Day Trips from Manchester

In Brief. Biddulph Grange is perhaps the Bohemian Rhapsody of gardens - a collection of diverse components, combined in an unpredictable way into something that somehow makes sense. Though the work of a small team of garden designers in the mid 19th century, Biddulph Grange includes many different elements, some regional (Chinese, Egyptian and Italian Gardens), some by species (Rhododendron Ground and Lyme Avenue), and some that are altogether more difficult to pin down. These individual spaces are largely invisible from each other, sometimes connected by tunnels or buildings, giving rise to a series of new and engaging vistas. The Pond and Rhododendron Ground in May What's Here? Biddulph Grange is a National Trust garden developed in Victorian times by and for James Bateman, a botanist and Gardner who inherited sufficient wealth to allow him to explore his interests on a grand scale. However, the deep interest in plants hasn't resulted in a cerebral garden; instead the garde...

In Brief. The Avro Heritage Museum occupies a compact modern viewing space, that is packed with information and memorabilia on the history of the Avro aircraft manufacturing company.  As the founder of Avro was an aviation pioneer, this history covers from some of the very earliest aircraft, through a variety of well known civil and military aircraft (including the Lancaster and Vulcan bombers) to 21st century projects. The museum has a Vulcan bomber, which is quite a sight, and a number of cockpits, as well as a variety of models and paraphernalia. Rather a unique place.   Vulcan bomber with the museum in the background. What's Here? The main interior space provides a timeline round the walls that identifies planes, including the number manufactured, starting from reports of entries to early competitions for aircraft pioneers, which included the founder of Avro, A.V. Roe. In contrast with the design-periods of modern aircraft, new ideas emerged and were tried out quickly, an...

In Brief. Chester Zoo is a substantial modern zoo, with a remarkable collection of animals of all sizes, from land, sea and air. The Zoo is divided into several zones, for example there is an islands zone and a Madagascar zone, though it's hard to sense that you are really focusing on anything in particular with such diversity on hand.  The zoo itself is a pleasant environment, with lots of greenery, there are eateries spread across the site, and the enclosures seem in good condition and not too cramped. The flamingos What's Here? This is rather a formidable zoo, with everything from an aquarium and a butterfly house to large mammals (elephants and rhinos) and predators (jaguars and lions). There is so much to see that any day trip is unlikely to do it justice, and you can't help but find yourself wandering past potentially interesting things on the way to something you spotted on a sign or in the app.  For a typical animal, there will be some signs highlighting area of or...

In Brief. The RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Garden Bridgewater is a modern take on a walled garden and parkland, with imposing visitor facilities. The Bridgewater Garden is based in the grounds of the now demolished Worsley New Hall, and is renovating and reinterpreting parts of these grounds, including a lake and the walled gardens. There are three main facets to the site: a walled garden including a kitchen garden and a "paradise garden", the wider parkland that includes some themed gardens and woodland, and the visitor centre, with shops, a cafe and a garden centre. What's not to like about the development of a modern garden in a neglected historic site? Alas, having now been twice, I find it a bit soulless; there certainly wasn't much colour on either visit, and even with the guide book to try to bring out the concept on my second trip, the overall project perhaps seems a little worthy but dull. Not as refreshing, for example, as Biddulph Grange . Water featu...

In Brief. Bolsover Castle is more a country house, or perhaps pleasure dome, than a fortress. Mostly built for, and reflecting the social interests of, a single 17th century aristocrat, the historical narrative largely relates to the lifetime of that individual. Reflecting this, there is a well preserved country house with quirky artistic interiors, a renovated riding house, and a ruined wing once used for larger scale entertaining, including of royalty.  The grounds are compact, but include a pleasant walled garden. The Little Castle and walled garden. What's Here? The castle occupies a compact site adjacent to Bolsover town centre. Run by English Heritage, there is a reception building selling tickets, with a cafe and a shop.  The reception building gives access to a lawn, including some picnic tables and a castle themed play area, beyond which is the castle itself, which consists of three sections. The Little Castle, pictured above, is the original building, built during t...