Lancashire

Lancashire is a ceremonial and historic county in the North West of England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to the west. The ceremonial county includes the unitary authorities of Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen; the remainder forms the non-metropolitan county administered by Lancashire County Council, which governs 12 districts: Burnley, Chorley, Fylde, Hyndburn, Lancaster, Pendle, Preston, Ribble Valley, Rossendale, South Ribble, West Lancashire, and Wyre.

Historically part of the historic county of Lancashire since medieval times, the area developed strongly during the Industrial Revolution with textile manufacture and coal mining. The historic county town is Lancaster, while the county council sits in Preston. Higher education institutions include Lancaster University and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston.

Geography includes the Forest of Bowland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and a coastline featuring coastal resorts such as Blackpool and Lytham St Annes. The landscape combines moorland, farmland and river valleys.

The county has a strong sporting tradition, with Lancashire County Cricket Club and football clubs such as Blackburn Rovers and Burnley FC. Notable historic sites include Lancaster Castle and Pendle Hill in Pendle. Tourism, manufacturing and services are important sectors, and the region features a mix of urban centers and rural areas that reflect its industrial heritage and coastal landscapes.