Serviced Apartments in Rossendale

Discover the best activities and attractions Rossendale has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

The Whitaker (museum, art gallery & park), Rawtenstall
The Whitaker is a Victorian museum and park that combines natural history, local heritage and rotating art exhibitions with a well-kept public park and café. It’s popular for family-friendly displays, school outreach and regular cultural events. Impact: the Whitaker is a cultural hub for Rossendale — it draws day visitors who then spend in nearby shops and cafés, provides local education and volunteering opportunities, and helps sustain jobs in heritage, hospitality and events.

East Lancashire Railway (heritage line)
This volunteer-run heritage railway terminates at Rawtenstall and operates steam and vintage diesel services that attract enthusiasts and families for scenic rides and themed events (Santa specials, gala weekends). Impact: the railway is a major tourism generator for the valley, increasing overnight stays and footfall in town centres, supporting hospitality businesses and small suppliers, and preserving industrial heritage while providing volunteer and training opportunities.

Healey Dell Local Nature Reserve
Healey Dell is a dramatic wooded gorge with waterfalls, a striking Victorian viaduct and well‑waymarked walking trails. It’s popular with walkers, photographers and families seeking easy access to scenic countryside within the borough. Impact: the reserve enhances local quality of life and wellbeing, attracts eco- and heritage-tourists who support nearby cafés and shops, and fosters conservation awareness and community-led stewardship programs.

Rawtenstall Market & independent shopping (Bank Street/Newchurch Road)
Rawtenstall’s indoor market and the surrounding streets of independent retailers and antiques shops form the town’s retail heart. Visitors come for fresh local produce, antiques, crafts and a growing café scene. Impact: this retail cluster sustains many small businesses and market traders, keeps spending local, creates jobs, and helps differentiate Rossendale from larger nearby shopping centres by offering distinct local character and specialist goods.

Walking, cycling and outdoor recreation across the Rossendale Valley
Rossendale’s hills, valley lanes and patches of woodland offer accessible routes for walkers, trail runners and cyclists, with panoramic views over the South Pennines. The area’s outdoor offer is popular year‑round for short walks from towns as well as longer routes across moorland. Impact: outdoor recreation supports local guesthouses, cafés and outdoor‑activity providers, promotes health and wellbeing for residents, and brings visitors who spend in local businesses while raising the borough’s profile as an attractive base for nature-based tourism.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Rossendale, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Local and Regional Buses - A network of local and regional bus services links Rawtenstall, Bacup, Haslingden, Whitworth and surrounding villages with nearby towns such as Accrington, Burnley, Rochdale, Bury and Manchester; services are a mix of commercial and council‑supported routes with reduced evening and Sunday frequencies in some areas.
- East Lancashire Railway (heritage rail) - A volunteer‑run heritage railway based at Rawtenstall offering regular tourist passenger services toward Bury and occasional special/event services; this is not a National Rail commuter service but provides a rail link for leisure travel and events.
- Community transport and dial‑a‑ride - Community minibuses, volunteer driver schemes and council‑run demand‑responsive services support older and less‑mobile residents for local trips, medical appointments and shopping.
- Taxis and private hire - Local taxi companies and app-based private hire services operate across the borough for short journeys and airport transfers; fares vary by operator and time of day.
- Coach and long‑distance connections (via nearby hubs) - Long‑distance coach services (National Express and private operators) and intercity train connections are accessed from nearby larger towns and transport interchanges (e.g., Accrington, Bury/Manchester), typically by bus or car.

Major Highways
- M66 - Major motorway corridor to the west of Rossendale providing fast access towards the M60/M62 and Manchester.
- M65 - East–west motorway north of Rossendale that connects to Burnley, Blackburn and the M6 corridor.
- M60 - Greater Manchester orbital motorway reachable via the M66, providing access around Manchester and to other national motorways.
- A56 - Principal A‑road running through/near parts of Rossendale linking the valley towns toward Bury and Manchester.
- A682 - Important A‑road serving parts of Rossendale and linking to neighbouring towns to the east and north.

Cycling Infrastructure
- On‑ and off‑road cycling provision - A mix of limited dedicated on‑road cycle lanes in town centres plus off‑road multi‑use trails and leisure cycling routes following river valleys, disused rail corridors and country lanes; local authorities and volunteer groups promote mapped recreational routes and some sections form parts of the National Cycle Network or local signed cycle routes.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Public realm, road and junction improvements - Ongoing local authority programmes have delivered and plan further road resurfacing, junction upgrades and town‑centre accessibility works to improve traffic flow and pedestrian movement.
- Active Travel and walking/cycling schemes - Funding from national and county active‑travel programmes has been used to create and upgrade footways, cycle links and safer crossing points; further small‑scale cycling and walking enhancements are planned.
- Bus service enhancements and timetable reviews - Targeted support and service reviews have aimed to stabilise and improve local bus frequencies and connectivity to regional hubs; councils continue to work with operators on service resilience.
- East Lancashire Railway and visitor‑transport improvements - Upgrades to station facilities, visitor access and event services at the heritage railway have continued, supporting tourism and local connectivity.
- Electric vehicle infrastructure rollout - Installation and expansion of public EV charging points across the borough as part of wider county and national programmes to support low‑emission travel.