English Tourism Week 2023 is a great excuse to head out for the day and explore some of the country - and it’s perfectly possible to do that if you live in Manchester while also leaving the car at home.
We’ve had a look at the train network heading out of the city’s major travel hubs such as Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria and have pulled together a wealth of different days out which are all in easy reach of the train and shouldn’t take much more than an hour to get to.
It’s an eclectic list too, with the trains connecting Mancunians to everything from beautiful historic market towns to villages perched in stunning countryside begging to be explored on foot.
So whether you want a day enjoying some good food and a bit of shopping, a cultural one delving into centuries of the north of England’s past or an intrepid one soaking in some of the country’s most spectacular landscapes, we’ve got you covered. Here are nine places within 60 minutes or just over that on the trains out of Manchester.
5. Glossop
The gateway to the Peak District, Glossop is a nice place to take in its medieval market cross, see how Victorian mills have been converted into shops and pubs, browse the independent stores and get a bite to eat in an array of restaurants and cafes. Photo: AdobeStock Photo: Stuart - stock.adobe.com
6. Frodsham
Overlooked by the famous Old Man of Frodsham rock formation, this pretty Cheshire town is 45 minutes from Manchester on the train and has shops to browse, eateries to visit and the start of the Sandstone Trail snaking more than 30 miles through glorious Cheshire countryside if you’re feeling more intrepid. Photo: Google Maps Photo: Google Maps
7. Edale
For those who prefer a more active day out three quarters of an hour on the train from Piccadilly brings you to Edale, a haven for walkers with miles of footpaths leading into the beautiful Peak District and routes ranging from gentle introductions to the outdoors to intrepid hikes up to the peat bogs of Kinder Scout. Photo: James - stock.adobe.com | James - stock.adobe.com
8. Whalley
An hour and 10 minutes on the train heading from Victoria to Clitheroe is Whalley, a historic Lancashire village best known for its abbey, which was a Cistercian monastery and dates back to the 14th century. Photo: Whalley Abbey Photo: Whalley Abbey