Jun 11, 2026
.jpg)
Longton Live is back. After another well-attended run in 2025, the popular South Ribble live music weekend returns on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 June 2026. If you are planning to go, here is everything you need to know before you head out: what the event involves, when it runs, how wristbands work, what happens to traffic and parking on the night, and the smartest way to get there and home safely.
Longton Live is part of the South Ribble Live series, organised by South Ribble Borough Council in partnership with the Creative Network. It is a two-day live music festival spread across the village of Longton, with performances taking place in pubs, restaurants, churches, community spaces, and other unexpected venues along Liverpool Road and the surrounding streets.
The event brings around 250 live performances to over 30 venues, from buzzing bars to unique, unexpected spaces such as churches and shops. Past editions have featured pop, rock, acoustic, R&B, soul, reggae, jazz, gospel, punk, folk, and much more. There is always an outdoor stage too, typically positioned near St Andrew's Church Hall, alongside choirs, comedy, drama, and dance.
It is a genuinely community-driven event. Many performers are local artists, some of whom have gone on to build careers in the wider entertainment industry. One performer who appeared at South Ribble Live events over recent years became part of Simon Cowell's latest boy band, December 10. The standard of performers continues to rise each year.
Children under 12 go free. The event draws thousands of attendees across both evenings, making it one of the most popular grassroots music events in Lancashire.
Mark these in your diary now:
Note that Saturday finishes earlier than Friday, at 9pm rather than 11pm. This is consistent with how the event has run in previous years. If you are coming across both nights, plan your taxi or lift home around these different finish times.
The performances are spread across all participating venues throughout both evenings. There is no single main stage or set programme order. You move between venues using your wristband, catching acts as you go.
Entry to all Longton Live venues is by wristband only. One wristband gives one person access to every participating venue across both evenings of the weekend.
Wristbands for 2026 are priced at £6. Children under 12 go free, though some venues have age restrictions for under-18s. Check discoversouthribble.co.uk/longtonlive for age-specific venue guidance as the event approaches.
Note that Longton Live and Penwortham Live require separate wristbands. A Penwortham Live wristband does not cover Longton and vice versa.
Wristbands are typically available from participating venues in advance, from the Longton VM Sports Club (Victory Lane, off School Lane, PR4 5DL), and from other outlets confirmed closer to the event. Details of how to buy wristbands and what is on will be published at discoversouthribble.co.uk/live as the event date approaches.
This is the most practical piece of information for anyone thinking of driving to Longton Live.
Based on the pattern from 2025 and previous years, Liverpool Road is closed for the duration of the event. In 2025, the closure ran from after the Marsh Lane Junction to just after Orchard Lane, from 6pm to midnight on both nights. Bus stops on Liverpool Road between the Marsh Lane junction and Chapel Lane junction were suspended during those hours, with buses diverted along School Lane and back onto Liverpool Road.
South Ribble Borough Council confirms road closure details in advance of each event. For 2026, check southribble.gov.uk and discoversouthribble.co.uk/longtonlive for the confirmed closure details as June approaches.
What this means in practice:
Liverpool Road runs through the centre of the village and is the main route most people use to reach Longton. When it closes at 6pm, you cannot drive through the village centre. Any car parked along or near the closure zone will be inaccessible until midnight.
If you drive to the event, park well before 6pm to avoid being caught out by the closure. If you plan to drive home after the event, you may be waiting until the road reopens at midnight.
This is one of the clearest reasons why most regular Longton Live attendees choose a taxi rather than driving.
Longton is a village, not a town centre, and parking is limited at the best of times. On an event weekend with thousands of attendees, it gets tight.
Here is what to know:
Residential streets around the village fill up early on event nights. Residents understandably get frustrated when their roads are blocked. If you park on a residential street, park considerately and make sure you are not blocking driveways or junctions.
Longton Playing Field on Liverpool Road has been used as informal overflow parking at events in the village before, though this is not guaranteed for Longton Live specifically. Check the official South Ribble Council and discoversouthribble.co.uk announcements for any designated parking guidance for 2026.
The A59 Longton Bypass area has some off-road verge parking that attendees use when Liverpool Road is closed, but it is unmanaged and can become congested.
The most reliable approach: arrive by taxi, skip the parking problem entirely, and book your return ride in advance for after the event finishes.
Longton sits in the west of South Ribble, roughly 5 to 6 miles south-west of Preston city centre. From Penwortham, Bamber Bridge, Leyland, and most other South Ribble towns, it is a short journey by car or taxi.
A pre-booked taxi from a licensed private hire operator is the straightforward choice for Longton Live, for a few clear reasons:
No parking stress. With Liverpool Road closed and village streets full, driving adds a layer of logistics that a taxi removes entirely. You arrive, walk straight to the venues, and enjoy the evening without worrying about where you left the car.
No drink-drive concern. If you are planning to drink across the evening, a pre-booked taxi home removes the decision entirely. You know your ride is sorted before you leave the house.
Fixed fare. A reputable licensed operator gives you a fixed price at the time of booking. You know what the journey costs both ways before you set off.
Group travel. For a group of friends or a family coming together from different addresses, a minibus booking makes sense. South Ribble Taxis offers vehicles seating 6, 8, and 16 passengers, which means you can travel together as a group and split the fixed fare rather than booking multiple cars.
A few practical things to know if you are booking a taxi for the evening.
Book the return journey at the same time as the outward trip. After Longton Live finishes, a large number of people leave within a short window. On a Friday night, that means post-11pm demand across the South Ribble area spikes. If you have not pre-booked a return, you may wait longer than expected. Booking both legs together secures your ride home and often works out better value.
Note the different finish times. Friday runs until 11pm. Saturday finishes at 9pm. Make sure your return booking matches the correct night.
Give your exact pickup address, not just "Longton." The village has multiple streets and the venues are spread across a stretch of Liverpool Road and surrounding roads. Give the driver the specific address or venue name you will be leaving from, or agree on a clear meeting point when you book.
Be ready when your driver arrives. On a busy event night, drivers move between bookings. If you are not at the agreed meeting point when the car arrives, communication is the quickest fix. Save the operator's contact number in your phone before you leave.
Liverpool Road is the main artery through Longton village. When it closes from 6pm, vehicle access along the central stretch is restricted to the event itself.
For taxi drop-offs arriving before the closure (before 6pm on each evening), drivers can access the village via the normal route. For arrivals after 6pm and all collections during the event, drivers approach via alternative routes. The A59 Longton Bypass remains accessible, and drivers familiar with the area will know the surrounding roads: Chapel Lane, School Lane, Franklands, and the bypass all provide access to the village from different directions.
When you book with South Ribble Taxis, the driver will know the local roads and the usual event-night approach routes. Agree on a specific meeting point with your driver rather than just saying "Liverpool Road," as parts of it will be pedestrianised during the event.
The end of the evening is when most people need transport at the same time.
Friday finishes at 11pm. Saturday finishes at 9pm. In both cases, if you have not arranged a return ride in advance, you join the queue of people trying to book taxis on the night.
The simplest plan is to book both legs when you first make contact with your taxi operator, before the weekend. Tell them where you are going, what time you want to be picked up from home, and agree on a collection time and meeting point for the return.
South Ribble Taxis is available 24 hours a day across the Longton area and the wider South Ribble region, including Penwortham, Bamber Bridge, Leyland, Lostock Hall, Chorley, and Preston. Bookings can be made by phone on 01772 610 610 or via WhatsApp.
Here is a summary of the key information for 2026:
1. Do I need a wristband for Longton Live 2026?
Yes. Entry to all participating venues requires a wristband. For 2026, wristbands are priced at £6 and cover both evenings across all venues. Children under 12 attend free. Wristbands are available from participating venues and from Longton VM Sports Club. Check discoversouthribble.co.uk/longtonlive for the full list of purchase points.
2. Is Liverpool Road closed during Longton Live?
Yes. Based on the 2025 event and previous years, Liverpool Road is closed from after the Marsh Lane Junction to just after Orchard Lane from 6pm to midnight on both nights of the event. Bus stops along the affected stretch are suspended, with buses diverted via School Lane. Confirm the exact 2026 closure details at southribble.gov.uk as the event approaches.
3. What is the best way to get to Longton Live without driving?
A pre-booked taxi is the most practical option for most people attending from across South Ribble. It avoids parking stress, removes the drink-drive question, and gives you a fixed fare before you travel. Book both the outward journey and the return at the same time to secure your ride home after the event ends.
4. Can I book a taxi for a group going to Longton Live?
Yes. South Ribble Taxis offers minibuses seating 6, 8, and 16 passengers, which means a group of friends or a family can travel together in one vehicle. One booking, one fixed fare, one driver. Call 01772 610 610 or book via WhatsApp to arrange a group vehicle for the evening.
5. What time does Longton Live finish on Saturday?
Saturday finishes at 9pm, two hours earlier than Friday. If you are planning your return taxi for Saturday night, book for 9pm rather than 11pm. Make sure your return booking reflects the correct night, as the finish times differ between Friday and Saturday.
.svg)
© 2026 South Ribble Taxis. All Rights Reserved.
