What Is Living In Barrow-In-Furness Like?

Last Updated: August 2024

Where is Barrow?

Barrow-in-Furness is a town in Cumbria located in the North-West of England. The seaside town not only enjoys the benefits of the sea but is within touching distance of the Lake District. It will take you just over 5 hours to reach Barrow-in-Furness from London via the M6 and M1 or just over 4 hours via a couple of trains.

Barrow-in-Furness historically was part of Lancashire but was merged with Dalton-in-Furness in 1974 to form Barrow-in-Furness. There is evidence that Barrow-in-Furness was inhabited way back to just after the ice age around 12,000 years ago! More exciting pieces of evidence of Barrow-in-Furness’ history are being discovered more recently with 92 silver coins and artefacts from the Viking era in 2011 and in 2012 a Roman bracelet was found in the Dalton area.

Here is everything you need to know about Barrow-in-Furness, use the list below to jump between the relevant sections!

Is Barrow-in-Furness a Nice Place to Live?

Barrow-in-Furness has recently had a bad rep as it received one of the lowest scores on the happiness scale data provided by the Office for National Statistics. Perhaps it is due to a fading population from the once hustle and bustle that once was and left with the skeletons of an industrial site.

However, there are plenty of plus towards the town that may attract you, for instance, the decreasing population might be your cup of tea as you aim for a quieter life with less traffic, the 60km of beaches are truly stunning and attract lots of wildlife and the history is something to be admired such as Furness Abbey. Not only are there plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy but Barrow-in-Furness also enjoy theatre shows and festivals.

What Is the Population of Barrow in Furness

We know that there was a boom in the number of inhabitants living in Barrow from under a couple of hundred to almost 20,000 in the Victorian era and from there we have seen that number grow… until recently as the number of residents is dropping.

The 2021 census showed that the population has decreased by 2.4% since the last census. In 2011 the population was recorded to be around 69,100 but has fallen since and as of 2021 is estimated to be around 67,400. The Office for National Statistics reported in 2020 that Barrow-in-Furness has seen the biggest decrease in residents in England.

If you want to find somewhere close by with an increasing population, why don’t you try the local city of Lancaster which has seen an increase of 3.3% in the population?

Is Barrow in Furness a Safe City

The overall crime rate in Barrow-in-Furness in 2021 was 99 crimes per 1,000 people, which is 30% higher than Cumbria’s overall crime rate of 69 per 1,000 residents.

The top reported crime during June 2022 is violence and sexual offences at 105. The lowest type of crime reported Anti-social behaviour at 22. The lowest number of crimes took place in February 2022 when looking back over the last year at 154 crimes reported and the highest month of crime was in March 2022 at 236.

There are many ways you can protect yourself and your home, just look at our blogs to discover more. If you are moving into a new home it is vital you change your locks, you never know who may have a key and let themselves in, find out more about moving home security!

Average House Prices in Barrow in Furness

The average homeowner paid £ 153,054, and Rightmove suggests there has been a 4% price decrease compared to the previous year. Zoopla says the average sold price for each type of house is as follows:

Detached House Prices In Barrow-In-Furness

The current average sold price for detached houses in Barrow-in-Furness is £300,542.

Semi-Detached Houses In Barrow-In-Furness

The current average sold price for semi-detached houses in Barrow-in-Furness is £202,944.

Terraced House Prices In Barrow-In-Furness

The current average sold price for terraced houses in Barrow-in-Furness is £111,630.

Flat Prices In Barrow-In-Furness

The current average sold price for flats in Barrow-in-Furness is £77,413.

Renting in Barrow in Furness

The following shows how much the average rental property costs in 2022 in Barrow-in-Furness:

Room – £400

Flat – £459

House – £800

Average Property Rental Cost Per Room (Pcm)

1 bed –  £467

2 beds – £583

3 beds – £866

4 beds – £1,154

Barrow-in-Furness History

Shipbuilding is something Barrow-in-Furness is known for but did you know it dates way back to 1873 when the first passenger-cargo ship, the Duke of Devonshire was launched? Shipbuilding in the 1^st and 2^nd World Wars was crucial in Barrow-in-Furness with many women recruited into the town to build weapons during the first and large ships being built during the second.

It was during the Victorian era that Barrow-in-Furness boomed from a sleepy country village of 152 residents to almost 19,000 residents in just 30 years! From here a railway was built, the iron and steelwork industry grew within the town and ship launches were commonplace.

What Schools are in Barrow in Furness

There are 45 primary schools in the area, 9 secondary schools and 5 schools or colleges that offer 16-18yr education. There are just three schools that have managed to achieve an Ofsted rating of ‘Outstanding’ these are Newbarns Primary and Nursery School, Penny Bridge CofE School and Yarlside Academy.

There are 5 schools that have received the rating of ‘Requires Improvement’ within the area and the following schools and colleges achieved a very respectable ‘Good’ rating.

What Universities Are In Barrow-In-Furness?

Furness College itself offers some university degrees in subjects that include Business, Education, Engineering and Computing. You can find out more about the degrees on offer on their website.

If you’re looking to study something else but close by, Lancaster University is just over an hour’s drive away or is reachable in less than 2 hours via train. There are hundreds of courses on offer here so you may find the one that is right for you. Find out more about Lancaster University on its website.

What is the Transport like in Barrow in Furness

Getting to Barrow-in-Furness by car, train or bus is easy. Check out the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness webpage for more information.

Where Is The Closest Airport In Barrow-in-Furness

The closest international airport to Barrow-in-Furness is Liverpool (LPL) Airport which is 55.9 miles away. It’ll take you just over 2 hours to reach the airport by car and around 3 hours via train.

Entertainment In Barrow-in-Furness

There are a couple of venues where you can enjoy the arts in Barrow-in-Furness including its very own award-winning multi-purpose arts centre, The Forum. Here you’ll catch theatre, variety shows and music catering for all ages! Another place to visit is Art Gene Gallery, this is an independently run, artist-led gallery that hosts a wide range of work including artists and architects from all over the world.

Top 10 Things To Do In Barrow-In-Furness

1. Furness Abbey
2. Walney Island
3. Piel Island
4. The Dock Museum
5. Peil Castle
6. South Lakes Safari Zoo
7. Barrow Park
8. South Walney Nature Reserve
9. The Forum Theatre
10. Art Gene Gallery

What are the Best Hotels in Barrow in Furness

Some of the best places to stay in Barrow-in-Furness are:

Abbey House Hotel

Abbey House Hotel & Gardens is more than just a luxury Lake District hotel, Set in 14 acres of landscaped grounds on the doorstep of the Southern Lake District, Originally built for the Vickers Shipyard as a home to Commander Craven, Abbey House Hotel & Gardens is now a stunning, award winning wedding venue.

The Chetwynde Hotel

Situated in Barrow-in-Furness, The Chetwynde Hotel is the perfect place to stay to explore South Cumbria & The Lakes. Only a 12-minute walk from Furness Abbey, The Chetwynde Hotel is a hotel that features a garden, restaurant and bar.

The Duke Of Edinburgh Hotel

This beautiful Victorian building has been refurbished and renovated over the past decade to offer a contemporary accommodation, a great bar and amazing food now overseen by multi-award-winning chef Steven Doherty. Our famous breakfast is a treat for all those who stay at our hotel in Barrow in Furness.

Where Is The Best Place To Go Shopping In Barrow-in-Furness?

As the largest town in Cumbria, Barrow is home to many high street stores in the town centre. Take a look around Portland Walk and Dalton Road for big name favourites, Cavendish Street, Scott Street for designer shops and Buccleuch Street, Crellin Street and Rawlison Street for some independent retailers.

Where Are The Best Places To Eat In Barrow-In-Furness?

The top three restaurants in Barrow-in-Furness according to TripAdvisor are:

Sweet Pepper Café

A delicious plant-based food restaurant that serves a whole host of different foods from curries, stir-fry’s and burgers and more! All food is beautifully presented that tantalises all the senses.

Thai at Review

With excellent reviews from previous customers who praise the tasty food and cosy atmosphere along with the take your own drink service a visit here is a must!

Bosuns Locker Café

This cafe is popular due to its extensive lunch menu, whether you’re after freshly made sandwiches, brunch or tea and cake this cafe makes for a perfect pit stop!

Need a Locksmith in Barrow in Furness?

When moving into a new home changing the locks is vital as you never know how many keys are out there and risk the keys falling into the wrong hands. Arrange for a Barrow-in-Furness Locksmith to come and fit a new lock the day you get your keys to provide you with peace of mind. We at Keytek^® Locksmiths Barrow-in-Furness provide a professional local mobile Locksmith service complying with British Standard and Home Insurance policies to ensure your home is as secure as can be! What’s more is all our customers benefit from a FREE home security check on site to ensure your home is as secure as can be!

There are many other things you need to consider when moving home so check out our Moving Home Checklist to help you along the way! Once you’re in consider improving the security of your home further still by checking out our Ultimate Guide to Home Security here!

View our Keytek^® Locksmiths Barrow-in-Furness page to find your local Locksmith today or call us on 01229 447008!