Explore Bury

Just north of Manchester, the borough of Bury is a great combination of award winning attractions, excellent food and drink and excellent shopping opportunities.

In Bury town centre you can head to Bury Art Museum & Sculpture Centre and immerse yourself in some of the best international and local art, or spend an evening at The Met which, having reopened after a multi-million pound refurbishment, offers a fantastic programme of touring theatre and music.

You’ll find plenty of places where you can delve into Bury’s past. Discover amazing stories at the award-winning Fusilier Museum, or step aboard the beautifully restored East Lancashire Railway and be transported back to the age of steam. Enjoy a ‘Day Out with Thomas’, a heritage rail ale trail or sit back and relax on a stylish diner train as you travel through beautiful the Irwell Valley.

Bury’s great outdoors includes Burrs Country Park, with its activity centre and riverside walks, and Prestwich Forest Park with its popular mountain bike routes. Just outside Ramsbottom, Holcombe Hill offers spectacular views across Greater Manchester; which are even better if you climb to the top of Peel Tower! Across the borough there are plenty of trails and footpaths linking Bury’s stunning open spaces so you can choose a leisurely stroll, or a ten mile hike!

For shopping try Bury Market, with over 350 stalls it’s buzzing with atmosphere, packed with bargains and has some of the best local produce around, including of o course the famous Bury Black Pudding. You’ll find high street names in The Rock and Mill Gate shopping centres, while Ramsbottom and Prestwich are the places to go for specialists and independents. 

When it comes to eating out, Bury is well and truly on the foodie map. Ramsbottom is home to multi award-winners - choose from the stylish Hearth of The Ram, The Eagle and Child, sourcing ingredients from its allotment garden, or Levanter Fine Foods, offering authentic Spanish dishes. 

Famous for stunning wedding cakes and exquisite afternoon teas, 3rd generation, family-run Slattery in Whitefield offers indulgent chocolates and confectionary- all made on the premises, while The Clarence, in Bury town centre, combines foodie pub, cocktail bar and microbrewery all rolled into one.

Discover more at visitbury.com.

Things to do in Bury

Check out our highlights

Chesham Woods

Chesham woods is an area Pasture and woodland on the edge of Bury town centre which offers a variety…

Close Park

Close Park is a public park of around 11.19 hectares. It is located approximately 3 miles from Bury…

Heaton Park

Heaton Park is the biggest park in Manchester with over 600 acres of parkland, Grade I listed Heaton…

Nuttall Park

Formerly the site and grounds of former Nuttall Hall, now a pleasant riverside park within walking…

Philips Park

Take a walk in the Park at Philips Park Local Nature Reserve. A mosaic of wildlife, rich woodland…

Redisher Wood

Explore 14 hectares of Ancient Woodland, largely unchanged since the mid 19th century. Redisher Wood…

Vue Cinema

Multiplex cinema, bowling and restaurant complex located in The Rock Shopping Complex. Vue Bury the…

The Met

The Met is a stunning, award winning live music venue noted nationally for its specialist folk music…

What's on in Bury

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Allo Allo Comedy Night 07 Oct 2026 - 09 Oct 2026

Allo Allo Comedy Night

All the spoof and silliness along with fine dining and more madness and mayhem, what could possibly…

Murder Mystery Evening 07 Oct 2026 - 18 Dec 2026

Murder Mystery Evening

Have you got the super-sleuth skills to find and solve the clues? The detective persona to…

Red Rose Diner 07 Oct 2026 - 20 Nov 2026

Red Rose Diner

Step on board our luxury Pullman carriages and sample fine cuisine in opulent surroundings whilst…

The Manfreds 08 Oct 2026 -

The Manfreds

This exceptional line-up has become one of the most sought after live bands touring the UK and, in…

Ribbon Run Manchester 10 Oct 2026 -

Ribbon Run Manchester

Ribbon Run Manchester is a multi-distance running event which takes place on the Saturday during…

Autumn Steam Gala 16 Oct 2026 - 18 Oct 2026

Autumn Steam Gala

It's the last large scale steam event of the year, so make sure to mark it in your calendar!…

Autumn Steam Gala Brake Van Rides 16 Oct 2026 - 18 Oct 2026

Autumn Steam Gala Brake Van Rides

Experience the Autumn Steam Gala from the best seats in the house! Brake van rides are available for…

Irwell Valley Fryer: Autumn Steam Gala Fish & Chips Special 16 Oct 2026 -

Irwell Valley Fryer: Autumn Steam Gala Fish & Chips Special

Enjoy a Chippy Tea from the comfort of a Mark I as the "Irwell Valley Fryer" Fish and Chip…

Autumn Steam Gala Footplate Rides 17 Oct 2026 - 18 Oct 2026

Autumn Steam Gala Footplate Rides

Experience the East Lancashire Railway from the footplate!  See first hand the work needed by…

Drive A Steam Train Experience 23 Oct 2026 -

Drive A Steam Train Experience

Bring your childhood dreams to life as you step onto the footplate of a full-sized, fully…

Halloween at Treetop Adventure Golf 24 Oct 2026 - 01 Nov 2026

Halloween at Treetop Adventure Golf

Spooktacular October in the Jungle  Creep into the jungle this October for a spooktacular…

Manchester Oktoberfest 24 Oct 2026 -

Manchester Oktoberfest

OKTOBERFEST IS COMING TO THE MARQUEE! Get ready for an unforgettable celebration as MCR Events…

Halloween Ghost Train at East Lancashire Railway 29 Oct 2026 - 31 Oct 2026

Halloween Ghost Train at East Lancashire Railway

Something spooky is coming to Bury soon with the ELR’s annual Halloween Ghosts Trains. Ghouls…

The Wizarding Adventure 29 Oct 2026 - 30 Oct 2026

The Wizarding Adventure

It's time to sign up to our spellbinding school of sorcery as you take a wacky and wonderful…

Von Hertzen Brothers - Acoustic Enough 31 Oct 2026 -

Von Hertzen Brothers - Acoustic Enough

Finnish progressive rock visionaries Von Hertzen Brothers, return to the UK in October 2026 for a…

Northern Lights at Heaton Park 19 Nov 2026 - 31 Dec 2026

Northern Lights at Heaton Park

Northern Lights Manchester returns to Heaton Park this winter with a brand-new festive theme, A…

Festive Lunch 25 Nov 2026 - 27 Nov 2026

Festive Lunch

What better way to enjoy a traditional roast turkey lunch with all the trimmings, than being hauled…

Festive Dinner 28 Nov 2026 -

Festive Dinner

What better way to enjoy a festive dinner than being hauled by a vintage locomotive through the…

Santa Special 28 Nov 2026 - 24 Dec 2026

Santa Special

Santa Claus is coming to town! Meet Father Christmas on this seasonal spectacular that is a…

Jack and the Beanstalk 05 Dec 2026 - 28 Dec 2026

Jack and the Beanstalk

Fee-fi-fo-FUN! Get ready for a GIANT panto adventure with Jack and the Beanstalk. Next Christmas…

A Christmas Night Out - Mad Theatre Company 11 Dec 2026 -

A Christmas Night Out - Mad Theatre Company

MaD Theatre Company presents an original Festive Comedy “Mistletoe & Crime” When the…

The Springsteen Sessions 22 Jan 2027 -

The Springsteen Sessions

The Springsteen Sessions are without doubt the most authentic, honest, hard hitting, hard working…

Manchester Festival of Nature 30 Jun 2027 -

Manchester Festival of Nature

Introducing Manchester's WILDEST festival Follow the buzz to Manchester's iconic Heaton Park…

The World Black Pudding Throwing Championships 14 Sep 2027 -

The World Black Pudding Throwing Championships

In this annual competition the ancient grudge between Yorkshire and Lancashire is played out again…

Where to eat and drink in Bury

Al Bosco

Sicilian/Italian restaurant in pretty countryside setting. This family run restaurant offers…

Barista

This award winning cafe situated in the heart of Bury Town Centre prides itself on using the…

Casalingo

Award winning Italian restaurant situated in the quaint village of Ainsworth, owned by ex-Radcliffe…

Croma

Located in the centre of Prestwich, this independent Italian restaurant offers a great menu…

Mélange

An exciting new addition to Bury’s dining scene, Mélange invites guests to enjoy a…

The Oaks

Previously known as the Royal Oak, The Oaks is the focus of the popular World Black Pudding throwing…

Where to stay in Bury

The Paddock

The Paddock is the perfect place to pitch your tent for a camping holiday. Besides the fact that it…

Bury blogs

The Irwell Valley and Burrs Country Park, Bury

A step-free route between Bury town centre and Burrs Country Park featuring steam trains, ice creams and spectacular sculptures. This is part of a series of guest blogs by Andrew Read, who shares his insider tips on Greater Manchester’s incredibly varied green spaces and heritage. Andrew…

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Bury, Greater Manchester: A Complete Visitor's Guide

Looking for a day out with a bit of everything? Bury might just surprise you. Just a short tram ride away from Manchester, this lively town mixes independent markets, brilliant food, rich history, and stunning countryside - all with that classic Northern charm. Famous for its world-renowned Bury…

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Your Ultimate Guide to Summer Events in Greater Manchester

Summer's here - and so is a packed calendar of events across Greater Manchester's ten boroughs. From food festivals and free family fun to live gigs and cultural celebrations, there's something going on in every corner of the city-region. Whether you're planning a weekend visit, a day out with the…

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Top gaming arcades in Greater Manchester

Get your game-face on at one of Greater Manchester's arcades. From Pac-Man to Portal, you'll be able to play virtually anything. Arcade Club, Bury Enjoy two floors of classic arcade and pinball machines. Entry fees are just £17 for adults and £9 for children, and then everything inside is free to…

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Guide to Arts and Culture in Greater Manchester

Galleries, theatres and museums are a big reason to visit Manchester. Permanent collections, temporary exhibitions, famous names, well-loved plays and local or global artefacts offer a window to the world. But wouldn’t it be nice to do more than just look out of a window? Even Da Vinci needed…

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Where is Bury