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.
The area around Astley boasts some of the best towns including Bolton, Westhoughton, Horwich, Little Lever, Salford Quays, Rochdale, and Littleborough.
Hills to visit near Astley include Winter Hill, Winter Hill Summit, Adam Hill, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, The Great Knoll, and Burnt Edge.
There are a several good hiking areas in the Astley area like Shaly Dingle, Winter Hill Summit, Hole Bottom, Hole Bottom Mining Area, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, and Burnt Edge.
Astley has some unmissable old mines nearby like 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).
The area around Astley features a number of interesting ancient sites including Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, Noon Hill, Two Lads, Hanging Stone, Rivington Cup Marked Stone, and Rainsough Hill Camp.
Astley has some unmissable round cairns nearby like Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, and Noon Hill.
There are a several good ruins in the Astley area 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).
Astley's best nearby historic sites can be found at Hole Bottom, Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, and Hole Bottom Mining Area.
Astley has some unmissable lakes nearby like Reservoir Of Dean Mills, The Turton Reservoirs, Turton and Entwistle Reservoir, Jumbles Reservoir, Wayoh Reservoir, Rivington Lakes And Reservoirs, and Yarrow Reservoir.
There are a number of historic monuments near Astley including Two Lads, Holy Well Spring, Bury Castle, Worsley Green Monument, and Hyde War Memorial.
The area around Astley 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.
Fox Hill Plantation, Ousel Nest Quarry, Walker Fold Woods, Raveden Clough, Roscow's Tenement Clough, Dean Wood - Rivington, and Rivington Hall Wood are great places to visit near Astley if you like woodlands.
Geological Features to visit near Astley include Jumbles Fossil Tree, Fairy Battery, The Margery Flags at Rivington Pike, Tigers Clough, and Jepsons Clough.
Ousel Nest Quarry, Doffcocker Lodge, Nob End SSSI, Leverhulme Park, Darcy Lever Gravel Pits, Aspull Sough, and Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve are great places to visit near Astley if you like nature reserves.
Astley has some unmissable villages nearby like Cadshaw, Rivington, Barrow Bridge, Bromley Cross, Chapeltown, Darcy Lever, and Whelley.
Historic Buildings to visit near Astley include Turton Tower, Prospect Tower, Archway at Turton Tower, Medieval Style Railway Bridge at Turton Tower, Smithills Hall, Sheephouse Farm, and Dean Gate.
Smithills Country Park, Moses Gate Country Park, Cutacre Country Park, Darcy Lever Gravel Pits, Hollingworth Country Park, Haigh Country Park, and Pennington Flash are some of Astley best country parks to visit near Astley.
The area around Astley boasts some of the best waterfalls including 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.
Don't miss Rivington Pike Easter's events if visiting the area around Astley.
Dean Wood - Rivington, Rivington Hall Wood, Horrocks Wood, Old House Ground Plantation, and Etherow Country Park are some of Astley best bluebell woods to visit near Astley.
The area around Astley's best sssis can be found at Nob End SSSI.
Astley's best nearby parks can be found at Queens Park, Hall Lee Bank Park, Moss Bank Park, Wythenshawe Park and Gardens, Gorton Park, Debdale Park, and Heaton Park.
Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park, Manchester Christmas Markets, The Trafford Centre, and Manchester Arndale are great places to visit near Astley if you like shopping centres.
There are a several good gardens in the Astley area like The Rock Garden, The Walled Garden at Moss Bank, and RHS Garden Bridgewater.
The area around Astley features a number of interesting 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.
Cities to visit near Astley include 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 features a number of interesting 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.
Moated Sites to visit near Astley include Wigan Golf Club.
The area around Astley's best airports can be found at Manchester Airport.
Astley History
There are some historic monuments around Astley:
