Preston

Preston is a city in the county of Lancashire, in north‑west England, sitting on the banks of the River Ribble at the edge of the Fylde and close to the Forest of Bowland. It began as a market town and expanded into a prominent mill and railway centre during the Industrial Revolution, later becoming the administrative centre of the City of Preston; civic life is marked by long traditions such as the rare twenty‑year Preston Guild.

Today the local economy mixes public services, manufacturing, retail and a large student presence around the University of Central Lancashire, while culture is boosted by institutions like the Harris Museum and a proud sporting record - Preston North End play at Deepdale, one of the oldest league grounds. Its position near the estuary and Morecambe Bay and easy access to surrounding countryside give residents quick routes to both coastal and upland recreation.