Barrow in Furness is on the Furness peninsula and is not a very big town at all but it offers services, retail outlets and facilities needed by local people. It has a few large supermarkets such as Asda and Tesco, Barrow is also home to large companies and factory branches such as Kimberley Clarkes and BAE systems. It has a Hospital (Furness General Hospital) and other health services needed by local people.
Barrow also provides alot of employment for local people, employing a large amount of the local population.
I live about 10-15 minutes drive from Barrow in Furness and i would say i visit at least once a week. It seems to be a little behind times with the shops in the town centre, but its starting to get there with shops being renovated and replaced quite often. Barrow is a nice town, You feel safe walking around the town centre and it offers enough shops for a decent day out shopping and browsing.
Alot of people visit Barrow in Furness who live in the local surroundings, they come from Ulverston, Kendal, Newby bridge and further to visit the amenities and services. The only other town which provides amenities is Kendal which is a little larger than Barrow, but not as easy to drive around as Barrow.

There is an island just of Barrow called Walney island, and Barrow surrounded by quite a pleasant coast such as Roanhead and Earnse bay these have some lovely views! Barrow offers some tourist attractions and things to do for the local public, on the outskirts of Barrow, there is Furness abbey which is a historic ruin with a little museam too.
There is also a dock museum which is free admission, and a lazer zone and kids soft play area which is great in the school holidays, cheap and entertaining for the kids.

(this has also been previously posted on hephound username emz809)