Bolton

With a population of 296,000, Bolton is one of the UK’s biggest towns. 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.

Dolphin skeleton in Bolton Museum
Dolphin skeleton in Bolton 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.

Macron Stadium, Bolton
Macron Stadium

Hotels

Hotels and places to stay in and around Bolton include:

  • Britannia Hotel Bolton
  • Mercure Bolton Georgian House Hotel
  • Holiday Inn Bolton Centre
  • Last Drop Village Hotel & Spa
  • Kings Arms Hotel
  • Macdonald Kilhey Court Hotel & Spa

Restaurants

The list was last updated on Tuesday 17th of December 2019.

NameAddressCuisinePriceDetails
Armaan1 Outwood Road
Radcliffe
Indian££[Facebook]
[Trip Advisor]
Baker's247 Blackburn Road
Bolton
Cafe££Cosy cafe in Egerton. Rustic interior.
[Facebook]
[Trip Advisor]
Bindi of AspullWigan Road
Wigan
Indian££Established Indian restaurant in Aspull. Friendly and knowledgeable staff.
[Facebook]
[Trip Advisor]
Blundell ArmsChorley Old Road
Bolton
Pub, British££[Facebook]
[Trip Advisor]
Cafe Italia877 - 879 Moss Bank Way
Bolton
Italian££[Facebook]
[Trip Advisor]
Casalingo23 Church Street
Bolton
Italian££Cosy family-run Italian in the Ainsworth area of Bolton. Reasonably priced.
[Facebook]
[Trip Advisor]
ChiquitoMiddlebrook
Bolton
Mexican££[Facebook]
[Trip Advisor]
Curley's Dining RoomsWallsuches
Bolton
British, Seafood££[Facebook]
[Trip Advisor]
Earthlings221 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 MiddlebrookMiddlebrook
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 Rooms142A Lee Lane
Bolton
Cafe££Edwardian style tea room in Horwich. Offers coffee, cakes, baked goods, afternoon tea, breakfasts, and more.
[Facebook]
[Trip Advisor]
Retreat319 - 321 Chorley New Road
Bolton
Bar, British££[Facebook]
[Trip Advisor]
Royal Balti House78 Market Street
Bolton
Indian££Award-winning restaurant and takeaway. Established in 1969. Close to Farnworth Train Station.
[Facebook]
[Trip Advisor]
Sokrates Taverna80 - 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 Ristorante33 Bradshawgate
Bolton
Mediterranean££Mediterranean tapas restaurant in Bolton town centre. Good quality food and service.
[Facebook]
[Trip Advisor]
The Cherry Tree at BlackrodChorley Road
Bolton
British££Family-owned restaurant offering a modern British menu. Makes full use of local produce. Great service.
[Facebook]
[Trip Advisor]
The Pack Horse52 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).

ASDA, Marks & Spencer, and Boots at Middlebrook in Bolton.
Middlebrook

 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.

Platform 4 at Bolton Train Station
Bolton Train Station

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.

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