The village of Barnoldswick has a famous Viking ancestry and links to many of Yorkshire's industrial trade routes, most notably the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. The canal feeds into the town's Greenberfield Locks, a series of actively used waterways that follow the canal on its way towards Liverpool. Dating back to Anglo Saxon times, the town has grown from its roots as an ancient dairy farm settlement into a vibrant tourist site with a number of attractions dedicated to keeping its past alive.

One such key tourist attraction is the town's Yorkshire Dales Mining Museum, which details the surrounding area's past links with the mining industry. The building itself is steeped in historical interest, having been built in the 16th century and renovated over several decades in order to provide more modern amenities for visitors to the area.

It is not just mining that is celebrated in and around Barnoldswick, however. Other local sights include the Bancroft Mill Engine Museum, which stands as a tribute to the area's cotton trade industry. Founded in the late 20th century, the museum now maintains the day to day running of a traditional steam engine, which was historically used to transport cotton to surrounding towns and villages.