The heart of this sprawling conurbation in the northwest of England lies an iconic city that is renowned by its innovative industrial design, coolness and culture.
Stay in Manchester to enjoy live performances, food and museums and then explore the cities and towns which sprung up within a matter of hours in the late 1700s.
The canals that once carried textiles, cotton, and coal are now peaceful spots for a relaxing waterside walk or barge ride You won’t have to hunt for huge old warehouses, mills, or wharfs, all of which are protected under the law.
If you go east, you’ll be transported to the moorland of South Pennines and the Peak District and to the south of Manchester are charming villages which are where the highest-paying professionals come at night and during weekends.
Let’s take a look at the best places to go around Greater Manchester:
1. City of Manchester
As multicultural as it gets, Manchester ranks second after London for its culture.
To eat, go into Chinatown or on the Curry Mile, and if you’re looking for some inspiration, there’s The world class Museum of Science and Industry in a tribute to Manchester’s industrial past and the huge Manchester Art Gallery.
It is also a major pilgrimage destination for those who love English popular culture. They are enticed by tales about Factory Records , the Hacienda and the “Madchester” scene.
If you’d like to find out the other performers, there’s an abundance of live music venues that are small sufficient to award Manchester the distinction of being the best concert city in Britain in the year 2016.
2. Stockport
Seven miles to the southeast from the center of Manchester, Stockport is a town that was built through its textile mills as well as the trades that developed from the industry in the early 1800s.
The production of hats was the largest of them all The Hat Works will take you back to the 1800s in which Stockport was making six million units per year.
The Plaza in Stockport has a positive impact on the decline of British art deco cinemas by offering stunning variety halls and a cinemas that were built in 1932. They also have elegant tea rooms.
Check out also The Stockport Viaduct, created to transport trains on the West Coast Main Line Railway across the Mersey Valley.
After more than 150 years since it was built, Britain’s biggest brick structure is still able to hold the capacity to be awe-inspiring.
3. Trafford
If you are a fan of something about cricket Old Trafford, where Lancashire and England play in the same stadium, is the location of the Ball of the Century; Shane Warne’s legendary leg break which flung away Mike Gatting in 1993. This may sound like nonsense to you, but you should have been aware of Manchester United, who play their home games next door to their stadium that has a capacity of 75,635.
Take a look at the stadium and the trophy room in one England’s most prestigious teams.
Trafford Park is a former waterfront industrial estate (the first of its kind in the world) consisting of Trafford Park, which includes the Manchester Ship canal and a huge quay system.
Container ships are gone which will be replaced with attractions such as the modern Imperial War Museum North, that focuses in The Second World War.
4. Salford
This town, located directly to the west of central Manchester has seen the emergence of huge regeneration over the past couple of decades.
More so than Salford Quays located across the river across the river from Trafford Park.
It’s now the home of the modern Lowry center for culture, and many divisions of BBC in MediaCityUK that moved to the area in the year 2011. To experience a bit of local history , visit Ordsall Hall, a regal Tudor mansion with features that date back to the 1400s. It also houses the newly renovated local history museum that is owned by Salford.
In order to show how quickly you can change from an urban landscape to a tranquil countryside, go for a stroll through The village of Worsley and the view of the corbelled Worsley Packet House with its view of to the Bridgewater Canal is unforgettably pretty.
5. Bolton
Textiles were a popular craft business in Bolton since the middle ages and were a popular choice after Flemish tapestry weaver brought their knowledge during the 1300s.
However, in the 18th century it was a major business thanks to the innovations of men such as Samuel Crompton and Richard Arkwright who were working in Bolton and around Bolton during this period.
This is why industrial heritage is a key element of Bolton’s appeal, and even though the days of spinning cotton are now a distant memory, several Victorian factories still exist and have been transformed into tourist attractions, such as the wonderful Bolton Steam Museum.
There’s no need to hunt for the traces of Bolton’s preindustrial past at the Gothic listed Grade I Smithills Hall, one of the oldest manors in Bolton that was built between 1500 and 1400.
You can also stop in for a drink at Ye Olde Man & Scythe which is one of Britain’s 10 oldest pubs.
6. Rochdale
It’s the Victorian town hall located in Rochdale is not a normal municipal building. It’s an impressive gothic-style edifice which is Grade-I listed and is considered to be one of England’s most sought-after town halls.
It’s a must for a visit to view all the windows made of stained glass, the gardens as well as the Great Hall with its organ.
There’s a decent café inside, as well as the town hall is a venue for events such as Rochdale’s beer and gin festival.
The forest is crossed by beautiful remnants of local industry. You can pedal along the 19th century Healey Dell Viaduct, which was once used to transport trains or walk along to the Rochdale Canal. Here, the old barges still cruise by and anglers gather along the towpath when it is sunny.
7. Bury
It’s not often you’ll find a flourishing regional food and drink market within England however Bury is one of them. Bury is amazing, operating from Monday to Saturday, and employing up to 500 traders at 400 stands.
Bury is also often referred to for being Bury is also referred to as the “home of black pudding” that has been a part of the local diet for centuries.
Each year in September, at Ramsbottom there’s a wacky tiny contest for throwing puds where the black pudding (a Lancashire delicacy) is throw to smash Yorkshire puddings to commemorate that of the War of the Roses in the 15th century.
Another great unexpected find is the Met which is an arts and performing centre located within an neoclassical hall that hosts concerts, film screenings along with stand-up comics.
8. Wigan
A single of the more well-known evidences in English industry is Wigan Pier, on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
On these wharfs coal as well as cotton were loaded onto barges, and then transferred to docks at Liverpool.
It’s a beautiful location with cobblestone walkways and several brick industrial structures.
Trencherfield Mill Trencherfield Mill is currently an apartment complex but it has a huge steam engine that was operational in 1907. It is possible to visit and take a the chance to see it on Sundays.
It is believed that Wigan Pier was immortalized in the work of George Orwell in The Road to Wigan Pier The author conducted his research at the Wigan Library which is which is now known as the Museum of Wigan Life.
9. Oldham
It’s possible to claim the town of Oldham was the most awaited Industrial Revolution success story; Oldham was not a thriving town prior to the 1700s , as the soil weren’t able to support crops. However, in the span of a few decades, towards the end of the 19th century, Oldham was one of the top cities in the world in the textile industry, having mills operating 24/7.
If you’d like to learn more about the Saddleworth Museum is in a old textile mill dating back up to 1862. It houses many things to see including historic power weaving machines to the parlour of an affluent local family during Victorian times.
The mill’s old site is located on the Huddersfield Canal, which courses through the beautiful Penine landscape in the eastern part of Oldham.
10. Greenfield
As you approach the eastern edge to the County, the land becomes more undulating before you reach the moorland that is the South Pennines.
The Greenfield village Greenfield is an ideal entry point to these stunning landscapes, which are located at the beginning of The Peak District National Park.
There are a few trips you can take advantage of from the village: Just uphill in the direction of the town lies the Dovestone Reservoir, the banks of which have green wooded slopes that provide a backdrop. They also are a great place for dog-walkers and joggers to walk.
If you’d like to build to eat, then just above Greenfield is the 350-metre Pots and Pans hill, at its summit is a Grade II listed memorial to that of the Great War.
