Day Trips from Manchester

In Brief. Eyam is a pleasant, long established village in the Derbyshire Dales. Clustered around the winding main thoroughfare of Church Street, the houses, church, pub and walls vary in style but not building materials, and the village is pleasant to wander around. However, Eyam is best known for its voluntary self-isolation during a plague outbreak in 1665. The story of this outbreak is told in the interesting Eyam Museum , and the town is dotted with plaques that record the impact of the disease as it swept through families.  St Lawrence's Church: only one plague victim is buried there, as most burials were out of town to minimise the risk of exposure. What's Here? The Eyam Museum is the obvious place to start a visit, as it provides a detailed account of the plague outbreak, as well as some other information on the history of the village. The museum mostly consists of display boards that tell the story of different plague outbreaks, how the plague came to Eyam, and the deva...

In Brief. Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden is a single National Trust property containing two connected but thematically different sites.  The Water Gardens provide striking vistas from a variety of angles, and incorporate views of the much earlier abbey.  The abbey is a ruin, but one that is complete enough to evoke the community that worked and worshipped there. The Water Gardens What's Here? It would certainly be possible to spend a full day exploring this property, as in addition to the Abbey and Water Gardens, there are two valley walks, a dear park and a country house to explore. The monastery may be ruined, but it is still imposing. Tours are available with different emphases; I joined a 90-minute guided tour of the Abbey and Water Gardens. The main entrance is nearer to the Abbey than the gardens, so the tour first outlines the history and ways of life associated with the Abbey, which was founded in 1132 and eventually disbanded around 400 years later as...

In Brief The Fylde Coast runs from Fleetwood in the North, through Blackpool , to Lytham in the South. A coastal path runs the entire way, often on top of imposing sea defences and promenades, as in Cleveleys. A visit is likely to include wandering along the coast, looking out to sea across miles of sand when the tide is out. The beaches provide more than enough space for visitors, and although these are not high intensity resorts, there are a variety of facilities at the beaches and in the towns. The Fleetwood Museum provides a good introduction to the history and ways-of-life of the town. Sea Swallow statue on the promenade at Cleveleys What's Here? Since its development in Victorian times, Fleetwood has had a varied history, including as a tourist destination, a fishing port and a ferry terminal.  This varied history can be traced in the excellent Fleetwood Museum , which on my visit had enthusiastic volunteers occupying its informative themed spaces, including one on Fish...

In Brief. Buxton is a spa town that acts as a base for many visitors to the nearby Peak District. Attractions in the centre of town include a grand crescent, an opera house, the pleasant Pavilion Gardens and many and varied shops. Thus Buxton is a place for wandering about on a day trip, rather than providing a single highlight that must be seen. Buxton Crescent What's Here? The highest profile tourist attractions are clustered together in a relatively flat part of hilly Buxton near the original spring. The late 18th Century Buxton Crescent hosts a hotel, appropriately with a spa, and the Buxton Crescent Experience to provide an introduction to the history of the town and in particular the spa.  The Experience is a quirky museum, with a variety of display rooms that include a balloon trip to Buxton wearing Virtual Reality goggles, short films and a consultation with a doctor on the ailments of the day.  The late Victorian Opera House and Winter Gardens The nearby Pavilion Gar...

In Brief. Long before you see the actual house, various monuments adorn the landscape, suggesting there may be more to  Castle Howard than in a typical country house. This turns out to be the case, with an imposing exterior and elaborate interiors that just manage to avoid being too over the top. The house stands in the centre of extensive grounds that include a grandiose fountain, a large walled garden, woodland walks and ponds. Castle Howard is also adjacent to the Yorkshire Arboretum . The house from the Atlas Fountain to the south. What's Here? Castle Howard is entered through a courtyard that could itself be visited for the open air cafe and assorted shops. From there, paths lead to the side of the house, and the imposing north front only comes into view incrementally.  In fact, it's so wide that seeing the whole facade involves wandering down the slope towards the Great Lake. The house itself was largely build during the 18th Century, on the site of a former castle, and...

In Brief. Well known for its historic walls and cathedral, Chester also hosts several museums for rainy days. Located close together in the compact city centre, the Grosvenor Museum is a traditional museum that includes the story of Roman Chester, Sick to Death is a modern museum on disease and healthcare for those who are not hypochondriacs, and the Cheshire Military Museum provides extensive coverage of the long history of Cheshire regiments. Reconstructed WWW1 trench in Cheshire Military Museum What's Here? The Grosvenor Museum is a municipal museum in a custom-built Victorian building named after the nobleman who contributed to the establishment of the museum. Much of the ground floor focuses on Roman Chester, including a collection of tombstones that were unearthed during excavations of the city walls; these are complemented by artefacts that support the description of life in a Roman garrison town. Other exhibition spaces are more focused on arts and crafts, including two...