Introduction

Bolton is a large town in Greater Manchester and was historically part of Lancashire. In its heyday, Bolton was known for being one of Lancashire’s most prominent and prosperous mill towns, although its heritage as a Saxon settlement is evident in parts. Today, Bolton acts as a commuter town for Manchester, although its proximity to the Pennines attracts residents. The town has many examples of fine architecture from Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian times, although some local landmarks date back earlier than that. Bolton is also famous for being a big sporting town, with football, boxing and darts all popular here. Meanwhile, it gained status as a Fairtrade town back in 2003, so shopping ethically in Bolton isn’t a problem.

Ideal car

Important things to note

Highlights & Hotspots

One of the finest buildings in Bolton is the Town Hall. Opened in 1873, it received a Grade II listing, proving how worthy it was of being maintained. Behind the hall is the equally magnificent Le Mans Crescent, a building which has a French-like arch at its centre.
The Reebok Stadium in the Middlebrook area of town is home to Bolton Wanderers, the local football team. Holding around 28,000 fans, it’s one of the more architecturally stunning stadia in the UK, while the on-site hotel has hosted many minor indoor sporting events.
The Market Hall is probably the best place in Bolton to go shopping, especially if fresh produce is your kind of thing. Stalls selling everything from clothes and flowers to fresh fruit and vegetables sit inside the building, built around the same time as the Town Hall.
In Bolton, the best place to catch a stage show is the Octagon Theatre. Renovated fairly recently, it hosts plays, classical music concerts, musicals and opera. In the run-up to Christmas, it also hosts pantomimes which the whole family can enjoy.