10 Best Things to Do in Stockport

The Staircase House is well known for its rare restored Jacobean cage-newel staircase. The house is situated in the centre of town near Stockport Market Place. You'll find many hands-on opportunities to explore the history, and you just may be tempted to pull back and examine the bedding on the 4-poster bed or attempt writing with a 17th-century quill pen.

A state-of-the-art audio guide will guide you through a fascinating collection of rooms connected by tight passages while retelling the history behind this magnificent house.

Hat Works Museum highlights Stockport’s hatting industry and lets you explore a reconstructed hat factory with over 20 functional Victorian-style machines and more than 400 hats from across the globe.

Funding from the Association for Industrial Archaeology has allowed for the repair of many of the hatting machines, which you can see at the 2-storey museum located off of Wellington Road. Children of all ages will also enjoy the Family Fun Zone, which allows for exploration and learning through interactive play.

Bramall Hall is a Tudor manor house of the middle ages that is situated on a large public green space and open for tours. On weekends, taking the bus to stop 372 or 278 and making the 20-minute walk to the park is recommended, as parking is very limited. Inside, the walls are adorned with spectacular 16th-century paintings.

You'll appreciate the historic beauty of the Victorian kitchens and servants’ quarters. The hall is on 28 hectares of land featuring vibrant woodlands, streams and lakes. There are many picnic areas where you can stop for a snack while enjoying a walk around the park.

Stockport Museum details the town’s full history, from Palaeolithic to present times, and includes exhibits depicting markets in old Stockport and the rich textile trade in the Victorian era. In its earliest exhibit, you can view the ancient Mellor pot, which was excavated in an archaeological dig.

The recent addition of the new family gallery makes the museum a wonderful place for children to learn about Stockport as well. Stockport Museum is a quick walk from bus and railway stations – simply head down St Petersgate towards the historic Market Place.

The Stockport Air Raid Shelters allow visitors to explore the original underground tunnels used during 1940s Britain wartime. The entrance to the shelters can be found across from Merseyway Shopping Centre.

Carved out of natural sandstone cliffs, the mile-long system was the largest network of civilian air raid shelters in the country, designed to hold up to 6,500 people. The provided audio guide will play first-account stories of the local people who experienced the war and provide an understanding of life on the home front.

The Plaza Super Cinema and Variety Theatre is a historic theatre presenting live music, drama, ballet, classical movies and more. The cinema was originally opened in 1932, and you will see that a great deal of focus has been placed on restoring the stunning art deco architecture.

You'll be brought back in time as you enjoy a top-notch show in the vibrant auditorium. At the Plaza Café, you can order snacks and beverages to enjoy with the presentation. The theatre is situated in Stockport's town centre.

Stockport Market offers a unique shopping experience, showcasing over 50 independent businesses that sell a wide variety of goods. Found in Stockport's town centre, a market has been in this location for over 700 years, with the current building having opened in 1861.

As you walk around, you'll find fresh produce and meat, restaurants, beer, vintage goods and much more. In addition to regular market hours, you can find many special events. Artisan markets are on the last Saturday of each month and feature 50 additional stalls of food and live entertainment. You may also enjoy Book and Record Fairs, Vintage Village or Foodie Friday.

Underbank Hall is a Grade-II listed, restored 15th-century town house that was sold from its original owners, the Arden family, and began its tenure as a bank. Over the years, much work has been done to the interior, both to restore the building and to make it a modern business space for the bank.

These updates were made without spoiling the outdoor appearance of the building, so you can still admire the original exterior architecture. You'll find the NatWest bank branch for Stockport located in the town centre.

Avro Heritage Museum showcases an impressive selection of British aircraft in an indoor exhibition hall and outdoor park. The big attraction in the main exhibition hall is a full-size replica of an Avro Type F aircraft, with remaining artefacts arranged in chronological order, making it easy to follow Avro's story.

You'll see the cockpits of several aircraft through windows or doors, and tour guides can show you around the interior of the VC10 cockpit. Outside at Vulcan Park, you'll see the impressive Avro Vulcan XM603 up close, and the picnic tables in the park are a great place to stop and enjoy a snack from the Vulcan Cafe. The museum is located on the former Woodford Aerodrome off Chester Road.

Etherow Country Park contains over 80 hectares of natural beauty to explore and boasts a rich history. Developed in the 1820s, the park is situated in the valleys of Peak District National Park and was originally home to a mine, lake and cotton mill, later becoming one of England's first country parks.

You'll find many leisure clubs meet here, such as the sailing and model boat clubs, and the thick nature preserve is a wonderful spot to watch birds, as over 100 species have been spotted here. At the visitors centre, you can find a cafeteria and toilets.