Hat Works is the only museum in the United Kingdom dedicated to the hat industry, hats and headwear. This unusually clear-cut subject is a good introduction to Stockport’s rich history: air-raid shelters, historic houses and canals offer quite different perspectives on the town.
Hat history, air-raid shelters and architecture
On selected days, Hat Works offers tours of the factory floor. If you are particularly interested in this insight into the town, check in advance which days the tours are available. The Stockport Air Raid Shelters reveal another side of the town’s history: opened in 1939, they were the largest purpose-built civilian air-raid shelters in the country. Set deep inside a natural sandstone cliff, they offer insights into the experiences of local people during the war.
Architecture can also be appreciated through specific details. Staircase House is home to one of only three surviving Jacobean cage-newel staircases in the country. Bramall Hall, meanwhile, is a Tudor manor house with origins dating back to the Middle Ages. It stands in around 70 acres of parkland with woodland trails, streams and lakes: architectural history and varied landscapes come together here, so you can explore both without treating them as separate subjects.
The Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery combines art with architectural history: the building is Grade II* listed, and exhibitions are regularly held across all four galleries. Stockport Story takes a broader historical view, presenting Stockport’s history from the Palaeolithic to the present day under one roof. At the Avro Heritage Museum, by contrast, the focus is on aviation history. The museum preserves the legacy of Alliott Verdon-Roe and his company A.V. Roe & Co (Avro); it is also home to the only example of a Vulcan bomber painted entirely white. Tours can be booked in advance for clubs and groups.
Green spaces, waterways and activities
The landscape around Stockport offers more than one way to enjoy the outdoors. Reddish Vale Country Park covers 161 hectares along the River Tame. Walking, cycling and horse-riding trails there connect with paths along the Goyt, Etherow, Saddleworth and Longdendale. Etherow Country Park comprises 240 acres of green space with a wide variety of plants and wildlife. Its facilities include opportunities for sailing, motorboating and fishing. Reddish Vale, then, is about connected trails, while Etherow combines green space with water sports.
In the Goyt Valley, Chadkirk Country Estate includes a 60-acre farm and a 16th-century chapel. For orientation, Romiley railway station is a 10-minute walk from the estate. Another way to explore the area on foot or on wheels is the Middlewood Way. The 11-mile route runs from Marple to Macclesfield, is mostly flat and is wheelchair-accessible. The Mersey Valley Way is suitable for walking, travelling with mobility aids and cycling.
The Marple Locks are a particularly striking waterside feature: the flight comprises 16 locks and is one of the steepest in Britain. From Marple railway station, it is a five-minute walk to the towpath, which is open at all times. The details about the locks and the Middlewood Way show different ways to connect Marple with canal scenery and longer routes, without suggesting that both offer the same kind of outing.
Town life and travel information
Stockport Market Place is the historic heart of the town and an important part of the town centre. The historic streets of Little and Great Underbanks lie next to the Market Place. Stockport Market hosts Foodie Friday once a month, a street-food event featuring local traders, craft ales and live music. If you plan to attend, check the event dates before your trip.
Stockport’s rail-connected districts include Marple, Reddish North, Rose Hill and Romiley, among others; they are directly connected to Manchester city centre. By train, Stockport is around 10 minutes south of Manchester city centre, although journey times can vary. Check the current timetable for your specific journey. If you are planning to visit Manchester as well as Stockport’s attractions, the rail connection can be a useful point of reference when choosing where to stay.
Discover more destinations: Stockport, Bredbury, Wigan, Greater Manchester, Halton, Tameside, Lancashire, Warrington.
For the broader travel overview: North West England.
