Preston is a city on the north bank of the River Ribble in Lancashire, England. The city is the administrative centre of the county of Lancashire and the wider City of Preston local government district. Preston and its surrounding district obtained city status in 2002, becoming England's 50th city in the 50th year of Queen Elizabeth II's reign. Preston has a population of 114,300, the City of Preston district 132,000 and the Preston Built-up Area 313,322. The Preston Travel To Work Area, in 2011, had a population of 420,661, compared with 354,000 in the previous census.
Image: Preston Flag Market
Image: County Hall, Preston geograph.org.uk 5958504
Image: St. Walburge's Church, Preston geograph.org.uk 4769806
2012 Preston Guild roadside emblem
The River Ribble runs through North Yorkshire and Lancashire in Northern England. It starts close to the Ribblehead Viaduct in North Yorkshire, and is one of the few that start in the Yorkshire Dales and flow westwards towards the Irish Sea.
River Ribble at Preston
Brungerley Weir near Waddow Hall.
Stainforth Force
Tidal bore on the Ribble, between the River Douglas and Preston