Four towns in Cumbria bid to become UK Town of Culture

The government announced the UK Town of Culture competition in January.

The contest is a vehicle to showcase what towns across the nation have to offer.

Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, said: “They [towns] have shaped our national story for decades.

“Now it’s time they take centre stage and showcase the unique stories they have to tell.”

The streets of Ulverston (Image: NQ ARCHIVE)

Which towns in Cumbria entered?

There were four towns in Cumbria that submitted bids to hold the prestigious cultural title.

These were Kendal, Kirkby Lonsdale, Ulverston and Barrow.

What are those behind the bids saying?

Kendal in the sun (Image: Submitted)

Caz Graham, the chair of the Kendal Town of Culture Partnership, said the organisation had been ‘blown away’ by the support it had received since it decided to launch Kendal’s bid.

“If we’re lucky enough to bring home the big prize, we’ll be laying on a fantastic array of joy-bringing and memory-making cultural events made by and for the people of Kendal,” the chair added.

A Kirkby Lonsdale Town Council spokesperson said: “Achieving the UK Town of Culture 2028 would recognise the planning and work that has enabled the Town to remain popular, and the funding would enable the Town to further develop whilst keeping its identity in the future.”

Kirkby Lonsdale joins others like Kendal in bidding for the competition (Image: NQ Archive)

And Marie Batty from the Kirkby Lonsdale Town Team stated: “This bid belongs to every single person who calls Kirkby Lonsdale home.”

An Ulverston Town Council spokesperson thanked its partners after submitting the location’s bid and said: “The competition is fierce, but our application is in - now we wait for the judges!”

It is understood that Barrow Town Council was behind the port town’s bid.

The Town Council has been contacted for comment.

A view of Barrow (Image: NQ ARCHIVE)

What is next?

The towns will now be judged by an expert advisory panel, and a shortlist of places will be selected.

These shortlisted towns will receive £60,000 each to contribute to their full bids.

There will then be a full application period later this year, before a panel visits the shortlisted locations personally.

However, before naming the overall winner – and the runners up – of the highly contested competition, the government will select small, medium, and large town-size category winners.

The overall winner will receive £3 million, with the two runners-up receiving £250,000 each.

The winner is expected to be announced in early 2027.