A town with a long shipbuilding history and a modern-day reputation as a place for noticeable development, Barrow-in-Furness is truly a go-to location in Cumbria.
The town of Barrow-in-Furness is commonly referred to as Barrow, assumedly to avoid confusion with the fact that it belongs to the larger local government district and borough of, the also named, Barrow-in-Furness. The borough includes not only the main town of Barrow but also the smaller towns and villages of Askam-in-Furness, Newton-in-Furness and Dalton-in-Furness. Together, these locations consist of an overall borough population of approximately 70,000. Walney Island, just off the western coastline facing the Irish Sea, is also part of the borough and contributes to Barrow-in-Furness’ status as one of the biggest urban areas in the county of Cumbria.
Barrow-in-Furness serviced apartments are just a short walk from the train station on the Cumbrian Coast Line. About the same distance away as well is the A590, which comes off the M6 motorway. This enables straightforward road access to the rest of Cumbria, Lancashire and Merseyside. Surprisingly, for a town its size, there is even an airport on the nearby Walney Island. Run by BAE Systems, the airport offers flights to and from various UK locations, which can prove to be vital for corporates looking to for easy access into southern Cumbria.
Walney Island not only proves to be convenient for accessing Barrow, but it is also important for the area’s tourism, as well as of course the popular Lake District National Park to the north. It is hard to look over the qualities of the Islands of Furness too.
The Furness region is valued as an area with strong business credentials and economic prosperity. Its status as a UK Assisted area proves this, allowing companies locating themselves here to benefit from enhanced discretionary capital investment or job-creating grants. Another incentive for relocating here is the ongoing development of the Barrow Island Growth Zone.
As well as plans to reinvent the area’s business climate and environment generally, the biggest development to come out of the zone is the Waterfront Business Park, dubbed one of northwest England’s best coastal strategic sites for business growth. This space, covering over twenty-three hectares on Barrow Island, will allow local firms to expand comfortably and encourage inward investment into the area across the UK and overseas. Ideally, our Barrow-in-Furness corporate accommodation is conveniently no further than a ten-minute car journey away from the park.
With the millions of pounds currently being pumped into the project, along with numerous other developments on Barrow Island and the town, naturally, the manufacturing sector is significant here. In fact, very few destinations in the UK that have such a chance for guaranteed future economic success based on investment filled manufacturing-based projects then Barrow.
However, despite a lot of attention placed on the future of Barrow, focus on the maintenance of an already present, strong business environment has also been consistent. The Public Protection Services are at the heart of this. Provided by the Council, the service looks to ensure working surroundings are safe, healthy and hygienic. The procedure of prevention, consultation, investigation and community education regarding health risks and safe environment maintenance is reassuring for any business looking to relocate to the area.
Corporates can expect a similar reassurance when staying in Situ’s Barrow-in-Furness corporate housing. For more information regarding the business climate of Barrow, visit the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness Council website.
Early history notes little about Barrow-in-Furness, other than minimal evidence that the land was inhabited prehistorically. Thanks to iron and steel, Barrow-in-Furness grew from being a tiny seaside hamlet to a major industrial and shipbuilding centre. All in the space of 40 years. Iron ore extracted from the Furness mines was transported to the harbour and shipped through the port.
This was enabled by the important arrival of the railway in 1846, contributing to industry and area expansion. By 1870, the Barrow village had been transformed thanks to one of the largest ironworks and shipbuilding industries worldwide. Like many English towns, it was recognised as ‘Victorian boom town’. By the end of the nineteenth century, the population of the town had also increased by around 40,000. Although shipbuilding did decline after WWII and the Cold War, commercial and naval production continues, particularly with nuclear submarines.
Barrow has now become a centre for energy generation. It began with the discovery of gas in the 1980s, then with the development of offshore wind farms. The Walney Wind Farm was actually the largest in the world at the time of completion. This makes sense, with the island reputedly being the windiest lowland site in Britain.
There is much to visit nowadays too that reflect the history and development of Barrow. The Dock Museum in the centre of Barrow is particularly popular, displaying the story of the area’s historic progression. This includes exhibits reflecting the history behind Barrow’s main industries and maritime heritage.
Visitors to the area could also appreciate the grand monuments dedicated to Henry Schneider and Sir James Ramsden, both significant influencers in the town’s early developments. These can be found on roundabouts along Duke Street located in Barrow. Guests staying in Situ’s Barrow-in-Furness extended stay apartments can visit these historical attractions with ease, as well as appreciate how far the town has come in recent centuries.
Barrow may not break any records for extensive tourist attractions, but its individuality makes the town and surrounding borough very dissimilar to anywhere else in the UK. First of all, there are the Islands of Furness, the third largest collection of islands in England. Only four of the six main islands are inhabited; Walney Island, Barrow, Roa Island and Piel Island.
Their remoteness though proves to profit these locations. Their tranquillity and almost untouched settings make them amongst the best places on the English western coastline to look out onto the Irish Sea. Each of these islands is easily accessible from our fully-equipped Barrow-in-Furness aparthotels.
Ashore, the town of Barrow does have a few attractions, such as the popular Dock Museum. Those, however, looking to get away from the crowds and hustle of the town can visit the lovely Barrow Park, bound by Abbey Road, Park Drive, Greengate Street and Park Avenue. This 45-acre public park is a great place to wind down and relax, perhaps whilst waiting for train services operating at the town’s railway station just over the road.
Furthermore, even business travellers staying briefly in Barrow-in-Furness temporary housing can make time during their trip to visit England’s largest National Park, the Lake District. Locals and visitors to Barrow are blessed with the Park’s close vicinity, only a twenty-minute drive away from the town’s centre. Its scenery is breath-taking and is unsurprisingly a significant contributor to tourism in the town.
All in all, even if you find yourself temporarily staying in our Barrow-in-Furness short term accommodation, you can expect to very quickly appreciate the area’s encouragement of business progress. The town has much to offer and the surrounding region helps establish Barrow's reputation as a place for business and amusment.
Only a ten-minute drive and quick island crossover from the centre of Barrow-in-Furness, Barrow/Walney Island Airport is owned by a company named BAE systems, who operate private communication flights to destinations across the UK.
Due to the limited amount of available flights coming out of the Walney Island Airport, visitors to Barrow-in-Furness may opt to fly from Blackpool, Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester airports, all between eighty and one hundred and fifteen miles away. Airport taxi transfers could be arranged from our Barrow-in-Furness serviced apartments if necessary.
Acting as the southern and western terminus of the Cumbrian Coast Line and Furness Line respectively, Barrow-in-Furness Railway station is the largest to serve the town.
Its nearest preceding and following train stations, each running services thanks to the train operator, Northern, are Askam, Dalton and Roose.
There are at least eight bus routes which run in-and-out of Barrow-in-Furness town centre. They enable transport across Barrow island, Walney Island, Askam, Ormsgill, Hawcoat, Dalton, New Barns, Holbeck Park and Roose.
Stagecoach is the main operator of bus services in Barrow and the further Furness region. Timetables and maps of services running through the town can be found here, courtesy of Cumbria County Council.
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