Why you should visit Ormskirk, Lancashire – market, food and history

Tucked into the West Lancashire plain between Liverpool, Southport and Preston, this compact market town has been quietly doing its own thing for over 700 years — and right now, it’s doing it rather well. Here’s why it deserves a proper day out.

It has one of the strangest churches in England

Before you do anything else, stand outside the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul and look up. You’ll see both a tower and a steeple rising from the same building, something found in only three churches in the entire country.

The Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul (Image: Google)

The church dates to the 12th century and sits at the heart of the town, a few steps from the market square. Even if you’re not a regular churchgoer, it’s worth five minutes of your time just to wonder how that happened.

The market is the real deal

Ormskirk has held a twice-weekly market since King Edward I granted its charter in 1286, and it still runs every Thursday and Saturday in the pedestrianised town centre.

It’s not the kind of market that’s been airbrushed for Instagram, it’s a proper, working Lancashire market with local produce, street food, bric-a-brac and traders who’ve been here for years. Buy some of Ormskirk’s famous gingerbread while you’re at it.

The food scene punches well above its weight

On the outskirts of town in Aughton sits Moor Hall, a Grade II-listed manor house that is home to a three Michelin-starred restaurant, one of the most acclaimed in Britain.

Its sister restaurant, The Barn at Moor Hall, holds a Michelin star of its own and serves a seasonal menu in a rustic setting with views across the lake. Neither is cheap, but both are worth saving up for.

For something more casual, the revamped Ormskirk Food and Drink Market on Aughton Street brings together six street food traders under the roof of the town’s historic indoor market hall, with cocktails and games thrown in.

There’s good pub culture too

The Eagle and Child is one of those proper Lancashire pubs that never feels like it’s trying too hard – solid food, good ales, the kind of place you end up staying longer than planned. The Cricketers near the market square is another reliable option with a loyal local following.

It’s surprisingly easy to get to

Ormskirk has its own railway station with direct services from Liverpool Lime Street (around 30 minutes) and connections toward Preston. If you’re driving, it’s just off the A570 with town centre parking. Go on a Thursday or Saturday to catch the market at its best.

And if you want more…

Martin Mere Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust is just a few miles away near Burscough, one of the best wildlife spots in the North West, particularly spectacular in winter when whooper swans arrive from Iceland.

Rufford Old Hall, a National Trust Tudor manor, is also within easy reach. You could easily make a full weekend of it.

Have you visited Ormskirk? What would you recommend doing? Let us know in the comments…