built around the same time.

All images used in this post are sourced from the wonderful Preston Flickr group.