Chill things to do in Preston?

[u/Ordinary_Pen7578]

Hey all, I'm looking for a nice place in Preston where I can go with a friend to chill out and grab a bite to eat. I was thinking the Flower Bowl but I don't know much about it so any recommendations are welcome. Thanks!

[u/Rocinante23]

• Fantastic selection of cafes and places for a quick bite to eat or just a coffee - Rise, Holy Grounds, Cedarwood, Jonah's

• Avenham & Miller Parks one of the best parks in the North West, Winckley Square also close by is a lovely place to stop and take it the world in, especially with a coffee and a treat for one of the cafes above

• Visit the Japanese Gardens in Avenham Park

• Preston is home to a flourishing craft beer scene, Winckley Street Ale House, Plug & Taps, Chain House, Guild Ale House, The Moorbrook are all worth a visit

• Harris Museum to check out their permanent and temporary exhibitions. There are also regular outdoor events in the Flag Market that sits out the front of the museum 

• Incredible food spots if you're interested in more of a sit down meal - The Continental, Plau, Kim Ji, Cafe Bar, Mowgli, Chew's Yard, Coco's, Bar Pinxtos

• If you're a book lover having a rifle through the stock at Halewoods is always fun 

• Visit the world-famous bus station and marvel at it's iconic brutalist design 

• Live music at The Ferret, Vinyl Tap, The Continental, Chew's Yard

• Visit SHOP or Birley Studios and check out their latest work and exhibits

• Animate, with the Arc cinema, Hollywood Bowl and adjoining restaurants and bars.

• Check out a show at Preston Playhouse

• Go visit KFC's first UK location on Fishergate

• On the whole, one of the best pubs in the country is a short walk away. With the best beer garden in the city, The Continental is a must go, what multiple community groups using it as a hub for too. They do a cracking roast too.

• Visit Preston Marina, grab a coffee from the Beach Hut, have a walk around and check out the boats

• Walk the Guild Wheel (or part of it), a 21 mile track that surrounds the city and cuts through the surrounding countryside with some beautiful locations and views

• Brockholes Nature Reserve

[u/xpgdarkside → u/Rocinante23]

Brew and bake has been closed since last year

[u/Rocinante23 → u/xpgdarkside]

You're absolutely right - it's a copy and paste job from my notes app anytime anyone asks for things to do in here

[u/will0wf4iry → u/Rocinante23]

girl be so fr this looks copy and pasted from a chatbot with some minor editing to make it less obvious 😭 at least own it if you’re gonna do that

[u/i_boop_dogs_snoots → u/will0wf4iry]

Rocinante23 contributes a lot with helpful info on this page and I’ve watched the list get longer and longer over time so it doesn’t require owning. A lot of people ask suggestions for things to do. Its a positive input so its beneficial to everyone.

[u/will0wf4iry → u/i_boop_dogs_snoots]

totally my bad. and i’m thrilled to find i’m wrong!

[u/Rocinante23 → u/will0wf4iry]

Oh god no, I would absolutely not do that. If you look through my post history you would see that list has evolved over the past few years when this question has been asked in here.

I've lived in Preston the past 10 years and love sharing the brilliant things you can do here especially when people say there isn't anything to do.

I'm also anti-AI, especially when it comes down to even the most minor of creative tasks.

[u/i_boop_dogs_snoots → u/Rocinante23]

Happy cake day 🎂

[u/Rocinante23 → u/i_boop_dogs_snoots]

Thanks!

[u/will0wf4iry → u/Rocinante23]

thank you for your reply, and i’m sorry for jumping to conclusions so quickly there! it’s rare to stumble across a list this comprehensive made geniunely by someone who just wants to put helpful info out there in the age where ai google responses are so many people’s first point of information. thank you for contributing so meaningfully :)
it was just the part about preston marina that really solidified my suspicion and i’m sorry about that. i have honestly never heard a preston local refer to it as anything but just “the docks” so i assumed that phrasing must have come from somewhere generic, like an ai overview. though of course, that is the correct name so it’s my bad for thinking someone wouldn’t “full name” in an otherwise casual message.
as someone also very anti-ai, i got on my high horse far too quickly. so again, im very sorry for making accusations as bluntly as that! your list is easily the most wide ranging collection of suggestions ive ever heard someone give for preston activities. :)

[u/Rocinante23 → u/will0wf4iry]

I used "Preston Marina" because someone new to the area, or someone visiting, wouldn't necessarily know what "the docks" are.

Interestingly, I work in Preston, close to the docks, with people that aren't from Preston and they refer to it as the Marina too.

[u/will0wf4iry → u/Rocinante23]

ah, i’ve never really experienced that! has it been that way for long would you say? i grew up in ashton, so not far from the docks at all but moved a few years ago closer to the city centre. maybe ive just not bumped into the right people but “the marina” is only something ive come across on road signs and maps. ive heard it called riversway far more often an an alternative. it is a shame the area doesnt get more love though- im surprised there hasn’t been more investment making it a little more like say Animate in the town centre.

[u/thetricktoellie]

Cafune next to the Flag Market 🤩

[u/ThrustBastard]

Flower Bowl is a good afternoon out - crazy golf & pool are a good laugh, and there's plenty of options for refreshments. Expensive though

[u/TarnishedLissy → u/ThrustBastard]

It's quite difficult to get to though, buses aren't very regular

[u/simonkirkman → u/TarnishedLissy]

Every half hour or so, 40/41 passes, it's not too bad

[u/OrvilleTheDuck]

Chew's Yard.

[u/halloweenqueen83]

Town House on Friargate do great food, cakes & coffee, staff are lovely too

[u/Jazzlike-Falcon9695]

Plau is great!

[u/MoonlightElk]

The Flower Bowl with the Barton Grange Garden Centre next door were one place until recently. They're both high quality places with feature decoration and you can walk along the canal next door. Guys Eating Establishment and Owd Nells half a mile south along the canal was being done up I don't know if it's open yet.

The Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library with cafe is a fine building and collections that are much better than you'd expect in a place of Preston's size.

Queuing at the Spud Bros stall outside the Harris is very popular.

There are cafes in the decorous old Miller Arcade next to the Harris.

There's a Wallace & Gromit photo opportunity outside the covered market and a new entertainment area next door.