Preston sits on the River Ribble in central Lancashire and received city status in 2002 as part of Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee celebrations — one of England's newest cities, though its history stretches back considerably further. The name derives from "Priest's Town" and the city played a role in both the English Civil War and the Jacobite risings.
The city centre mixes Victorian architecture with modern development. The standout building is the Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library on the Market Square — a grand neoclassical structure housing solid collections of fine and decorative art, and free to enter. The Ribble Steam Railway at the docks runs preserved steam trains along the former dock branch line, a satisfying afternoon for anyone interested in Lancashire's industrial past.
Preston has a large South Asian community, particularly around the Deepdale area, which makes for an excellent and well-priced Indian and Pakistani dining scene. The Preston Guild is worth knowing about if you're planning ahead: a festival held every twenty years since 1179, it's one of the oldest civic traditions in England. The next one is in 2032.
From Preston you're well placed for day trips: the Lake District is an hour north, the Yorkshire Dales are to the east, and Blackpool is twenty minutes down the M55.