Bolton is a Town in the county of Greater Manchester.
Bolton, often touted as the largest town in the country, stands proudly as a quintessential symbol of the northern industrial heritage. With a rich tapestry of history spanning back to the neolithic times and modern attractions aplenty, Bolton seamlessly marries the ancient with the contemporary, offering its residents and visitors an eclectic mix of experiences.
Bolton’s Historical Roots
Bolton’s prominence skyrocketed during the industrial revolution, emerging as a force to be reckoned with in the production of cotton goods. Crompton’s Spinning Mule, an influential innovation of that era, found its genesis here. But the Bolton story began much earlier. Originally known as Bolton-le-Moors, the town’s heart was just north of the modern town hall and shopping precinct. Echoes of the past still linger, like the Saxon remains discovered when an old church was dismantled, suggesting a Saxon church once stood where the current parish church now resides.
The area’s ancient past is etched across the landscape, from the significant monuments on the moors to the tumuli unearthed during expansion. Numerous artefacts from prehistory have been found, ranging from primitive rock implements to sophisticated stone tools of the later stone age.
“Bolton le Moors”, as it was fully named, evolved over the centuries, with Little Bolton—a settlement dating back to medieval times and possibly earlier—serving as its precursor. Little Bolton’s historic essence was concentrated just north of the modern “Town Hall Square,” widely regarded as Bolton’s nucleus.
As a beacon of the Lancashire cotton era, Bolton showcased an impressive evolution, despite the challenges presented by its “dark, satanic mills”. Innovations that catered to the demands of a growing industrial population marked its landscape. But with time, as it integrated into the Greater Manchester conurbation, its central business district has seen challenges, with numerous stores now vacant. However, Bolton’s enigmatic charm remains, evidenced in the myriad historical buildings, mysterious underground rivers, and local legends that perhaps hold more fact than fiction.
Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
Bolton Council serves as the administrative heart, overseeing a plethora of services essential to the town’s seamless functioning. From education and public health to housing and an extensive transport infrastructure, Bolton council ensures every resident’s needs are met, keeping them informed on the latest public services and local opportunities.
University of Bolton
Established in 2005, the University of Bolton is among the UK’s freshest academic institutions. With its roots deep in the north west of England, it offers an array of study programmes, catering to diverse academic aspirations.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club
Bolton Wanderers, originating in 1874 as Christ Church FC, has undergone several transformations, finalising its identity as the Bolton Wanderers in 1877. As one of the pioneering twelve members of the football league inaugurated in 1888, the club today boasts an international repute, with supporters spanning the globe.
Monuments of Bolton
Bolton Town Hall
A 19th-century masterpiece, Bolton Town Hall is more than just a building—it’s a hub for numerous events, a testament to the town’s vibrant public and private life.
Bolton Parish Church
Serving as a phoenix risen from the ashes, Bolton Parish Church replaced the former Saxon church of St Peter, which tragically succumbed to fire in 1864. Rumour has it that fragments of the old Saxon church are woven into its current architecture. A stroll in the churchyard promises a sight of its distinct gargoyles, silently watching over Bolton’s history.
Smithills Hall
Smithills Hall, a Grade I listed edifice endorsed by English Heritage, majestically overlooks Smithills Dean. Nestled atop a hill, it offers panoramic views of the verdant, wooded valley to Bolton’s west.
Bolton postcode: BL1 5
There are great places to visit near Bolton including some great towns, hills, ancient sites, round cairns, hiking areas, old mines, ruins, historic sites, lakes, historic monuments, rivers and streams, woodlands, geological features, nature reserves, villages, historic buildings, country parks, waterfalls, events, bluebell woods, sssis, parks, shopping centres, gardens, cities, museums, canals, disused railway lines, moated sites and airports.
Bolton, Westhoughton, Horwich, Little Lever, Salford Quays, Rochdale, and Littleborough are great places to visit near Bolton if you like towns.
Don't miss Winter Hill, Winter Hill Summit, Adam Hill, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, The Great Knoll, and Burnt Edge's hills if visiting the area around Bolton.
Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, Noon Hill, Two Lads, Hanging Stone, Rivington Cup Marked Stone, and Rainsough Hill Camp are some of Bolton best ancient sites to visit near Bolton.
There are a several good round cairns in the Bolton area like Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, and Noon Hill.
There are a number of hiking areas near Bolton including Winter Hill Summit, Hole Bottom, Hole Bottom Mining Area, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, Burnt Edge, and Turton Moor.
Don't miss Winter Hill Mines, Winter Hill Tunnel, Rivington Moor Colliery (ruin), Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Hole Bottom Mining Area, Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin), and Prospect (ruin)'s old mines if visiting the area around Bolton.
There are a number of ruins near Bolton including Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, Ouzel Hall (site of), Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin), Prospect (ruin), Rivington Moor Bell Pits (ruin), and Burnt Edge Colliery (ruin).
The area around Bolton boasts some of the best historic sites including Hole Bottom, Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, and Hole Bottom Mining Area.
Bolton's best nearby lakes can be found at Reservoir Of Dean Mills, The Turton Reservoirs, Turton and Entwistle Reservoir, Jumbles Reservoir, Wayoh Reservoir, Rivington Lakes And Reservoirs, and Yarrow Reservoir.
The area around Bolton features a number of interesting historic monuments including Two Lads, Holy Well Spring, Bury Castle, Worsley Green Monument, and Hyde War Memorial.
The area around Bolton features a number of interesting rivers and streams including Rushtons Brook, Holden's Brook, Stones Bank Brook, Cadshaw Brook, Roscow Clough, Dean Brook, and Raveden Brook.
Don't miss Fox Hill Plantation, Ousel Nest Quarry, Walker Fold Woods, Raveden Clough, Roscow's Tenement Clough, Dean Wood - Rivington, and Rivington Hall Wood's woodlands if visiting the area around Bolton.
Geological Features to visit near Bolton include Jumbles Fossil Tree, Fairy Battery, The Margery Flags at Rivington Pike, Tigers Clough, and Jepsons Clough.
Bolton's best nearby nature reserves can be found at Ousel Nest Quarry, Doffcocker Lodge, Nob End SSSI, Leverhulme Park, Aspull Sough, Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve, and Pennington Flash.
Bolton has some unmissable villages nearby like Cadshaw, Rivington, Barrow Bridge, Bromley Cross, Chapeltown, Whelley, and Standish.
Turton Tower, Prospect Tower, Archway at Turton Tower, Medieval Style Railway Bridge at Turton Tower, Smithills Hall, Sheephouse Farm, and Dean Gate are some of Bolton best historic buildings to visit near Bolton.
The area around Bolton features a number of interesting country parks including Smithills Country Park, Moses Gate Country Park, Cutacre Country Park, Hollingworth Country Park, Haigh Country Park, Pennington Flash, and Burrs Country Park.
There are a several good waterfalls in the Bolton area like Roscow Clough Waterfall, Smithills Hall Park Waterfall, Langshaw Ford Weir, Raveden Clough Waterfall, Raveden Plantation Waterfall, Yarrow Reservoir Overflow Cascade, and Upper Rivington Reservoir Yarrow Outflow.
Bolton is near some unmissable events like Rivington Pike Easter,
Bluebell Woods to visit near Bolton include Dean Wood - Rivington, Rivington Hall Wood, Horrocks Wood, Old House Ground Plantation, and Etherow Country Park.
Places near Bolton feature a number of interesting sssis including Nob End SSSI.
The area around Bolton features a number of interesting parks including Queens Park, Hall Lee Bank Park, Moss Bank Park, Wythenshawe Park and Gardens, Gorton Park, Debdale Park, and Heaton Park.
There are a several good shopping centres in the Bolton area like Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park, Manchester Christmas Markets, The Trafford Centre, and Manchester Arndale.
The Rock Garden, The Walled Garden at Moss Bank, and RHS Garden Bridgewater are great places to visit near Bolton if you like gardens.
There are a several good cities in the Bolton area like Salford, and Manchester.
The area around Bolton features a number of interesting museums including Salford Museum and Art Gallery, and The Imperial War Museum Salford.
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Haigh, Top Lock at Wigan, Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Crooke, The Leeds and Liverpool Canal near Shevington, Rochdale Canal Western Section, Bridgewater Canal, and Worsley Delph are great places to visit near Bolton if you like canals.
There are a number of disused railway lines near Bolton including The Old Whelley Line, Lancashire Union Joint Line, Ringley Road Station (ruin), Clifton - Accrington and Colne Line (disused), and Linnyshaw Loopline.
The area close to Bolton boasts some of the best moated sites including Wigan Golf Club.
There are a several good airports in the area around Bolton like Manchester Airport.
Bolton History
There are some historic monuments around Bolton:
Areas of Bolton
Like most towns and cities Bolton is comprised of a number of areas, once separate villages or small towns and parishes now part of Bolton.
Many of the areas of Bolton have their own character and places of interest.
Walks in Bolton
Around Turton and Entwistle
A short and easy walk round the shoreline of Turton and Entwistle Reservoir, taking in views across the water.
Length: 4Km (approx.)
Difficulty: Easy
Rivington Pike by Georges Lane (and back)
A relatively easy walk to Rivington Pike and back, although some may find it steep in places the views are often spectacular.
Length: 7.49Km (approx.)
Difficulty: Easy
Smithills Hall Kitchen Garden Ruins and Coal Mining Tramroads Explore
A short walk around a section of Smithills Hall Park, following the route of the old mining tramroads and taking in the ‘lost’ Kitchen Garden and the ruins of the Gardener’s Cottage.
Length: 2Km (approx.)
Difficulty: Moderate (easy optional)
Places to see near Bolton
History of Bolton
There is evidence of human existence on the moors around Bolton since the early part of the Bronze Age, including a stone circle on Cheetham Close above Egerton, and Bronze Age burial mounds on Winter Hill. A Bronze Age mound was excavated in Victorian times outside Haulgh Hall. The Romans built roads from Manchester to Ribchester to the east and a road along what is now the A6 to the west. It is claimed that Agricola built a fort at Blackrod by clearing land above the forest. Evidence of a Saxon settlement exists in the form of religious objects found when the Victorian parish church was built.
Lakes near Bolton
Canals near Bolton
Rivers near Bolton
Shopping in Bolton
Morston Point Burnden, Farnworth
Morston Point retail park
Bolton Gate Retail Park Tonge Moor, Bolton
Bolton Gate Retail Park retail park
Bolton Shopping Park Great Lever, Farnworth
Bolton Shopping Park retail park
The Valley Bank Top, Bolton
The Valley retail park
Burnden Park Burnden, Farnworth
Burnden Park retail park
Trinity Retail Park Burnden, Farnworth
Trinity Retail Park retail park
Middlebrook Horwich, Bolton
Middlebrook retail park
West One Retail Park Little Bolton, Eccles
West One Retail Park retail park
Central Retail Park Great Lever, Farnworth
Central Retail Park retail park
Welcome 34-40, Market Street
Welcome supermarket
Tesco Crossley Street, Little Lever
Tesco supermarket
Bolton Superstore Merrion Street, Moses Gate
Bolton Superstore supermarket
Co-op Food 75-81, Winter Hey Lane
Co-op Food supermarket
Lidl Eccles New Road, Little Bolton
Lidl supermarket
Tesco Longcauseway, New Bury
Tesco supermarket
Co-op Food 567, Chorley New Road
Co-op Food supermarket
Gee Tees Edward Street, Westhoughton
Gee Tees supermarket
Morrisons Mornington Road, Brownlow Fold
Morrisons supermarket
Asda 43-53, The Linkway
Asda supermarket
Tesco Extra Mansell Way, Middlebrook
Tesco Extra supermarket
Sainsbury's Cricketers Way, Westhoughton
Sainsbury's supermarket
Sainsbury's Cricketers Way, Westhoughton
Sainsbury's supermarket
Morrisons Bury Road, Breightmet
Morrisons supermarket
Spar Sharples Avenue, Belmont Park
Spar supermarket
Lidl The Fairways, Dobb Brow
Lidl supermarket
Asda Brackley Street, Moses Gate
Asda supermarket
Sainsbury's Trinity Street, Springfield
Sainsbury's supermarket
Lidl Derby Street, Gilnow
Lidl supermarket
Costcutter Church Street, Wingates
Costcutter supermarket
Spar Park View, Stoneclough
Spar supermarket
ALDI Trinity Street, Great Lever
ALDI supermarket
Aldi Mason Street, Horwich
Aldi supermarket
Morrisons Lea Gate, Harwood Lee
Morrisons supermarket
Spar 244, Deane Road
Spar supermarket
The Food Warehouse Centenary Way, Little Bolton
The Food Warehouse supermarket