With a population of more than 260,000, Bolton is the UK’s biggest town. It is situated in Greater Manchester, but is historically part of Lancashire.
During the Industrial Revolution the town grew rapidly as one of the major centres of the North West’s cotton industry.
Attractions and Things to Do
Bolton Museum boasts an excellent collection of Egyptian artefacts and the only public aquarium in Greater Manchester. It’s located on Le Mans Crescent in the town centre, in the same building as the Central Library. Other museums in the town include Hall i’th’ Wood, Smithills Hall, and Bolton Steam Museum.
Entertainment venues include the Albert Halls theatre and the Octagon. There are two multiplex cinemas in the town; Cineworld at The Valley and Vue at Middlebrook.
Children and families can enjoy a day at Moss Bank Park or Queens Park, go bowling at the Hollywood Bowl or visit Smithills Open Farm.
Sports facilities in the town include the Macron Stadium and the USN Bolton Arena. The town is surrounded by beautiful countryside. Rivington, Barrow Bridge, Jumbles Country Park, Moses Gate Country Park, and Smithills Country Park are all well worth a visit.
Hotels
Hotels and places to stay in and around Bolton include:
- Britannia Hotel Bolton
- Mercure Bolton Georgian House Hotel
- Last Drop Village Hotel & Spa
- Kings Arms Hotel
- Holiday Inn Bolton Centre
- Macdonald Kilhey Court Hotel & Spa
Restaurants
The list was last updated on Tuesday 17th of December 2019.
| Name | Address | Cuisine | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armaan | 1 Outwood Road Radcliffe | Indian | ££ | [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| Baker's | 247 Blackburn Road Bolton | Cafe | ££ | Cosy cafe in Egerton. Rustic interior. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| Bindi of Aspull | Wigan Road Wigan | Indian | ££ | Established Indian restaurant in Aspull. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| Blundell Arms | Chorley Old Road Bolton | Pub, British | ££ | [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| Cafe Italia | 877 - 879 Moss Bank Way Bolton | Italian | ££ | [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| Casalingo | 23 Church Street Bolton | Italian | ££ | Cosy family-run Italian in the Ainsworth area of Bolton. Reasonably priced. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| Chiquito | Middlebrook Bolton | Mexican | ££ | [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| Curley's Dining Rooms | Wallsuches Bolton | British, Seafood | ££ | [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| Earthlings | 221 Darwen Road Bolton | Vegan | ££ | Organic juice bar and health food cafe. Just a short drive from Jumbles Country Park. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| Luciano's at Middlebrook | Middlebrook Bolton | Italian | ££ | Italian restaurant at Middlebrook, a large retail park in Horwich, Bolton. Ideal for those going to the Vue Cinema or Macron Stadium. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| Poppins Tea Rooms | 142A Lee Lane Bolton | Cafe | ££ | Edwardian style tea room in Horwich. Offers coffee, cakes, baked goods, afternoon tea, breakfasts, and more. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| Retreat | 319 - 321 Chorley New Road Bolton | Bar, British | ££ | [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| Royal Balti House | 78 Market Street Bolton | Indian | ££ | Award-winning restaurant and takeaway. Established in 1969. Close to Farnworth Train Station. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| Sokrates Taverna | 80 - 84 Winter Hey Lane Bolton | Greek | ££ | Greek restaurant in the Horwich area of Bolton. Offers a fantastic meze banquet. Reasonably close to Rivington. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| Tapaz Ristorante | 33 Bradshawgate Bolton | Mediterranean | ££ | Mediterranean tapas restaurant in Bolton town centre. Good quality food and service. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| The Cherry Tree at Blackrod | Chorley Road Bolton | British | ££ | Family-owned restaurant offering a modern British menu. Makes full use of local produce. Great service. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| The Pack Horse | 52 Watling Street Bury | Pub, British | ££ | [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
Shopping Centres and Shops
The main shopping centres in Bolton town centre are the Market Place and Crompton Place. The Market Place is the larger of the two. It incorporates the renovated Victorian Market Hall and is home to a large Debenhams department store. Shops at Crompton Place include BHS, Primark, and Boots.
The town also boasts an award-winning market. It offers over 300 stalls and is situated on Ashburner Street. Market days are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Middlebrook is one of the biggest and best shopping parks in the UK. Shops here include Asda, Marks and Spencer, and Argos. Other retail parks include Bolton Gate Retail Park (PC World, Currys, Dunelm), Bolton Shopping Park (Sainsbury’s, Decathlon, TK Maxx), Burnden Park (ASDA, DW Sports), Central Retail Park (Maplin, Pets at Home), and Trinity Retail Park (Staples, Toys R Us).
Transport
Car
To reach Bolton by car, simply leave the M61 motorway at Junction 2 (fastest via A666) or 5. Visitors travelling to the Macron Stadium/Middlebrook should leave at Junction 6.
Air
Bolton is 21 miles by road from Manchester Airport and 35 miles from Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
Train
Bolton Interchange is a combined bus and train station on the outskirts of the town centre.
Other train stations in Bolton are Horwich Parkway (for Middlebrook and the Macron Stadium), Lostock, Blackrod, Bromley Cross, Daisy Hill, Westhoughton, Hall i’th Wood, Farnworth, Kearsley, and Moses Gate.