Day Trips from Manchester

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...