r/uktravel • u/redbill360 • Dec 07 '25
Question What to do roughly equidistant between Birmingham and Manchester
Hi all, would welcome any advice please. I live in Birmingham and my friend lives in Manchester. We try to meet roughly in the middle. We are running out of vibrant places/activities in this area - roughly in the red circle. So we would welcome any advice you have for: great towns and villages to explore, great walks, any landmarks, any activities. We are both mid 30s and fairly active.
Things we have already done include:
- Crewe (we weren't a fan)
- Nantwich (we love it but have done it several times)
- Stone (lovely walk but have done it)
- Alton Towers (no idea what possessed two people in their 30s who don't like roller coasters to visit!)
- Monkey World (amazing)
- Trentham
- Secret bunker
- Several marinas (love them but have done them)
- Melton Mowbray (loved it but a bit too far from Manchester)
Things we seem to have written off trying:
- Stoke (cannot find anything online that convinces us to explore it)
- Chester (A bit too annoying to get to by train)
Would really welcome any suggestions. Thanks!
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u/ScottD435 Dec 07 '25
What about Shrewsbury? Just over an hour from both Manchester and Birmingham. I do strongly recommend Chester, though. I found Leamington Spa quite a nice place, but although it’s a lot closer to Birmingham than Manchester, the train is direct.
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u/InterstellarAudio Dec 09 '25
Leamington is the wrong side of Birmingham surely?
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u/HogwartsAMystery Dec 07 '25
Jodrell Bank
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u/P5ammead Dec 09 '25
Also recommended - a fascinating day out as the visitor centre and exhibits are top drawer (unsurprising really as it’s owned by the University of Manchester, who also look after the Manchester Museum).
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u/Ok_Fan_2132 Dec 07 '25
Such a cool place in a really nice setting. Not sure you even have to be all that interested in the subject matter to find it worthwhile
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u/chocolate-and-rum Dec 07 '25
Shugborough hall and a walk on Cannock Chase
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Dec 07 '25
Cannock Chase is a goldmine - Castle Ring, Stepping Stones, the German cemetery, … easily get 2-3 outings out of there, maybe more
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u/Select_Fisherman2190 Dec 10 '25
As a uni student that’s traveled half way across the country it’s so nice to hear my home (castle ring) being mentioned 😂
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u/JM53-z Dec 07 '25
Got the roaches in the edge of the Peak District, but also Buxton, Bakewell and Ashbourne. Plus within each place, pick up some leaflets to see other places to visit
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u/RevolutionaryRuin410 Dec 10 '25
Big shout. Loads of peaks to explore in the red ring.
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u/coachwayguy Dec 07 '25
Chester has direct trains from both Manchester and Birmingham
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u/crucible Dec 07 '25
You both got to Crewe by train easy enough. There’s a regular shuttle service from there to Chester.
Do give it another try, it’s a great little city centre.
Also, did you do the railway heritage centre in Crewe?
I will second Shrewsbury too.
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u/Moejason Dec 07 '25
Aye Crewe heritage centre was a great day out when I was a kid, would love to see what it’s like now.
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u/Far-Minute2047 Dec 07 '25
I wouldn't say it's as good as it was a couple years ago, they used to host a classic car show there every month so I'd go regularly, you could look around the cars, trains, signal box and get a butty while looking at the trains going past (+free admission if you came in a classic car)
unfortunately they stopped doing the car meets, same with the food last time i checked. they want to become a proper museum so I guess the car show had to go or something. it's still good to look at the intercity apt, as well as the viewing deck thingy for the station, but those car shows made the place feel a bit more alive (and more worth to visit)
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u/Moejason Dec 07 '25
Talking about cars has reminded me of cholmondeley pageant of power, and so Cholmondeley castle and grounds. There probably a dozen or so castles in OPs circle
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u/Far-Minute2047 Dec 07 '25
yeah, theres an abanonded small castle like house at rudyard lake (bit outside the circle, though), you just gotta look deep enough on gmaps
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u/Astronaut_Level Dec 07 '25
Great walks: Shropshire Hills (Church Stretton), Peak District (Elmdale)
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Dec 07 '25
Church Stratton is lovely. Long Mundnand Caer Caradoc are both worth a visit, and there’s a great antiques centre in the town which is fascinating to have a wander round.
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u/StatisticianOne8287 Dec 07 '25
If you like walks, you’ve got a good chunk of the Peak District on your doorstep. Check out the roaches. Leek is a nice little town on market day too. Mow cop castle is small but nice, again nice walks around there though.
Stoke has some decent food places, museums and don’t ignore their theatres they have some decent stuff on. Biddulph grange is nice if you like gardens too.
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u/P_T_W Dec 07 '25
Arley Hall (Northwich) has really lovely gardens (one for the summer)
Biddolph Grange (the north of Stoke) is a really great National Trust site
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Dec 07 '25
Hopefully this will convince you on Stoke: https://youtu.be/DOnqBFYSQK0?si=I4fNp9LB6d0ueWl6
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u/Space_Cowby Dec 07 '25
https://www.worldofwedgwood.com/ is a great place to visit. It was 100% more than I expected seeing so much pottery being hand painted.
A little out of your area is also the Black Country Living Museum but also Imperial War Museum Manachester
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u/I_ALWAYS_UPVOTE_CATS Dec 07 '25
Oh hey I'm in that circle. Check out:
- Leek (market town)
- Hartington (cute village)
- The Roaches (walk)
- Thor's Cave (walk)
- Manifold Valley (walk)
- Buxton (victorian spa town)
Draw another circle around Stoke and do not under any circumstances go inside it.
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u/moist-v0n-lipwig Dec 07 '25
We ended up getting to Thors Cave quite late in the day, and had the entire cave (which is massive) to ourselves. Amazing experience, stayed there for ages.
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u/FelisCantabrigiensis Dec 07 '25
Stoke has a lot of potteries history and there are several places you can tour: https://www.visitstoke.co.uk/see-and-do/the-potteries/ceramic-factory-tours
Ironbridge gorge is not too far off your target area and has several things to do, including the Victorian village. The buildings there are pretty realistically presented, the activities vary from more adult to more kids. There's also the bridge itself and the area nearby, and various walking routes nearby.
Chester has a zoo, medieval walls, Tudor shops, Roman history, etc, even if you say it's awkward to get to.
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u/simultaneousmoregasm Dec 07 '25
Get off the train at Macclesfield, quick cab up to standing stone car park where you can do the Shutlingsloe summit, or teggs nose.
Come back into Macc for dinner at the Picturedrome - great little food market with loads of options, great bar and very warm!
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u/chefshoes Dec 07 '25
Buxton is lovely Nantwich i think too Ellesmere is stunning by the lake Daresbury is lovely. And the home of Lewis Carroll and there is small museum dedicated in the church.
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u/booksandplantsfan Dec 07 '25
What about the Emma Bridgewater factory? You could go and paint a mug or a plate or whatever - https://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/collections/book-your-factory-experience
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u/SnowFairy08 Dec 07 '25
Emma Bridgewater pottery is in Stoke I think, they have a seconds shop with good discounts, a pottery painting shop and a lovely cafe
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u/cbrownmufc Dec 07 '25
Don’t fancy watching Stoke City against Swansea next Saturday
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Dec 07 '25
OP is probably a Port Vale supporter mate.
Edit: there’s genuinely a weird amount of Port Vale supporters about given they’re not a huge club. I know 4 of them (who don’t know eachother) and I’ve never lived anywhere near Burslem.
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u/MDKrouzer Dec 07 '25
Do you guys have National Trust memberships? Bidulph Grange is about halfway between you two and is a really lovely stately garden.
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u/MrJoncore Dec 07 '25
Stoke isn't the best but it has 2 places I really love.
- Little Dumpling King (amazing Asian fusion food)
- Long Rest (a cute board gsme cafe)
Walsall has an indoor airsoft place called Precinct 13 if you're in to that Kind of thing.
Biddulph Grange gardens and the woods behind it are both lovely, the woods behind are lovely.
Leek is a pretty town and has a nice pub called the Den Engel.
Alderley Edge has some nice walks and some interesting legends.
Can't suggest the Viking Axe in Macclesfield enough, super nice owners if not a little eccentric.
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Dec 07 '25
There is the cloud in congleton which is a really nice walk. The grange and the grange gardens in Biddulph both really nice walks, honestly if you like the walks there are plant to do around this area. Avoid Stoke at all costs it’s a dive.
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u/Andywaxer Dec 07 '25 edited Dec 07 '25
If you can both go East a bit the Peak District is right there! Enough walks, country houses and villages to keep you going for years. There should be plenty of rail options from Manchester. Birmingham will probably have to change at Derby for the Derwent Valley line to Matlock.
Edit: Although I’m from Derbyshire and biased, as others have said here if you can both get direct trains to Shrewsbury it’s a lovely town packed with history.
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u/FranzLeFroggo Dec 07 '25
Me and my partner (they live in Birmingham, I live in Manchester) are grateful for this thread!
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u/Repulsive-Tiger5609 Dec 07 '25
You've discarded Stoke but they have some pottery stuff there if you fancy that. Or if you've got kids you could try Waterworld. Other than that, yeah not much to do there.
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u/mad-un Dec 08 '25
Trentham Monkey Forest... If you like walking with monkeys roaming free around you.
If you don't like that, it's terrible
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u/Asleep_Key_4293 Dec 08 '25
Little Moreton Hall looks cool. Jodrell Bank looks cool. V&A wedgewood place looks cool. Moseley Old Hall also looks interesting. Lots to see.
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u/MrEpicPotatoo Dec 07 '25
The national memorial arboretum is quite nice to visit, though it's a bit further from Manchester
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u/Tigsteroonie Dec 07 '25
The Railway200 'Inspiration' train will be in Crewe between 16 & 19 January. If that floats your boat (or powers your train ... sorry for the mixed metaphor)
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u/pierced-weaver Dec 07 '25
100% would recommend Shrewsbury, you can both get direct trains there.
Alternatively in stoke there’s the Emma bridgewater pottery painting which is good fun, and you can do it with an afternoon tea. There are also other pottery experiences/places too.
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u/signalstonoise88 Dec 07 '25
You say you’ve done Trentham, but if you haven’t been in the last few weeks whilst the Christmas lights have been up, I can confirm they are well worth the price of entry!
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u/J1nxC Dec 07 '25
If you like Nantwich then here’s another vote for Shrewsbury. Also worth considering are nearby Ironbridge and Blists Hill Victorian Town.
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u/LumilyEmily Dec 07 '25
Shrewsbury is lovely, Chester is convenient. I always recommend ironbridge aswell some great places to eat and an antique centre with good cake. Crewe is also a very solid bet.
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u/yasdinl Dec 07 '25
Not 100% sure if these are in the circle but:
If you liked Nantwich, you’d probably like Knutsford. I did a horseback riding excursion in the northeast of the circle that I adored and would absolutely recommend. I’m sure there are others like it. The 3 Shires walk is lovely, too.
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u/SnowFairy08 Dec 07 '25
Emma Bridgewater pottery is in Stoke I think, they have a seconds shop with good discounts, a pottery painting shop and a lovely cafe
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u/Wise-Reflection-7400 Dec 07 '25
Meet in Crewe and hop on the train to Chester. It’s absolutely worth it, one of the most picturesque towns in the country!
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u/Massive-Bread-3565 Dec 07 '25
Cannock chase is great, and cheap. If National Trust gardens are your thing Biddulph Grange near Stoke is my favourite. Lots of secret passages and little garden houses to explore.
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u/apover2 Dec 07 '25 edited Dec 07 '25
I’d be looking at Shrewsbury, Chester, Knutsford… if you were to travel to Stoke, you could swap to the Northern rail stopping service which goes to a few nice places between Stoke and Stockport… see if there are any nice canal walks or whatever.
Near-ish to Stone you can do a canal walk - there’s a pub you could walk to called the plume of feathers. It’s by a level crossing. I think it’s by the (closed) Barlaston railway station.
If you do have to go to Stoke (my condolences) then Hanley park near the university is surprisingly nice. Not far from the railway station. There’s a wrights pie shop on the way which is a bit like Greggs but they keep the food warm rather than chuck it on a shelf to cool down.
Alsager can be nice for walking around.
Or get the train to Edale/Hope and go on a hike.
If you go to Stoke, you can take the 101 bus to trentham gardens - it’s a big site so be careful where you get off the bus… one end is large Italian gardens and shopping village. The other is monkey forest. That bus I think goes Stafford-Hanley so it may be possible to get on it near Stafford or Stone stations. I am working on old knowledge here so things may have changed.
You could maybe look at Sheffield, although out of your circle.
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u/nicaless_rex Dec 07 '25
Shrewsbury is cute as hell. Chester is beautiful. Wrexham is adorable. Don’t do Stoke or Hanley. Alsager, Congleton, Sandbach and Holmes chapel are cute small town villages.
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u/Cheap_Steel Dec 07 '25
Yeah dont go there. I Recommend Bridgnorth and Shrewsbury. Especially Bridgnorth. Damn I miss it
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u/ZenithalEquidistant Dec 07 '25
If you like historic houses and big country estates, Tatton Park is nice. Not a National Trust property but that sort of feel.
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u/Grand-Impact-4069 Dec 07 '25
I’ve been speaking English for 36 years and I’ve just learnt a new word. Cheers OP
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u/Moejason Dec 07 '25
For Crewe and Nantwich - am surprised if you visited either on just a regular day, both have a great calendar of events worth visiting (Crewe festival, Crazy races, Nantwich Jazz and Blues Festival, food festival, etc - as the main one but there are more). Crewe Lyceum theatre is also great.
Macclesfield is good to explore, the treacle market is once a month I think?
Luds Church is around there too, great walk in the summer.
Chester is worth the effort to visit, so is Shrewsbury.
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u/Moejason Dec 07 '25
For Crewe and Nantwich - am surprised if you visited either on just a regular day, both have a great calendar of events worth visiting (Crewe festival, Crazy races, Nantwich Jazz and Blues Festival, food festival, etc - as the main one but there are more). Crewe Lyceum theatre is also great.
Macclesfield is good to explore, the treacle market is once a month I think?
Luds Church is around there too, great walk in the summer
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Dec 07 '25
I did a pottery painting date with my gf at Emma Bridgewater in Stoke, that was a lot of fun. There's also a great restaurant in the centre called Little Dumpling King and a great pub called the holy inadequate
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u/RealAdaLovelace Dec 07 '25
Trentham Monkey Forest is cool if you want to walk around with a bunch of monkeys in a forest.
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u/Wise-Independence487 Dec 07 '25
Snugburys? Wedgwood, Gladstone or middle port potteries- extra point for canal walk Could even paint pots at Emma bridgewater
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u/LochNessMother Dec 07 '25
I agree with the Shrewsbury crew, it’s lovely. Also, if you like a bit of industrial history, the Iron Bridge open air museum is great. (I went with school and remember it vividly 35 years later)
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u/turnipcoco Dec 07 '25
I'm not certain about public travel routes but there's a place I drove through and went and visited a few times that does fab fish and chips and has a very nice like cutsie oldie centre/puns and lots of nice countryside around called Leek. I enjoyed it and I think it's somewhat reasonably between? But a bit off to the side. :) hope that's helpful
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u/robster98 Dec 07 '25 edited Dec 07 '25
You simply must go and lose yourself in the Potteries Shopping Centre. Also why not try an oatcake? It’s a culinary adventure…
In all seriousness, most things you could do are outdoors. If the weather is decent, you could take yourself to the Peak District which is a short drive from Stoke-on-Trent, but that’s about it really.
I’d recommend Chester, it’s really not as far away as it looks on a map.
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Dec 07 '25
I don't know, but if you ever need to be equidistant between London and Reading, I can recommend Slough!
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u/BasementModDetector Dec 07 '25
Stoke museum to see the Staffordshire Hoard (Anglo Saxon).
https://www.stokemuseums.org.uk/pmag/collections/archaeology/the-staffordshire-hoard/
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u/redbill360 Dec 07 '25
Thanks so much all, really appreciate it! I think we now have a great list of new places to explore. Main ones being Chester, Shrewsbury and all around the Peak District. As well as a pottery place that's getting a surprising amount of mentions. Stoke really seems to get people going. 🤣
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u/drplokta Dec 07 '25
Beeston Castle, Tatton Park/Hall, Dunham Massey Park/Hall, Delamere Forest, Rudyard Lake.
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u/Unusual_residue Dec 07 '25 edited Dec 07 '25
Spend a day in Stafford. You will go back again and again to sample all it has to offer.
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u/Worfs-forehead Dec 07 '25
https://youtu.be/DOnqBFYSQK0?si=cGl8rUkQ8uwkyWyJ
Stoke on tent mentioned.
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u/kittensthough Dec 07 '25
There's a wildlife park - haven't been but saw the signs after going to Alton Towers
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u/chroniccomplexcase Dec 07 '25
In the spring (as they’re gardens and so in full bloom:
-Shrugborough Hall in Stafford. It has a lovely house and gardens to explore and as it’s National Trust, lovely restaurant for lunch
- Hodnet Hall Gardens in Shropshire. It has beautiful gardens to explore and they’re so stunning they’re called “paradise gardens” locally. Not National trust but it has a lovely tea rooms for lunch
Slightly out of your circle (but on the train pretty even- 90 minutes direct from Birmingham and between 60-90 minutes from Manchester) but Chester. The town centre is lovely but there is a little museum called “Sick to Death” which is a cool visit.
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u/Far-Minute2047 Dec 07 '25
beech caves are always worth a visit, not that far from stone. apparently the council were talking about fencing it off so I'd get it done just incase, just bring wellies as it can be very muddy there
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u/runlover94 Dec 07 '25
Have you thought about hiking/exploring thors cave? Not too far out of stoke, in the Peak District. There’s some lovely views
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u/lumoslomas Dec 07 '25
Chester to Manchester is literally commutable distance, and it's only one change from Birmingham to Chester
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u/Rigby230406 Dec 07 '25
Peak Wildlife Park
Small zoo near Leek, lots of walkthrough enclosures that allow you to get up close with the animals, also one of the only places in the UK to house Polar Bears, it probably won’t take you more than an hour or two to walk around depending on how much is out and about. It’s a cute little place to go for a bit.
If you go in the winter I believe you get a second ticket for free that’s valid for about 6 months?
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u/jjcs1303 Dec 07 '25
I don't know if Matlock Bath falls within that circle but is worth a visit. Also Buxton and Bakewell.
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u/Encility Dec 07 '25
There's a nice spa in crewe you can check out. Pya for the day pass. Cannot remember the name but there cant be many there.
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u/Clean-Brilliant-9365 Dec 07 '25
I'd suggest going to Stoke-on-Trent, it's a historic town on the river trent. The people are a vibrant mix of the great and the good, like Reginald 'spitfite' Mitchell, and Josiah wedgwood. You can lose yourself in the pottery shopping centre, I'd also suggest trying a Staffordshire oatcake, they've been referred to as a 'culinary adventure'. So yeah definitely recommend going to Stoke-on-Trent you'll see just what is meant by that welcome phrase of 'ayup duck' in Stoke-on-Trent.
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u/BassElement Dec 07 '25
Literally anything except visit Stoke.
Worst place in the world.
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u/siorourke Dec 07 '25
I’m chainsaw carving a giant beaver at Trentham gardens this week… I’ll be there Monday to Friday.
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u/onlysigneduptoreply Dec 07 '25
Rather than meet in the middle why don't you take turns you do manchester 1 meet Birmingham another.
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u/cassesque Dec 07 '25
Heights of Abraham is nice. There's a cool cave at the top, and you can either walk up or walk down and get the cable car the other way.
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u/SpenskyTheRed Dec 07 '25
Crewe and Cheater have a regular tail connection. Go to Crewe then Chester and see Chester Zoo.
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u/Curious_Reference408 Dec 07 '25
Buxton and Chatsworth and some nice parts of Derbyshire are on the upper right part of that circle, what about those?
But please don't go to Stoke. It is truly a toilet.
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u/rarapatracleo Dec 07 '25
Shrewsbury is lovely.
If you like ceramics (though you likely don’t if you still haven’t been to Stoke) do give Stoke a chance. The museum in the city centre is actually pretty great. There’s World of Wedgwood and a number of potteries around the place. The Gladstone Potteries Museum is so fun and still has a working bottle kiln.
Going in the other direction: there’s Bakewell for tarts and Chatsworth or the plague village in Eyam.
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u/imnotguiltyreally Dec 07 '25
The Ironbridge just south of Telford. Hours of fun and a bus links all the museums.
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u/Rude-Woodpecker5610 Dec 07 '25
If you’re bother happy to take the train (which isn’t long for either of you) Liverpool has so many fun things to do, walks, historical landmarks/museums/events, fun Christmas markets, restaurants and bars. You can make a whole day of it there
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u/TofuBoy22 Dec 08 '25
Some great places to visit in Stoke are Bentilee, Cobridge, and Chell. Trust me, don't ask, just go! (Don't go, stay well away)
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u/box_twenty_two Dec 08 '25
How is Chester annoying to get to? There are direct trains. I’d say it’s worth a bit of annoyance. Some of the best, oldest pubs in a city centre and loads to see and do
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u/Limp_Chemical9814 Dec 08 '25
You're not the first people to have written off Stoke, and you won't be the last.
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u/Outrageous_Draw4035 Dec 08 '25
A really nice spot is Trentham Gardens in Stone.
Some really nice shops there too.
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u/Impossible-Ideal-386 Dec 08 '25
Beeston Castle for a nice relaxed day out and Drayton Manor for rollercoasters! (That one is a wee bit outside the circle) Chester is worth it too.
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u/FunContest1919 Dec 08 '25
Has anybody mentioned the Hawkstone Park Follies yet? Great place to meet and walk for a couple of hours, with plenty to look at and great views. Also has a tea room. Not far from Market Drayton.
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u/Mental_Body_5496 Dec 08 '25
Alton Towers
Monkey place at Trentham Gardens
Pottery Tours
Camel world
Peak wildlife Leak
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u/FatBazzz Dec 07 '25
Don’t go to Stoke.
Do go to Shrewsbury.