Reccommendations
Middlebrook shopping (5 min drive)
Middlebrook is a shopping/dining area that is near the Horwich train station. It has a pharmacy, food places, shopping, groceries, movie theater, bowling/arcade center, etc.
Milk Maids (10 min drive)
The best ice cream around! It's homemade, you can see the cows, they have fresh eggs, milk and raw milk!
Smithills Hall (15 min drive)
This is very local and a great place to visit, outside and inside. They do have a small petting zoo and homemade ice cream too.
Haigh Hall (20 min drive)
This is an easy walk at an old Hall estate. The hall itself is currently closed for renovations but there's a great playground, flower garden, walking paths, stream, woodlands, etc. This is free to enter but there is a small charge for parking.
Clitheroe Castle (50 min drive)
Cute Village and a castle ruins. nice restaurants and pubs, quaint.
Lake District National Park
The Lake District is renowned for its stunning glacial lakes (like Windermere, Ullswater), rugged mountains (fells) such as Scafell Pike (England's highest), and charming villages, attracting visitors for hiking, outdoor activities, literary history (Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter), and breathtaking scenery, also designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. a gorgeous drive or a couple days hiking or hanging out
Skipton Castle (1 hr drive)
Skipton Castle is one the best preserved castles in England (maybe the UK). Perhaps purchase tickets online, but you can get them at the door. Bolton Abbey is near by so this would be a good combo. Skipton village is cute also, there's a great little church and traditional pies (savory and sweet). I would not recommend the canal cruise though, a waste of time.
Bolton Abbey (1hr 15min drive)
Bolton Abbey is an old ruins and free to visit but you may need to pay for parking. If walking is a problem, try pulling up to the church parking lot and parking there (it's usually just for church members/staff but sometimes you can get away with it if you have difficulty walking). There's a river with a fun way to cross (and a bridge) which leads to a nature walk. This is also near Skipton castle so it would be a great thing to do all in one day.
Chester (30-40 min drive)
Chester is rich in history with historic city walls, unique two-tiered Rows for shopping, the Roman Amphitheatre, the iconic Eastgate Clock, strolling along the River Dee, experiencing Chester Cathedral's architecture and views, and a wonderful Zoo.
York (1.5 hr drive/2.5 hr train)
York is a great village feel town with an old Roman wall you can walk on, museums, and the great York Minster, a huge cathedryl founded in year 629 and worth the view. There are so many things to do here and see, a must visit if you can. Here's the website for York Minster https://yorkminster.org/
Cotswolds (2.5 hrs drive)
The Cotswolds is a region of the most beautiful English countryside with tiny villages you can drive through and have a pint. This is worth the trip seeing traditional cottage homes, narrow streets and old churches. If you go to London, this could be on your way!
London (4 hr drive/3-4 hr train)
London is one the most beautiful large cities in the world, just make sure to look right, not left. You can drive to London in about 4 hrs or take the train. If you drive, just know there are 'congestion' charges in much of the main city and the traffic will be horrific. I suggested if you drive, stay at the Premier Inn attached to the London Airport and take the subway into town. Doing the 'Big Red Bus' Tour (Hop on/Hop off) is a fantastic way to see all of London in a day or two. The subway is very easy to navigate and payment is with your debit/credit card, very easy. While you are there, go see a theater production even.
Stonehenge (4 hr drive)
Obviously this is a very cool experience. They have an app so you can listen and learn or you can rent machines there. This is a 4 hr drive from where we will be staying however, if you go to London, it's only 1 hr 20 min. from the airport area. While you are in that area, stop in Avebury to see free (aside from parking) stone circles you can touch.
Avebury (3.5 hr drive)
Avebury is home to the world's largest prehistoric stone circle, museum, 16th Century manor house and garden AND a very hidden gem! We found this back in 2011 and its the coolest place ever. Near London and Stonehenge. I would suggest going to Stonehenge, then Avebury, then back to our area.
Wales (1-1.5 hrs drive)
It takes about 1-1.5 hrs drive to get to the border of Wales. There are castles, waterfalls, mountains, seaside and its gorgeous.
Edinburgh, Scotland (4 hr drive/3.5 hr train)
Edinburgh is a great town, see Princes Street Gardens, visit Edinburgh Castle (get tickets in advance), visit Holyrood Palace, explore the spooky Edinburgh Vaults, authors seat, see Dean Village on a guided tour, take a whisky tour in Edinburgh and so much more.
Cafe Begum Manchester - Indian Food
If you are looking for a great Indian restaurant, this it is! Reach out if you want suggestions from the menu.
Nick's Restaurant - Turton Golf Course
This is a wonderful restaurant, the menu changes seasonally and daily even based on the fresh meat, seafood and veg. Highly recommend this place, make a reservation though. High quality fresh seafood and meat.
