 About the county Known as the Red Rose County, Lancashire is indeed one of the finest flowers in the garden of England. Rolling green hills stretch to dramatic coastlines, From the bright lights of Blackpool and the Fylde Coast to the tranquility of the Trough of Bowland and the Lake District National Park, which has some of the most outstanding scenery in the UK, Lancashire is a County of contrasts and variety. Places of Interest Lancashire is almost bursting at the seams with things to do, there really is something for everyone, from steam railways and The Earth Centre, to water sports, abseiling, caving, climbing, horse riding, walking, gorge scrambling, canal boating, many wonderful historic sights and fantastic leisure facilities. There is a significant cluster of motte and bailey castles of early Norman date in the Lune Valley, north Lancashire, as well as a number of other castles across the county. There are many museums and galleries, exhibiting everything from maritime history to football to toys and teddybears. For family fun, one of the gems of Lancashire has to be Blackpool, some of the highlights include Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Tower and Circus, and the Tower Ballroom. Lancaster Castle, Owned by HM Queen Elizabeth still houses prisoners, though much of it is open to the public. Williams Park zoo and wildlife park has many exotic animals. The Harris Museum and Art Gallery houses some interesting collections and Ribchester Roman Museum gives a recollection of the Roman ruins from the 1st century, The Ingleton Waterfalls Trail and the Ribble Valley offer beautiful scenic walks. Living in Lancashire The county has a wide range of schools, from nursery through to secondary, both comprehensive and independent. There are also several good special needs schools. There are some very good further education colleges, including Blackburn College, Blackpool and The Fylde College, Burnley College, Edge Hill University College, Myerscough College, Lancashire College and Runshaw College. There is also the University of Central Lancashire, University College of St. Martin, and Lancaster University. Lancashire has an extensive rail network and is well connect to the rest of Britain via the West Coast mainline. Car drivers can save money and avoid traffic jams by parking at many of the stations, where parking is often free. The county also has a very good bus service, operating across all the cities and rural areas. Preston operates a park and ride bus service. There are extensive shopping facilities throughout Lancashire, with many good local markets, shopping centres, specialist boutiques, antiques and craft shops. The Lancaster Leisure Park features a 'seconds' outlet, where seconds and famous brand names can be purchased at discounted prices. There is also a year round Antiques Centre, and Arts and Crafts Centre. Leisure facilities are available from March to October, including a golf range and children's play area. There are many leisure and sports centres, with a comprehensive range of activities available. There are also some fantastic facilities for golfers, the highlight of which is the Royal Lytham & St. Anne's Golf Club, which has hosted the British Open 3 times in the last 30 years. In addition, the county has many cinemas and some good theatres |
