Living in Bacup: 2026 Area Guide

Nestled in the Upper Rossendale Valley, Bacup is a historic Lancashire town surrounded by stunning Pennine landscapes. With affordable homes, a strong community and easy access to Greater Manchester, it’s a lovely area for buyers looking for space, scenery and a bit of peace and quiet. 

Once a thriving mill town, Bacup has huge amounts of original character, with stone-built houses, cobbled streets, and stunning architecture shaping the town today. While proud of its history, Bacup happily welcomes new residents who are looking for a quieter area without being cut off from major towns and cities. 

Homes here are always in high demand, whether you’re searching for a cosy stone terrace or a modern family home, you can explore houses for sale in Bacup with JonSimon.

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, growing family or looking for a peaceful place to retire, here’s everything you need to know about living in Bacup.

What housing options are available in Bacup?

Described by English Heritage as the best preserved Mill Town, Bacup offers homes that are a reflection of its industrial heritage, including stunning stone-built terraces that date back to the late 18th and early 19th century. Perfect for people searching for charm and character. 

You can also find end-terrace and semi-detached homes for families, along with some large detached houses on the outskirts of the charming town. There are even a variety of bungalows and modern properties available, giving buyers so many options to choose from.

Bacup has 7 highly-regarded primary schools

Bacup boasts 7 lovely primary schools all rated ‘Good’ or above with Ofsted. The surrounding areas of Rossendale, Burnley and Rochdale all offer excellent primary schools too if you’re looking for a school slightly further afield. 

Top rated primary schools in Bacup:

• Bacup Holy Trinity Stacksteads
• Northern Primary School
• Bacup Thorn Primary School

With Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School in the town itself and 3 secondary schools in the wider area, you’ll have plenty of choice when it comes to finding the perfect school for your pre-teen. 

All the schools are within reasonable distance, the primary schools are walkable and the secondary schools are easy to get to via car or public transport. 

Enjoy a mix of shops in Bacup

Bacup town centre has everything you need for day to day life without needing to jump in the car every 5 minutes to get milk or bread. With a mix of independent shops, supermarkets, hairdressers and barbers, you’ll find everything you need for a happy, small town life. 

The Best Shops in Bacup:

• Aldi (supermarket)
• The Sweet Emporium (sweet shop)
• D & A Gregory Butchers Ltd (butchers)
• Bacup mini market (off-license)
• Morrisons (supermarket)

For bigger shopping trips or a wider choice of stores, Rawtenstall is less than a 15 minutes drive away and has retail parks, supermarkets and high street names all in one place.

Where to eat and drink in and around Bacup

When it comes to finding incredible food, you don’t have to look further than Bacup itself. From classic pub grub to delicious Italian cuisine, you’ll never be short of options. Bacup offers over 15 different eateries most of which are rated 4 stars or over on Google. 

Our Bacup pub recommendations:

• The Barr – a traditional pub offering food, Guinness on tap and great decor with a nod to Bacup’s heritage. A great spot for evenings out and weekend catch-ups. 
• The Crown Inn – perfect for hikers looking for a spot for a cold drink and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. 
• The George and Dragon – a laid back pub with a pool table and a fantastic food menu – perfect for a cosy evening. 

Top rated Bacup restaurant/cafes: 

• Marios – a relaxed Italian restaurant with a massive menu and rave reviews – a favourite with families in Bacup.
• Table & Thyme – a hidden little cafe offering delicious full English breakfasts, steak sandwiches and a vast kids menu – perfect for a lunch time treat.
• The Water Trough Cafe – with a 4.8 star Google rating, this cafe is a local favourite. A menu of tasty treats including a dedicated ‘slimmer meals’ menu.

Healthcare, community and local services

When it comes to day-to-day essentials, Bacup has everything covered. 

The town has several GP surgeries, dental practices, and pharmacies, making it easy to access healthcare without having to go too far. There are also opticians and local clinics nearby, so most of your appointments will be close to home. 

Bacup also has a strong sense of community, supported by local churches, community centres and groups that run events throughout the year. Whether it’s family activities, a new hobby or support groups, there’s always something going on in the town to keep the community connected. 

For residents, it gives them peace of mind knowing that everything they need is right there when they need it.

Is Bacup well-connected to other towns?

While Bacup is a tucked away, quiet little paradise, getting around to the major towns and cities is actually still easy. 

The town itself doesn’t have a train station, but several nearby options make commuting simple. Todmorden, Walsden, and Littleborough stations are all only a short drive or bus journey away and offer trains to Manchester, Leeds and other surrounding towns. 

For drivers, Bacup has good road links across Rossendale and East Lancashire. Rawtenstall is around ten minutes away, Burnley roughly 20 minutes away, and Rochdale 25 minutes by car. Manchester city centre is between 40-60 minutes away, depending on traffic. 

There are also regular bus routes going to neighbouring towns including the number 7 from Bacup to Todmorden and the number 464 to Rochdale. Bacup is the perfect combination of peaceful and commutable. 

Why Live in Bacup?

Bacup is simply a charming town. For a lot of people, it’s the perfect mix of affordability, space and scenery. You can find traditional stone houses surrounded by picturesque hills and fields. Enjoy excellent transport links, whilst living in a settled, close knit community.

Find Your Perfect Home in Bacup

At JonSimon’s Bacup office, our helpful team uses their local knowledge and industry expertise to make the buying or selling experience simple. Whether you’re looking to sell your property in Bacup or nearby areas such as Bury, Holcombe Brook, Shuttleworth, Hazlehurst, Summerseat, Elton, or Walmersley, our team should be the first ones you call.