Stockport

Stockport is a borough in the south east of Greater Manchester. It used to be famous as the centre of the hat-making industry. The River Mersey begins in Stockport just east of the Town Centre at the confluence of the Goyt and Tame.

The borough contains the towns and suburbs of Marple, Cheadle, Brinnington, Bosden Farm, Cale Green, Cheadle Heath, Davenport, Davenport Park, Edgeley, Foggbrook, Great Moor, Heaviley, Heaton Chapel, Heaton Mersey, Heaton Moor, Heaton Norris, Little Moor, North Reddish, Offerton, Offerton Green, Portwood, Reddish, Reddish Green, Reddish Vale, Shaw Heath, South Reddish, Stepping Hill and Woodsmoor.

• Hat Works, Wellington Mill, Wellington Rd S, SK3 0EU, +44 161 474-2399. 10AM–5PM. "The UK's only museum dedicated solely to the hatting industry, hats and headwear!" Free.
• Bramhall Park and Bramall Hall, Hall Rd, Bramhall, SK7 3NX, +44 161 474-2020.
• Lyme Park, Disley, SK12 2NR (at Disley, 6 miles southeast, +44 1663 762023. A stately home and extensive grounds owned by the National Trust.
• Staircase House, 31 Market Place, SK1 1ES, +44 161 218-1460. Includes Stockport Story Museum.
• Vernon Park and Museum, Turncroft Lane, Offerton, SK1 4AR, +44 161 474-4460. 10AM–3.30PM (museum). Stockport's oldest public park. Free.
• Reddish Vale Country Park, Stockport, Greater Manchester, SK5 7HE.
• Stockport Town Hall, Edward Street, SK1 3XE (, +44 161 474-3451. Built 1904–08 in white Portland stone by architect Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas, and opened by the then Prince and Princess of Wales. Wurlitzer organ concerts on Monday lunchtimes, tours available by arrangement for groups of 15 or more. .
• Stockport Viaduct. Over eleven million bricks were used to build what was then the largest viaduct in the world. It is still hugely imposing and dominates the western edge of the town centre, and is a must for lovers of Victorian/railway architecture. .
• Air raid shelters, 61 Chestergate, SK1 1NE, +44 161 474-1940. During World War II, an extensive network of tunnels was excavated in the sandstone under Stockport town centre to provide protection from bombing raids. One section has been opened up for visitors as a museum. Adult £4.75, concessions £3.50, children free.

Hat Works, Wellington Mill, Wellington Rd S, SK3 0EU, +44 161 474-2399. 10AM–5PM. "The UK's only museum dedicated solely to the hatting industry, hats and headwear!" Free.

Bramhall Park and Bramall Hall, Hall Rd, Bramhall, SK7 3NX, +44 161 474-2020.

Lyme Park, Disley, SK12 2NR (at Disley, 6 miles southeast, +44 1663 762023. A stately home and extensive grounds owned by the National Trust.

Staircase House, 31 Market Place, SK1 1ES, +44 161 218-1460. Includes Stockport Story Museum.

Vernon Park and Museum, Turncroft Lane, Offerton, SK1 4AR, +44 161 474-4460. 10AM–3.30PM (museum). Stockport's oldest public park. Free.

Reddish Vale Country Park, Stockport, Greater Manchester, SK5 7HE.

Stockport Town Hall, Edward Street, SK1 3XE (, +44 161 474-3451. Built 1904–08 in white Portland stone by architect Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas, and opened by the then Prince and Princess of Wales. Wurlitzer organ concerts on Monday lunchtimes, tours available by arrangement for groups of 15 or more. .

Stockport Viaduct. Over eleven million bricks were used to build what was then the largest viaduct in the world. It is still hugely imposing and dominates the western edge of the town centre, and is a must for lovers of Victorian/railway architecture. .

Air raid shelters, 61 Chestergate, SK1 1NE, +44 161 474-1940. During World War II, an extensive network of tunnels was excavated in the sandstone under Stockport town centre to provide protection from bombing raids. One section has been opened up for visitors as a museum. Adult £4.75, concessions £3.50, children free.

• The Plaza, Mersey Square, SK1 1SP, +44 161 477-7779 (bookings). This lovingly restored 1930s cinema shows films and hosts theatre productions. The Christmas pantomime is one of the best in the region. You are welcome to look around or visit the authentic 1930s tearoom on the first floor with views out onto Mersey Square.
• Stockport County Football Club, Edgeley Park, Hardcastle Road, SK3 9DD, +44 8456 885 799. £15 (adult), £10 (concession), reduced rates for under-21s.
• A Laugh In Stockport comedy club, Seven Miles Out arts centre, 20 Market Place.

The Plaza, Mersey Square, SK1 1SP, +44 161 477-7779 (bookings). This lovingly restored 1930s cinema shows films and hosts theatre productions. The Christmas pantomime is one of the best in the region. You are welcome to look around or visit the authentic 1930s tearoom on the first floor with views out onto Mersey Square.

Stockport County Football Club, Edgeley Park, Hardcastle Road, SK3 9DD, +44 8456 885 799. £15 (adult), £10 (concession), reduced rates for under-21s.

A Laugh In Stockport comedy club, Seven Miles Out arts centre, 20 Market Place.

• Last Monsoon, 54 King Street West Stockport SK3 ODT, +44 161 476-4266. If you're looking for a nice Indian takeaway meal, delivered to your door right in Stockport, this is for you!

Last Monsoon, 54 King Street West Stockport SK3 ODT, +44 161 476-4266. If you're looking for a nice Indian takeaway meal, delivered to your door right in Stockport, this is for you!

The local brewery, Robinsons, are the major supplier to most of the area's pubs, although other Manchester breweries and micro breweries are well represented. The brewery opened a visitor centre in 2013.

There are some 250 pubs and bars within the metropolitan borough of Stockport. The UK real ale organisation CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ales) features many Stockport pubs in its guide and lists a record number (5) of pubs on its National Inventory of Historic Pubs. Stockport is very appealing to fearless beer/pub architecture enthusiasts in the wider area, with far more pubs than most towns of its size. A few of the best appear below.

• Bamford Arms, Buxton Road, Heaviley, SK2 6NB, +44 161 480-2968. M–Sa noon–11PM; Su noon–10:30PM. A Beefeater pub/restaurant located in the leafy suburb of Heaviley, around a mile south of Stockport town centre.
• The Park Inn, 264 Newbridge Lane, +44 161 480-2275. M–F 11:30AM-11PM, Sa 11:30AM-midnight, Su noon-midnight. A friendly local community pub that offers plenty of entertainment, food served lunchtimes and evenings, and a jukebox with music that spans seven decades which is free.
• Arden Arms, 23 Millgate, SK1 2LX. A runner-up in the CAMRA 2005 national pub awards. Excellent food at lunchtimes and weekends, good beer and reasonable wines.
• The Olde Vic, 1 Chatham Street, Edgeley. Close to the rear entrance of Stockport Station, this rather decrepit-looking pub is one of the most successful free houses in the area, offering a minimum of 5 beers from small independent breweries around the UK. The owner, an ex-policeman, operates a no swearing and bad behaviour policy and offers a warm welcome to all in his eclectic and quirky pub.
• Porter's Railway, 1 Avenue Street, SK1 2BZ (Portwood, just east of town centre, +44 161 429-6062. M-Sa noon-11PM; Sun noon-10:30PM. This pub is often threatened by demolition but has survived. Its character and sheer range of ales is rivalled by few. Local CAMRA Pub of the Year 2007 and Cider Pub of the Year for six seven years. Among the many cask ales, it showcases the ranges of Rossendale, Outstanding and Pictish breweries (including a mild); supplemented by three guest beers at weekends.
• Crown, 154 Heaton La, SK4 1AR, +44 161 480-5850. Nestled beneath the viaduct, this characterful little boozer has long attracted beer enthusiasts due to its wide range of ales, cosy interior and spectacular location.
• The Magnet, 51 Wellington Road North, SK4 1HJ, +44 161 429-6287. CAMRA regional pub of the year 2011. This pub has been restored and offers a wide range of cask ales and bottled beer from around the world.

Bamford Arms, Buxton Road, Heaviley, SK2 6NB, +44 161 480-2968. M–Sa noon–11PM; Su noon–10:30PM. A Beefeater pub/restaurant located in the leafy suburb of Heaviley, around a mile south of Stockport town centre.

The Park Inn, 264 Newbridge Lane, +44 161 480-2275. M–F 11:30AM-11PM, Sa 11:30AM-midnight, Su noon-midnight. A friendly local community pub that offers plenty of entertainment, food served lunchtimes and evenings, and a jukebox with music that spans seven decades which is free.

Arden Arms, 23 Millgate, SK1 2LX. A runner-up in the CAMRA 2005 national pub awards. Excellent food at lunchtimes and weekends, good beer and reasonable wines.

The Olde Vic, 1 Chatham Street, Edgeley. Close to the rear entrance of Stockport Station, this rather decrepit-looking pub is one of the most successful free houses in the area, offering a minimum of 5 beers from small independent breweries around the UK. The owner, an ex-policeman, operates a no swearing and bad behaviour policy and offers a warm welcome to all in his eclectic and quirky pub.

Porter's Railway, 1 Avenue Street, SK1 2BZ (Portwood, just east of town centre, +44 161 429-6062. M-Sa noon-11PM; Sun noon-10:30PM. This pub is often threatened by demolition but has survived. Its character and sheer range of ales is rivalled by few. Local CAMRA Pub of the Year 2007 and Cider Pub of the Year for six seven years. Among the many cask ales, it showcases the ranges of Rossendale, Outstanding and Pictish breweries (including a mild); supplemented by three guest beers at weekends.

Crown, 154 Heaton La, SK4 1AR, +44 161 480-5850. Nestled beneath the viaduct, this characterful little boozer has long attracted beer enthusiasts due to its wide range of ales, cosy interior and spectacular location.

The Magnet, 51 Wellington Road North, SK4 1HJ, +44 161 429-6287. CAMRA regional pub of the year 2011. This pub has been restored and offers a wide range of cask ales and bottled beer from around the world.

• Manchester
• Altrincham