Stockport Guide
Stockport may not be top of everyone's list of places to visit in England but this former mill town, south of Manchester, is enjoying a renaissance.
Due to its excellent transport links by train, bus or car to Manchester, seven miles up the A6, property prices in this town of 136,000 are on the rise.
Birmingham and London to the south and south east are just one or two hours away by train respectively. Manchester Airport, too, is within easy reach by either bus or train.
The town also offers access to some wonderful countryside nearby. The Peak District, England's first National Park is close, as are the stately homes of Chatsworth, Haddon Hall, Lyme Hall and Bramall Hall. The relaxing, spa town of Buxton in Derbyshire is just 20 miles and less than an hour by car to the south.
Stockport History
Stockport as a town dates back to medieval times. There is mention of "Stokeport" in 1170.
Stockport Market place dates back to the 15th century and Stockport Market itself received its charter way back in 1260. The Earl of Chester presented the charter to the lord of the manor, Robert de Stokeport.
The town is located where the River Tame and River Goyt join to form the River Mersey. This ready availability of water and thus steam power led to the town becoming an important industrial centre during the Industrial Revolution. Silk, textiles and hats were the major products manufactured in the town's many mills, some of which are still preserved.
Silk and cotton mills sprung up on the banks of the Mersey and Goyt rivers. By the late 18th century cotton began to overtake silk production. New technologies made cotton production more efficient and between 1780 and 1830 output boomed while the population of the town increased from around 5,000 to over 28,000 people.
Rapid industrialization also led to pollution and overcrowding. In 1844 Friedrich Engels in his book The Condition of the Working Class in England noted that Stockport was "renowned as one of the duskiest, smokiest holes" in the industrial north.
Stockport Viaduct, one of the largest brick structures in Britain, opened in 1840, an icon of the new industrial age. It is famously depicted by the painter L S Lowry, an example of imposing industrial architecture towering above the individual.
By the late 19th century Stockport had become a specialized center of hat-making. At its height, 'hatting' was a major source of employment.
By the 1930's Stockport's industry was in decline and by the 1990's the last of the hat factories had closed. This proud industrial heritage is commemorated at the Hat Works museum.
Stockport's economy has now a more-varied, post-industrial feel with more people employed in services and at the large Stepping Hill Hospital in the south of the town.
The Stockport Market area has been saved from destruction and is now the main entertainment center.
Various trendy pubs and eateries are gathered in and around the former Produce Hall, making for a vibrant atmosphere on Friday and Saturday evenings.
The whole atmosphere of the old centre of Stockport has changed for the better over the last few years. Now more and more family-friendly visitors can enjoy a number of new bars and restaurants, with a variety of casino games in one of the many local gaming halls.
These include the new revamped Produce Hall, now a food and drinks court with outside seating, Where The Light Gets In, an increasingly recommended restaurant, The Cracked Actor on Little Underbank, a Victorian-themed Blues bar, the Remedy Bar and Project 53 for craft ales and the long-standing Baker's Vaults pub.
Stockport Attractions
Stockport has a surprising number of interesting places to visit including some innovative museums and historic buildings.
At the center of the market place is the 19th century St. Mary's Church, a Grade 1 listed building.
Nearby is the interesting Stockport Dungeon & Court Leet, a restored former courthouse and dungeon.
Staircase House, a 15th century townhouse with a Jacobean cage-newel staircase, and the Stockport Air Raid Shelters, which were used during German bombing raids in World War II, are both nearby.
Stockport Town Hall is another architectural gem. Opened in 1908 it is famous for its striking baroque facade of white Portland Stone, earning it the nickname of the "Wedding Cake Town Hall". Indeed, matrimonial rather than administrative functions are its main raison d'être nowadays.
On the other side of the A6 is the impressive Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery.
The town is dotted with fine buildings recalling its once proud industrial past. Vernon Park was laid out for the benefit of the town's factory workers way back in 1858. Adjacent Woodbank Park was opened to the public after World War I.
There is now a thriving street art scene in Stockport with a cluster of murals on Underbanks showcasing the work of both local and international artists.
The iconic Strawberry Studios on Waterloo Road near the Town Hall is remembered with a blue plaque on the front of the building. 10cc, Joy Division, Paul McCartney, The Smiths and Neil Sedaka all recorded music here in its heyday.
Not everything is architectural harmony, however. The Redrock leisure complex picked up the 2018 Carbuncle Cup, an annual architecture prize award to the ugliest building of that year.
Stockport Shopping
Stockport's main shopping areas are Stockport Precinct, the nearby Peel Centre and, of course, Stockport Market.
The precinct has suffered in recent years with many of the big name stores such as Mark's & Spencer's shutting their doors. There are branches of Primark, Asda and Sports Direct still going strong.
Pear Mill in Bredbury has been converted to house a variety of small and medium-sized businesses. The most prominent is the Vintage Emporium which opened in 2015 and is now one of the largest if not the largest in the north west region with over 65 independent retailers in residence. Shoppers can find a variety of antique and vintage art, books, clothing, ceramics, fashion, furniture, ornaments, records, toys and other collectables.
Stockport Hotels
With Manchester so close the big hotels are mainly gathered in Stockport's big brother to the north.
In Stockport the new Holiday Inn Express is right opposite Stockport Station. Other possibilities include the Wycliffe Hotel, the three star Bredbury Hall Hotel and the three star Alma Lodge Hotel opposite Stockport Grammar School.
See here for a listing of accommodation in Stockport to suit all budgets.
Stockport Pubs
One thing the town has a good reputation for is the sheer number and quality of its pubs. The local brewery is Robinson's which has been going strong since the mid-18th century. Drop in to the Robinson's Visitor Centre near the market for a tour and tastings.
Also in town are the recommended Swan With Two Necks and the Arden Arms.
Another cluster of fine pubs can be found in Great Moor (The Crown and The Traveller's Call) and then further along the A6 in Hazel Grove between Stepping Hill Hospital and Torkington Park. The Three Tunnes and Flying Coach are recommended here, though all the dozen pubs or so in this strip have their merits and die-hard locals. Recently, though, several of them have called last orders for ever.
Stockport County
Stockport County are the town's main football club. Though most youngsters are drawn by the glamour of Manchester's big two up the road, City and United, County were once in the second tier.
"The Hatters" languished outside the top four leagues for a while but not any more. County play their home games at Edgeley Park, not far from the main station.
Phil Foden, a local lad from the town, is a rising star at Manchester City while Kobbie Mainoo, also from Stockport, plays for rivals Manchester United.
Stockport Access - Getting To Stockport
Stockport Station has frequent trains to Piccadilly Station, Manchester Oxford Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Blackpool, Liverpool, Preston, Southport and Wigan.
Other routes from Stockport include local services south to Davenport, Woodsmoor, Hazel Grove and Buxton.
There are also trains to Sheffield, Cleethorpes, Nottingham and Norwich with an hourly service to Manchester Airport via Piccadilly.
There are train services to London Euston via Cheadle Hulme, Macclesfield and Stoke-on-Trent to Birmingham New Street and Euston. Another route to London Euston is via Wilmslow and Crewe. One train per hour runs to Birmingham New Street and onto Bristol Temple Meads Station.
There are trains running west from Stockport Station to Altrincham, Knutsford, Northwich and Chester Station in Chester.
Manchester Airport can be reached also by bus. Take the 199 service from Stockport Bus Station. The 192 bus links Hazel Grove with Manchester Piccadilly up the A6 and runs until late at night.
Stockport Interchange bus station opened in 2024 at a cost of 140 million pounds. It replaced the old Mersey Square bus station and includes 18 bus stands and a pleasant rooftop garden - Viaduct Park.
The following buses stop at or originate from Stockport Interchange. There is capacity for 164 departures an hour.
7 - Ashton Bus Station via Dane Bank, 11 - Altrincham via Cheadle and Wythenshawe, 23 - Trafford Centre via Chorlton, 25 - Trafford Centre via Chorlton, 42 - Piccadilly Gardens via Didsbury and Manchester Royal Infirmary, 197 - Manchester via Green End and Longsight, 199 - from Buxton to Manchester Airport, 203 - Piccadilly via Reddish and Belle Vue, 309 - Adswood & Cheadle via Edgeley, 310 - Adswood & Cheadle via Edgeley, 312 - Cheadle Hulme via Adswood & Cheadle, 313 - Manchester Airport & World Freight Centre via Adswood & Cheadle Hulme, 314 - Offerton via Offerton Fold, 322 - Brinnington - Castle Hill - Haughton Green, 325 - Brinnington, 327 - Haughton Green via Denton, 330 - Ashton via Hyde, 358 - New Mills, 360 - Hazel Grove - Disley - New Mills - Hayfield, 364 - Woodbank Estate - Hazel Grove circular, 368 - Wythenshawe via Cheadle Hulme, 370 - Altrincham via Cheadle & Northenden, 371 - Heaton Mersey - Cheadle - Gatley - Altrincham, 374 - Torkington via Davenport including Davenport Station & Hazel Grove including Hazel Grove Station, 375 - Heaviley - Offerton - Hazel Grove - Hawk Green, 378 - Bramhall - Heald Green - Cheadle Hulme circular, 378A - Gillbent via Davenport & Bramhall, 379 - Davenport - Bramhall - Cheadle Hulme circular, 382 - Lower Bredbury - Bredbury - Romiley - Woodley, 383 - Marple via Offerton, 384 - Marple via Romiley, 385 - Offerton - Marple - Marple Bridge - Mellor, 391 - Heaviley - Poynton - Bollington - Macclesfield, 392 - Heaviley - Poynton - Bollington - Macclesfield, 393 - Heaviley - Poynton - Bollington - Macclesfield, 807 - Heaviley - Offerton - Great Moor - Harrytown.
Hire a car at Manchester Airport. Compare the biggest brands in UK car hire to get the cheapest deal on a variety of vehicles from compact cars to estates to SUVs.
Related Stockport Resources
Map of Stockport & North West England
Hotels in the North West of England
Book Hotels in Blackpool - Booking.com
Find Hotels in the Lake District - Booking.com
Search Hotels in Liverpool - Booking.com
Hotels in Manchester - Booking.com
Book Hotels in the UK - Agoda.com