Stockport

Situated just 10-minutes south of Manchester city centre by train, Stockport is well worth a visit. Over the past couple of years, Stockport has seen a wealth of independent restaurants, bars, shops, art and more, with the old town gaining a reputation as ‘one of the coolest little corners of the country'. There’s a hive of activity around Little and Great Underbanks, two historic streets situated next to Stockport Market Place. The Underbanks are fast becoming well known for their array of independent stores and traders. Here, you’ll find stores such as Still Life Story and Squound, where you can pick up a unique souvenir, check out clothing stores Old Town General Stores and Emiko Studio, or browse the shelves of Rare Mags, where you’ll be sure to discover all sorts of titles, books and magazines. 

There is a growing food and drink scene in Stockport, which is headlined by the small but popular Where the Light Gets In, known for its seasonal, local, no-menu approach to cooking. Other places to check out include The Produce Hall with a number of food hall style vendors set inside a 160-year old market building, Ate Days a Week, which has gained a cult reputation for its pun-filled menu and pies; Cherry Jam for great cocktails and , which offers a weekly pop-up of traders in Stockport’s Old Town. Recent announcements include Bohemian Arts Club, a new cocktail bar led by Blossom’s singer Tom Ogden. Foodie Friday, which offers a monthly street food event with local traders, craft ales and live music at Stockport Market.

The borough, which is laced with history, was made famous in the 19th Century as the home of the nation’s hatting industry. Visitors are able to celebrate the town’s unique history in the Hat Works Museum, the UK’s only dedicated hatting museum. Alongside the cobbled streets and old architecture, be sure to pay a visit to the 15th Century Staircase House, Stockport Air Raid Shelters, Bramall Hall and Stockport Viaduct, which is the largest brick structure in the UK.