Manchester Travel Guide - Day Trips

Salford Quay: just outside the centre is one of greater Manchester’s most recently restored areas, formerly comprising Manchester’s ship canal docks. This major urban renewal project has added a slick, modern face to the area, and houses exhibition centres, galleries and theatres. The Lowry Centre is the newest addition, and is a major venue for theatrical productions as well as home to a number of popular galleries.

Quarry Bank Mill: is a great place for history buffs to visit, as an 18th-century cotton mill has been reconstructed on site and is still producing cotton cloth. The mill is located in Wilmslow, 10 miles south of Manchester, and close to the airport.

Alderley Edge: quite close to Cheshire is this National Trust Park, which comprises a forested hill boasting a number of deep caves and an equal number of myths. Folklore has it that this locale is home to King Arthur’s sleeping knights, who will awake and rise again when the time is right, saving the world from all evil forces.

Peak District: one of the most scenic drives in all of the UK is the stretch between Manchester and Sheffield, located in the Peak District. The District was the first-designated national park in England and covers an area of the central and northern part of the country.

Chatsworth House: is one of the great private houses in Europe and is home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. The setting for this magnificent estate is on the banks on the River Derwent, which runs through the Peak District National Park. On the estate you’ll see the 16th century manor house, spectacular gardens, a park of 1,000 acres and miles of nature walks.

The house has been called the 'Palace of the Peak', and is filled with priceless antiques and works of art. The public is invited to visit 30 of the manor’s rooms, and wardens are found throughout, to provide information and answer any questions you may have. Outside, the manicured gardens boast sculptures, a maze and also a number of very impressive fountains. The property also features a number of shops as well as several restaurants.