Astley is a Town in the county of Greater Manchester.
Astley, a village located in the Wigan area of Greater Manchester, is known for its semi-rural charm, rich heritage, and close-knit community atmosphere. With its roots as an industrial and agricultural settlement, Astley has maintained a blend of historical sites and green spaces that reflect its past while serving the needs of modern residents. Situated near Leigh and Tyldesley, Astley offers a quieter, more scenic lifestyle than the nearby urban centres, attracting families and those who enjoy the countryside while still being within commuting distance of Manchester and Wigan.
One of the most notable landmarks in Astley is the Bridgewater Canal, which runs through the village, once serving as a key transport route for the coal mines in the area. Today, the canal is a popular spot for leisurely walks, cycling, and narrowboat trips, providing scenic views and access to local wildlife. The canal paths link up with the Astley Green Colliery Museum, an important heritage site that preserves the village’s coal mining legacy. The museum features the only surviving pit headgear in the Lancashire coalfield, along with an array of exhibits and artefacts from the mining era. This museum is a point of pride for locals, preserving a piece of industrial history that shaped Astley and the surrounding region.
Astley is also known for its expansive green spaces and local parks. Astley Green Park is a favourite among families and offers playgrounds, open fields, and picnic areas, making it a hub for community activities and outdoor events. The nearby Chat Moss, a large peat bog area, is one of the region’s most important ecological sites. It provides habitats for a variety of wildlife and is part of an ongoing conservation effort to preserve the unique mossland ecosystem. These green spaces not only add to Astley’s rural charm but also highlight the village’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
Community life in Astley is lively, with various local groups and events that bring residents together. Churches, village halls, and sports clubs offer activities for all ages, from youth sports teams to social groups for retirees. Local pubs, cafes, and shops foster a friendly, village atmosphere where neighbours know each other, and newcomers are quickly welcomed. Astley’s proximity to the larger towns of Leigh and Wigan also means residents have access to a wider range of amenities, including schools, shopping centres, and healthcare facilities.
While Astley is steeped in history, it continues to evolve, balancing its rural roots with new housing developments and transport improvements. The Leigh Guided Busway, for instance, has improved connections to Manchester, making the area more accessible for commuters. Astley remains a charming and picturesque part of Greater Manchester, where heritage, community, and nature come together, offering residents a peaceful lifestyle with the conveniences of city life within easy reach.
Astley postcode: M29 7HT
There are great places to visit near Astley including some great towns, hills, hiking areas, old mines, ancient sites, round cairns, 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, canals, cities, museums, disused railway lines, moated sites and airports.
Bolton, Westhoughton, Horwich, Little Lever, Salford Quays, Rochdale, and Littleborough are some of Astley best towns to visit near Astley.
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 Astley.
Shaly Dingle, Winter Hill Summit, Hole Bottom, Hole Bottom Mining Area, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, and Burnt Edge are some of Astley best hiking areas to visit near Astley.
Don't miss Shaly Dingle, Winter Hill Mines, Winter Hill Tunnel, Rivington Moor Colliery (ruin), Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Hole Bottom Mining Area, and Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin)'s old mines if visiting the area around Astley.
Astley's best nearby ancient sites can be found at Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, Noon Hill, Two Lads, Hanging Stone, Rivington Cup Marked Stone, and Rainsough Hill Camp.
Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, and Noon Hill are great places to visit near Astley if you like round cairns.
Astley has some unmissable ruins nearby like 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 Astley features a number of interesting historic sites including Hole Bottom, Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, and Hole Bottom Mining Area.
There are a number of lakes near Astley including Reservoir Of Dean Mills, The Turton Reservoirs, Turton and Entwistle Reservoir, Jumbles Reservoir, Wayoh Reservoir, Rivington Lakes And Reservoirs, and Yarrow Reservoir.
Don't miss Two Lads, Holy Well Spring, Bury Castle, Worsley Green Monument, and Hyde War Memorial's historic monuments if visiting the area around Astley.
Don't miss Rushtons Brook, Holden's Brook, Stones Bank Brook, Cadshaw Brook, Roscow Clough, Dean Brook, and Raveden Brook's rivers and streams if visiting the area around Astley.
Woodlands to visit near Astley include Fox Hill Plantation, Ousel Nest Quarry, Walker Fold Woods, Raveden Clough, Roscow's Tenement Clough, Dean Wood - Rivington, and Rivington Hall Wood.
Jumbles Fossil Tree, Fairy Battery, The Margery Flags at Rivington Pike, Tigers Clough, and Jepsons Clough are great places to visit near Astley if you like geological features.
Astley has some unmissable nature reserves nearby like Ousel Nest Quarry, Doffcocker Lodge, Nob End SSSI, Leverhulme Park, Darcy Lever Gravel Pits, Aspull Sough, and Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve.
Astley's best nearby villages can be found at Cadshaw, Rivington, Barrow Bridge, Bromley Cross, Chapeltown, Darcy Lever, and Whelley.
The area around Astley boasts some of the best historic buildings including Turton Tower, Prospect Tower, Archway at Turton Tower, Medieval Style Railway Bridge at Turton Tower, Smithills Hall, Sheephouse Farm, and Dean Gate.
Astley has some unmissable country parks nearby like Smithills Country Park, Moses Gate Country Park, Cutacre Country Park, Darcy Lever Gravel Pits, Hollingworth Country Park, Haigh Country Park, and Pennington Flash.
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 are some of Astley best waterfalls to visit near Astley.
Rivington Pike Easter is one of Astley's best, nearby events to visit in Astley.
The area around Astley boasts some of the best bluebell woods including Dean Wood - Rivington, Rivington Hall Wood, Horrocks Wood, Old House Ground Plantation, and Etherow Country Park.
Nob End SSSI is one of Astley's best, nearby sssis to visit in Astley.
The area around Astley boasts some of the best parks including Queens Park, Hall Lee Bank Park, Moss Bank Park, Wythenshawe Park and Gardens, Gorton Park, Debdale Park, and Heaton Park.
Astley has some unmissable shopping centres nearby like Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park, Manchester Christmas Markets, The Trafford Centre, and Manchester Arndale.
There are a number of gardens near Astley including The Rock Garden, The Walled Garden at Moss Bank, and RHS Garden Bridgewater.
The area around Astley boasts some of the best canals including Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal at Prestolee, 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, and Bridgewater Canal.
The area around Astley features a number of interesting cities including Salford, and Manchester.
Astley has some unmissable museums nearby like Salford Museum and Art Gallery, The Imperial War Museum Salford, and Lancashire Mining Museum at Astley Green.
The area around Astley boasts some of the best disused railway lines including The Old Whelley Line, Lancashire Union Joint Line, Ringley Road Station (ruin), Clifton - Accrington and Colne Line (disused), and Linnyshaw Loopline.
Wigan Golf Club is a great place to visit close to Astley if you like moated sites.
There are a several good airports in the area around Astley like Manchester Airport.
Astley History
There are some historic monuments around Astley:
