Carnforth is a busy, friendly town with a good selection of shops, and is famous for its associations with the film ‘Brief Encounter’.
The station is famously known by film buffs from the role that it played in the 1945 David Lean film “Brief Encounter” that starred Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson with a supporting role played by Stanley Holloway. Carnforth Station Heritage Centre The Station also houses Bay Models, a fabulous shop which provides everything you need to build miniature railways.
Look out for the The Brief Encounter Refreshment Room Bistro & Bar at Carnforth Station! Railway Station Brief Encounters heritage café has re-opened with new owners and a new name. The renamed Brief Encounter Refreshment Room Bistro & Bar, opened on 27th Sept, has been fully refurbished and is now owned and managed by business partners and assisted by an excellent team. There is an exciting menu and a fine bar. Breakfast, lunch and afternoon teas are served and light evening meals will be served Thursdays to Sundays. For more information see https://refreshmentroom.com/
Leighton Hall, Carnforth, is the historic home of the Gillow family. The home is in a stunning location with attractive gardens and rolling parkland. Tours are available and there is also a lovely café.
Warton Village is within easy walking distance from Carnforth to see the ruined remains of the Warton Old Rectory, once the local manor house, and the lovely St Oswald’s Church.
There are cycle routes and foot paths along the Lancaster Canal with some attractive waterside pubs along the route. Tour boats also operate along the canal in the summer months.
The town is situated close to junction 35 on the M6 motorway. It has direct rail connections to Leeds via Skipton and the scenic Leeds-Morecambe railway line, also known as The Bentham Line. Connections to London, Windermere and Manchester take place at Lancaster, just a few miles to the south.