My friend in Macclesfield is having some relatives visiting for the first time. She’s been busy with college stuff since she moved to the area, so she hasn’t had many opportunities to be a tourist in her own area. As we had a beer, I quickly wrote some notes on my phone and sent the list over. To my surprise, it was quite a long one, so I decided to put it in a blog post for all of you to check or forward to other friends if they ever ask. Here are some places you could visit if you had a weekend to spare around Greater Manchester.
Day trips around Greater Manchester
Manchester is fun, but there’s so much more around. So, why stay put there? Here are some of my favourite spots for a day trip from Greater Manchester any time of the year. If you have been living in Manchester for a while and you still don’t know these places, you better start making arrangements.
A day trip to Buxton
Well-connected by bus or railway, the spa town of Buxton is a great place to visit as a family. Kids can run and play in the gardens, families can have a picnic near the Crescent, friends can have a few pints, and you can even go shopping. There are a few independent shops here! There are a couple of tourist visits you can take here, too. I enjoyed visiting the Poole’s cavern a few years ago -on the expensive side, but interesting anyway-. Finally, Buxton is a good first stop before visiting the Peak District.
A day trip to Liverpool
If walking down the streets towards Albert’s Locks isn’t your thing, you can always book a tour. My family did this pre-Covid, and they loved it. I usually take my visits for a pint to The Philarmonic, a pub for fans of classical music, and to the Cavern Club. My father, as a Beatles maniac, loved the Beatles museum, but I didn’t particularly enjoy it. I know it isn’t a competition, but I still prefer Liverpool to Manchester. Sorry, Liverpoordians!
A day trip to Chester
I keep telling people that Chester is a place to take your parents because it’s too boring for me. The cathedral is spectacular; walking around the city centre, through the medieval houses and the old city walls, is an experience. Still, after two hours wandering around the city, I can only think of a large pint and warm food. None of my visits has ever complained about visiting Chester, so the negativity comes from visiting it repeatedly.
A day trip to Macclesfield
A day trip to Macclesfield… and surroundings! Macclesfield is an excellent place to organise a pub crawl, with many independent pubs. If you drive, the Macclesfield forest and Teggs Nose should definitely be on your list. If you take the train, you can walk down the canal towards Bollington or Poynton and walk back through the Middlewood Way. Or ride your bike down the Middlewood way, of course! If you have time to spare, I suggest you claim the White Nancy in Bollington for superb views.
A day trip to Hebden Bridge
Hebden Bridge was one of the first places I visited when I first moved to Manchester. It’s a market town down in the Upper Calder Valley. Lovely to visit in Autumn. Famous for its vegan cafés, independent shops and creative vibes, it has a river, a canal and a few easy-to-reach paths for walking. If you get there with time, don’t hesitate to visit Hardcastle Crags. It’s breathtaking!
A day trip to the Peak District
There are so many Peak District little villages worth visiting I don’t know where to start: Edale, Castlefield, Hope, Bakewell, Chinley, Flash, Whaley Bridge… all of them with fantastic walks. So, bring on your walking boots and enjoy!
A weekend in Lake District from Greater Manchester
You don’t have a car, don’t you? Don’t panic. You can do loads in the Lake District, even if you don’t drive. You can take a train to Windermere and, from there, cross the lake with a boat or move around in a coach. You’ll miss out on the lovely paths and tiny roads, with water overflowing from all streams and beautiful forest colours, but I’m sure it’ll be an enjoyable trip anyway.
Some of the nature trails start outside of the main towns in Lake District, you can swim in some of the lakes if you’re lucky to visit in the warm season, and you can hire a bike for the weekend to explore around like we did the first time. 100% recommendable!
A weekend in the North of Wales from Greater Manchester
Step on the train to the North of Wales, and you’ll fall in love with its landscapes. One of my favourite areas in the whole country is Anglesey Island. It’s such a stunning place! Sadly, it’s impossible to find great accommodation on short notice without going broke, so I’d suggest you stay in the sore (can we call it sore if Great Britain is still an island?) and drive/take the train for day trips.
We loved the beaches in Anglesey and instantly fell in love with the southern part of the island. It was so peaceful, and there were little people around! The food was spotless, too. I dream of doing the circular cycling route around the island. One day!
A weekend in York from Greater Manchester
Another great spot to spend a weekend if you live in Manchester or happen to fly to Manchester airport. We always drive there from Macclesfield, and it feels like it took forever to drive from Leeds to York! It was 100% worth it, of course. I haven’t seen the cathedral inside, AKA York Minster, but I bet it’s gorgeous. We did walk around the Shambles and the riverside, the York City walls and the Museum gardens. If you have time, you can step on the train/your car once more to visit the Yorkshire Dales and Whitby. Yes, Yorkshire coastal towns are also worth a visit. I promise!
A Weekend Around Greater Manchester: Pick your time wisely
Yes, it’s worth travelling around Greater Manchester and using your weekends to get to know a few places around the city. There’s a huge contrast between the peace of the moors in Lancashire, the homely feel of small towns, such as Hebden Bridge, the beach days on the coast, the green fields in Cumbria and the industrial feel of Manchester City Centre.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my little article. If that’s the case, please, share, share, share!
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