Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Preston travel guide

Preston Tourism | Preston Guide

You're Going to Love Preston

With a population of 190 687, Preston is a must-see destination in England, United Kingdom. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Preston deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Where to Eat in Preston

If you’re looking for affordable options, The Legh Arms (The Gravel) and The Cartford Inn (Cartford Ln) are great picks.

When to visit Preston

Preston in February
Estimated hotel price
£72
1 night at 3-star hotel
Preston in February
Estimated hotel price
£72
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Preston in July, when the average temperature is 15 °C, and the highest can go up to 19 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 1 °C, with an average temperature of 3 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in October, when precipitation is around 100 mm. In contrast, March is usually the driest month of the year in Preston, with an average rainfall of 50 mm.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Preston

Plane

When flying to Preston, you’ll arrive at Blackpool (BLK), which is located 13 miles from the city centre. The shortest domestic flight to Preston departs from Belfast and takes around 55m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Preston, followed by Cross Country. The train journey from Preston to Bristol takes 2h 59m and costs around £22 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from London, expect to pay about £35 for a 3h 10m trip. Located 7 miles from the city centre, Preston Kirkham & Wesham is the busiest station in Preston. Another popular train station is Preston Bamber Bridge, located 3 miles from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Preston is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 190 miles from Preston. You’ll find branches of Turo and Rentacar, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Preston using National Express or FlixBus. From Leeds, the bus ride to Preston takes 113 km and will cost you around £9. From Liverpool, the ticket costs about £9 for a journey of 137 km. The most popular bus station is Preston Fulwood, located 2 miles from the city centre of Preston. Preston Bus Station is also a commonly used station, and is 0.3 miles from the city centre.

Plane

When flying to Preston, you’ll arrive at Blackpool (BLK), which is located 13 miles from the city centre. The shortest domestic flight to Preston departs from Belfast and takes around 55m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Preston, followed by Cross Country. The train journey from Preston to Bristol takes 2h 59m and costs around £22 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from London, expect to pay about £35 for a 3h 10m trip. Located 7 miles from the city centre, Preston Kirkham & Wesham is the busiest station in Preston. Another popular train station is Preston Bamber Bridge, located 3 miles from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Preston is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 190 miles from Preston. You’ll find branches of Turo and Rentacar, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Preston using National Express or FlixBus. From Leeds, the bus ride to Preston takes 113 km and will cost you around £9. From Liverpool, the ticket costs about £9 for a journey of 137 km. The most popular bus station is Preston Fulwood, located 2 miles from the city centre of Preston. Preston Bus Station is also a commonly used station, and is 0.3 miles from the city centre.

Airports near Preston

LPLLiverpool J. Lennon
LBALeeds/Bradford
MANManchester

Airlines serving Preston

KLM
Good (1,442 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,748 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,698 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,111 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,206 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,859 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,098 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,198 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,730 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,525 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,487 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (894 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,655 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,662 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,375 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,176 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,356 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,144 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,436 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (382 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Preston

Where to stay in Preston

Average rates range from around £62 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £119 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Preston, with prices from £27 to £240 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Preston are about 76% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Preston

Most booked hotels in Preston

See all
Spa Hotel at Ribby Hall Village
4 stars
Excellent (9.3, Excellent reviews)
£177+
View
Ruskin Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, Excellent reviews)
£70+
View
Holiday Inn Express Preston - South By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£56+
View
Legacy Preston International Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£54+
View
Delta Hotels by Marriott Preston
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
£62+
View
Barton Manor Hotel & Spa, BW Signature Collection
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£57+
View

Hiring a car in Preston

Hiring a car in Preston costs £32 per day, on average, or £65 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 19% more expensive than at Manchester.

Expect to pay £1.32 per litre in Preston (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £15.74 and £20.99. Compact (Jeep Avenger or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Preston, while also 39% cheaper than other types, on average.

Hiring a car in Preston costs £32 per day, on average, or £65 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 19% more expensive than at Manchester.

Expect to pay £1.32 per litre in Preston (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £15.74 and £20.99. Compact (Jeep Avenger or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Preston, while also 39% cheaper than other types, on average.

Best car hire deals in Preston

Economy

2 adults, 2 Bags

£20/day

Economy

Intermediate SUV

5 adults, 3 Bags

£22/day

Intermediate SUV
Find car hire in Preston