When the weather is looking good or you unexpectedly find yourself with a free weekend, a day trip from Manchester by train is always one of my go-to options for getting out and seeing more of the surrounding area but without the added expense of travelling somewhere further or having to pay for a hotel overnight!
Days out from Manchester and the surrounding areas are made so much easier by the great rail connections in the region which can take you all the way to other cities like Sheffield or Liverpool. Or you can hop on a local train and get out in nature in the Peak District.
Having lived in the area for a while now, I wanted to share some of my favourite day trips from Manchester on the train and maybe also share a few underrated spots and hidden gems along the way too!
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The 17 best day trips from Manchester by train
New Mills
Okay, maybe I’m biased because I live in New Mills but I genuinely think it has so much to offer for a day out from Manchester.
So if you’re visiting New Mills on a day trip from Manchester, here’s what I’d do…
Take the train from Manchester Piccadilly to New Mills. There are two stations in New Mills so you have 2-4 trains per hour to choose from depending on when you travel. The Newtown line also passes through Stockport while the Central line goes through Bredbury so if you live in southeast Greater Manchester then this day trip is easy too!
Grab breakfast and coffee at On the Bridge Cafe before having a wander along Market Street to check out the great independent stores like the bookstore and record store, art gallery, cafes and charity shops.
Then walk down to The Torrs Riverside Park and walk over Millennium Walkway and see the Union Bridge and weir.
From here you can easily walk the Sett Valley Trail which is a fairly easy and mostly paved 2.5 mile walk between New Mills and Hayfield. Or you can walk 5 minutes up to New Mills Marina and walk along the Peak Forest Canal to Whaley Bridge which is my personal favourite walk that’s easy but with gorgeous views.
Back in New Mills for the afternoon and evening, head to New Mills Market Hall for a variety of street food options from Korean to Caribbean and a great bar area serving local craft beer and classic drinks too.
Or if you’d prefer a sit down meal, A Tavola is a gorgeous family-run Sicilian restaurant on Albion Road with fresh pasta and such an extensive menu!
The Beer Shed is a cosy spot for local and national craft beers before heading back to the station to return home.
Looking for more things to do in High Peak? Check out my guide to the best things to do in High Peak, Derbyshire.
Whaley Bridge
Whaley Bridge is just a couple of stops further along the Buxton train line from New Mills so you could do both in the same day and even walk to Whaley Bridge along the Peak Forest Canal from New Mills.
Grab one of the famous hot sandwiches from The Bridge Bakehouse, check out the latest markets at the Transhipment Warehouse and enjoy an easy walk along the canal to Chinley via the Bugsworth Basin or around Toddbrook Reservoir.
The Cock Pub is a great spot for classic pub food, or Bridge 42 for a gorgeous range of lunch and dinner options.
I also love the Whaley Nook Taprooms which are so cosy, friendly and have great craft beer and ales.
Glossop
Glossop is becoming such a popular day out from Manchester and I can see why – it’s packed with great foodie options, connected to awesome walks and has plenty to do for everyone.
Take the Glossop or Hadfield train line from Manchester Piccadilly and grab brunch at Anason Cafe or coffee and a sweet treat at Twig Coffee Shop.
Have a wander around Old Glossop and don’t miss the Vivienne Westwood and Hilary Mantel murals on Chapel Street.
The Glossop Market Hall is a great spot for checking out local independent shops and crafts, plus food and drink in the food hall, industrial style vaulted dining area in such a beautiful building.
You’re also spoilt for choice when it comes to walks in and around Glossop as there are many great easy and challenging hikes that start from the area.
Manor Park is a great, easy walking area for families or those just looking for a light stroll. Moorfield Circular is another good option for an easy hike or Bottoms Reservoir if you go from Hadfield.
The B-29 Crashsite is a great walk that’s a bit longer while Mossy Lea Reservoir is a bit easier and much shorter but both bring you back to the area around Distant Hills Brewing which has recently been renovated and does a cracking Sunday roast.
Buxton
Of course Buxton is no secret, located in the heart of the Peak District, it’s just 1 hour on the train from Manchester Piccadilly.
Champneys has recently bought the Buxton Crescent Spa and with the recent renovations, a spa day there is a day out in itself!
A wander around Pavilion Gardens is perfect for all ages (they even have a miniature train!) but I love the Pavilion itself with a gorgeous local art gallery and shop, plus there’s a cafe, tea room and Buxton taproom there which does some of my fave beers – perfect for an afternoon sitting outside the Pavilion in the sun.
There’s also the Botanical Conservatory there which is free to visit.
If you’re looking for more of a walk, Buxton and Poole’s Cavern Country Park is the place to go. Or head to Poole Cavern itself for a caving adventure, next to it is also Go Ape Buxton if you’re after some adrenaline treetop adventure!
I always love a visit to the charming Scrivener’s Books and Bookbinding whenever I visit Buxton. And a wander through the independent shops in Cavendish Arcade which is inside the old bath house next to the Crescent!
Disley and Lyme Park
While most people know Chatsworth as Mr Darcy’s Pemberley from the Pride and Prejudice film, did you know Lyme Park was actually Pemberly in the BBC TV series? (which is better than the movie in my opinion!)
Disley is also easily reached on the Buxton train line from Manchester Piccadilly and is a lovely small village with a compact village centre where you can find shops, cafes and pubs.
It’s a 15 minute walk from the train station to the Lyme Park gatehouse where you can walk through the estate parkland for about 30 minutes and maybe spot the herd of deer or even Highland cows!
It’s a 30 minute walk from the gate to the house itself through beautiful parkland and you can choose to either get a house and garden ticket or just a garden ticket to see the house grounds. I’d recommend the house+garden ticket as inside is beautiful and the National Trust volunteers are so informative!
National Trust members can of course visit for free.
Alderley Edge
Only 30 minutes on the train from Manchester Piccadilly, many people overlook Alderley Edge as a Manchester day trip option.
Alderley Edge is one of the most affluent areas of Cheshire with many high end restaurants, luxury shops and expensive houses. While celebrities and footballers are well-known residents, it doesn’t mean we can enjoy a boujie day out in Alderley Edge too!
The main street (London Road) is gorgeous and full of charming cafes and great shops, bars and restaurants. Personally I love Nook and Cranny which is a dog friendly coffee shop tucked away behind the main street.
From here you can also do a lovely walk in Alderley Edge which is a National Trust nature reserve with gorgeous views of the lush green Cheshire countryside.
In Alderley Edge is also the restaurant, Victors, which has stunning wisteria trees as decor and does a great Sunday Roast, Afternoon Tea and a regular menu too. They also do bottomless brunches on the weekend.
Pear Mill Vintage Emporium
Honestly it’s probably easier to drive here, but you can take the train to Stockport and then take a bus 20 minutes from the station, or it’s a 40 minute walk.
But if you’re a vintage clothing and decor fan then this is 100% for you.
Located in an old converted mill, this massive vintage store is home to aisles and aisles of antique homewares, vintage collectables, vintage clothes and so many hidden gems!
There’s also a big cafe area there with a lovely collection of food options too.
Plus if you fancy a walk afterwards, the Woodbank Park is right behind the industrial estate with lovely nature trails.
Heaton Park
Heaton Park is a classic day out from Manchester and can easily be reached on the Green or Yellow tram in 15 minutes from Manchester Victoria.
Open from 8am every day, there is quite literally something to do for every age in Heaton Park.
Heaton Hall and Orangery are beautiful to visit, there’s also other historic buildings like the remaining facade of Manchester’s first town hall which was moved and reassembled in Heaton Park in 1912.
There’s miles of running and walking paths and between February and November, rowing boats and pedalos are available for booking on the boating lake.
For families and kids, the Heaton Park animal centre is completely free to visit and allows you to see so many farmyard animals such as pigs, goats, chickens, rabbits and more.
Between Easter and October there’s also Heaton Park Tramway which is an electric tramway running across the park,it costs just £2 for adults and £1 for children while under 5s are free.
For older kids or adults looking for an adrenaline rush, there’s the Zipworld Treetop Adventure also in the park!
Heaton Park Garden Centre and cafe are a great option for a shopping mooch or a snack break. There are actually four cafes at Heaton Park: the garden centre, the gold club and the Stable Cafe and the Lakeside cafe. Of course you can bring a picnic too if the weather is good!
Liverpool
I love Liverpool and it’s only a 38 minute journey from Manchester Victoria to Liverpool Lime Street!
There is so much to do in Liverpool that you really can pack a full day of activities and even stay overnight if you wanted to!
For a day out in Liverpool, make sure you grab brunch. I’m a fan of Pocket Cafe bar or Yonder Cafe.
Then have a wander at the Royal Albert Dock, which is such a cool area with loads of restaurants, pop ups and art exhibitions. I didn’t realise until my second visit to Liverpool that so many of the museums are free! I visited the Maritime Museum and LOVED it, learnt so much about Liverpool history, the Titanic, the Lusitania and more.
Lunch at Duke Street Food & Drink Market is such a cool, vibey spot. If you’re looking for something more unique, head to the Bridewell Pub which is in an old converted police station.
I also really loved the Mersey boat tour out on the River Mersey to learn more about the area and the city’s history.
If you’re a Beatles fan, make sure to head to the Cavern Club for some live music including tribute bands – it’s such a fun evening and they have live music every day, often starting in the afternoon so you’ve still got plenty of time to get home!
Hathersage
Hathersage is no secret but I feel like lots of people maybe visit for an afternoon or stop here for the pub when actually it’s one of my favourite days out in the Peak District!
Take the Sheffield train line from Manchester Piccadilly and it takes 1 hour to get to Hathersage.
Grab a coffee and pastry for fuel from Colemans Deli.
I also love a quick peak in the outdoor equipment store, Outside, which is in Hathersage.
Then head out on a hike, I love the Hathersage and Stanage Edge Circular which takes around 3 hours, or for a slightly easier walk, the Hathersage stepping stones which takes around 2 hours.
But there are a HEAP of great walks and hikes on the AllTrails app which start in Hathersage, I use the app‘s map feature to look at which one I want to do.
Then on your return to Hathersage, head to the Hathersage swimming pool. This is such a hidden gem in the Peak District! It’s an outdoor heated pool (27C) which is open every day, you can pay-per-session and sometimes they have a sauna and cold plunge too – you’ll need to book this in advance though on their website.
Honestly, a sauna and plunge session followed by a swim is THE BEST way to ease the muscles after you’ve done a walk and it feels like such a unique reward!
After you swim (and maybe sauna) session, it’s time to reward yourself with food and there are several great choices in Hathersage.
If the weather is good, the outdoor courtyard seating next to the river is a great spot to get Peak Pizza Co’s freshly made, wood-fired pizza.
If the weather isn’t on your side, Bank House Hathersage or The George are two great options!
Padley Gorge
I’ve always known about Padley Gorge but it wasn’t until I moved to the Peak District that I realised how easy it is to reach by train. Grindleford train station is almost directly opposite the start of the Padley Gorge walk which is served by the Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield train line.
If you were organised and had enough daylight, you could do Hathersage (above) and Padley Gorge on the same day as Grindleford Station is the next stop after Hathersage.
Padley Gorge is a beautiful, fairly easy walk of around 2.5km along a river and meadow area. There are small waterfalls, woodland areas, picturesque wooden bridges and moorland views.
I’d recommend taking a picnic and heading out on an adventure! There’s also Grindleford Station Cafe if you’d prefer to grab food before or after your walk.
Padley Gorge is especially popular in the autumn to see the beautiful autumn colours.
Hebden Bridge
Hebden Bridge is just a 30 minute train journey from Manchester Victoria.
Hebden Bridge is a charming market town based along a picturesque canal and it’s the perfect day to spend strolling along the canal, popping in and out of the charming shops there and enjoying a cafe or bar (or two!)
Start your day with a sandwich from Saltas – they have epic, packed sandwiches and great ice cream and coffee too.
I love to pop into the Hebden Bridge Antique Centre for a browse and there’s also Vinsportage and Lucy & The Caterpillar for vintage clothing.
A stroll along the canal is a must but if you’re looking for a few longer walks, Hardcastle Crags is a great option and so is the Hebden Bridge Circular – find these and more on AllTrails.
If you’ve read my guides before, you’ll know I’m a big craft beer fan and Hebden Bridge has its own local craft brewery – Vocation! Head here for epic craft beers and a burger menu too.
If you’re looking for something more elevated, COIN is a great option or the White Lion for classic cosy pub vibes.
Altrincham
Altrincham is such an easy day out from Manchester, just 35 minutes on the Green tram from Victoria or Purple tram from Manchester Piccadilly.
Make sure you check out Altrincham Market and all the incredible vendors inside, the artwork is always my favourite. There’s also a food court area and I love a coffee and a pie from Great North Pie Co and the pizza is incredible!
The area around the market is also great, I love taking pictures around here but you’ll also find more independent shops, cafes and bars.
You’ve got so many options for entertainment, the Everyman Cinema if the weather isn’t great plus so many amazing bars – Harcourt is a Hong Kong inspired bar with amazing Hong Kong-style street food and craft beer.
Lane7 in Altrincham is also a great option for games, food and drinks especially if you’re in a group.
I mostly go to Altrincham to watch the Manchester Storm Ice Hockey team play and I highly recommend it! Ice hockey games are so much fun and even if you’ve never been before or don’t understand the rules, it is so fun to watch! Anyone can buy a ticket from the team’s website and they play at Planet Ice in Altrincham, which is right behind the train station.
Marple and Marple Bridge
Recently voted the best place to live in England and it’s not hard to see why, Marple and Marple Bridge are charming!
To get there, take the New Mills Central or Sheffield train from Manchester Piccadilly.
The train station is closest to Marple Bridge which is definitely the prettiest part of the area, although there’s also a tonne of great cafes in Marple proper too.
From the train station, I’d head straight out along the canal and see the Marple locks and Marple Aqueduct. It’s an easy, mostly paved walk that takes around 1 hour to go to the Aqueduct and back.
You could also extend your walk further into Brabyns Park which is super popular with dogwalkers!
For coffee and freshly baked treats, I love All Things Nice in Marple. Marple is also home to the social media famous Tawny Stores but it is on the edge of town so it’s a bit of a walk!
Then have a mooch along Town Street in Marple Bridge which is undoubtedly the most picturesque and charming street, with stone buildings, phone boxes, traditional lampposts and lovely independent stores.
I can never resist popping in to Dutsons which is a Deli and specialty food store and I usually end up taking something yummy home or some new condiment or beverage to try!
Further along the street is Libby’s which is a must if you visit Marple! They serve everything from breakfast and coffee, to snacks and pastries, to gorgeous grazing platters and wine for an evening treat.
For an evening tipple, The Samuel Oldknow is a cute, old-timey pub tucked away in Marple.
Chinley
For Chinley, I’d actually recommend taking the train to either New Mills or Whaley Bridge and doing the walk from there along the Peak Forest Canal.
The canal is one of my favourite, easy walks and if you start from New Mills, you have beautiful views, then after Whaley you have the historic Bugsworth Basin, then through the woods on to Chinley.
From New Mills Newtown Station it takes me about 1 hour 30 minutes to walk to Chinley, from Whaley Bridge station it takes me about 1 hour. Both stations are on the Buxton train line from Manchester Piccadilly.
I usually do this walk in the afternoon and reward myself with pizza at the Paper Mill Inn in Chinley ha!
If you go directly to Chinley, it’s on the Sheffield train line from Manchester Piccadilly.
If you’ve got the full day though, New Mills On the Bridge Cafe or Whaley Bridge Bakehouse are a great place to start with brunch. Or in Chinley itself, you’ve got the Green Lane Social.
From Chinley, there’s the canal walk and also the Chinley Churn which I’ve not done yet but is a 5km walk that starts in Chinley from near Chinley train station.
The Old Hall Inn and the Paper Mill Inn are sister pubs across the road from each other. The Old Hall is more traditional, elevated pub food while the Paper Mill is woodfired pizza and other pop-up food menus.
Sheffield
It’s amazing to me how well connected Manchester is to other major cities because you can get to Sheffield from Manchester Piccadilly in just 1 hour!
I grew up in Nottingham and visited Sheffield a lot over the years so it’s nice to still have a great connection to the city.
Kick off your day in the city centre at the free indoor Winter Garden. Wander through the Peace Garden and have a mooch around the city centre and through the Moor Market.
I am obsessed with The Cabin which is a Canadian restaurant serving amazing pancakes and waffles!
I also love the Kelham Island area of the city which is a gritty, industrial area where you’ll find Kelham Island museum to learn about the history of steelmaking in Sheffield from inside one of the converted factories.
Many other industrial buildings in this area have been converted into cool coffee shops, bars and restaurants. Some of my favourites are:
- The Depot Bakery
- Factory Floor
- Cutlery Works food hall
- Saw Grinders Union
- The Grind Cafe
Chester
Chester is such a beautiful city with half timber-frame buildings and historic city walls, it’s a great mix of history, culture and fun activities.
It’s just over an hour by train from Manchester Oxford Road.
I’m not going to lie, I went to the Jaunty Goat cafe purely for the name, but the food, the coffee, everything was amazing. It’s also a great place to start for brunch before walking through the historic city centre area.
Continue along Bridge Street and head towards Chester Cross and Watergate Street, here you’ll see many of the famous timber frame buildings and the Eastgate Clock which you can also walk across.
From here you can head to the Chester City Walls for a walk and to see the city from above.
There’s also the Chester Cathedral and historic Chester Roman Amphitheatre remains which you can see on your way to the River Dee where ChesterBoats is a great option for some time out on the water if the weather is good!
For a traditional, historic pub, check out the Brewery Tap or Bear and Billet.
Commonhall Street Social is a great option for casual food and drinks.
Leeds
Another well-connected city to Manchester is Leeds, just 55 minutes on the train from Manchester Victoria station.
Did you know that Leeds is home to one of the largest indoor markets in Europe – Kirkgate market. Check it out for an incredible range of food, drink, coffee, clothing, arts and crafts and more.
Opposite the Market is County Arcade which is a gorgeous shopping arcade with ornate features and marble pillars.
On your walk from the station to the market, I highly recommend stopping at Doh’hut, a bakery that specialises in epic doughnuts with so many flavours!
Leeds Corn Exchange is a really cool shopping centre that’s a large circular dome with colourful vendors and a central food court inside.
If you’re a book lover, Leeds Central Library is beautiful to visit. There’s also the Leeds Library, although you need a membership to visit, there are free opening hours 1-3pm on Mon-Fri or you can book a guided tour on their website.
North Brewing Co Taproom is a great city centre location for drinks and street food in the evening, or Trinity Kitchen food court for a range of different eateries.
Summary: days out from Manchester by train
I hope this guide has given you a few more ideas for day trips from Manchester by train. Manchester is an incredibly well connected city and taking advantage of that is a great way to see more of the north of England without breaking the bank with overnight stays.
Whether you’re a nature lover, a city lover or somewhere in between, hopefully these Manchester days out are inspiration for your need free weekend!
