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Altrincham is in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford in Greater Manchester and lies within the historic County boundaries of Cheshire. The town has rather subsumed the neighbouring boroughs of Hale, Timperley, Broadheath, Hale Barns and Bowdon.

Altrincham Town Hall

Get in

Altrincham Interchange is the main transport hub for Altrincham and contains the Tram, Train and Bus Stations; it also has the main taxi rank.

By tram

A Metrolink tram at Altrincham Interchange

Altrincham is served by the excellent Metrolink tram system from Manchester city centre and other destinations in Greater Manchester. Timperley, Navigation Road and Altrincham are all tram stops within Altrincham borough; Altrincham is the tram terminus. Currently direct 12-minute services operate to both Ethiad Campus via Manchester City Centre and Manchester Piccadilly for mainline trains and to Deansgate Castlefield this gives a 6-minute service to the edge of Manchester city centre.

On Sundays between 07:00 and 22:30 there is a 12-minute service that runs to Ethiad Campus. If travelling on a weekend and particularly a Sunday it is worth checking that there are not alterations to the service, again as part of the Metrolink expansion/improvement works.

Metrolink tickets must be purchased from machines on the platform before you travel.

Caution Service disruption: St Peter’s Square tram stop will be closed until the end of August 2016. Trams are currently either terminating at Deansgate-Castlefield or running through St Peter’s Square BUT NOT STOPPING. Bus replacement services and ‘walking routes’ have been set up and you are advised to check the TfGM website for detailed updates.

By train

If travelling from Manchester Piccadilly it can be more convenient to take the train rather than the tram, prices are similar, travel times are similar; the advantage is that you are on the same level if changing trains. The disadvantage is that trains only leave every hour as opposed to every twelve minutes of the tram (6-minutes if you change trams at St Peter's Square). Train tickets may be purchased either on the train or at the station. The Altrincham train usually leaves Piccadilly from Platform 11 and is the Chester (via Northwich) train.

Altrincham's main station is Altrincham which is also a Metrolink terminus, but Hale and Navigation Road stations are on the same line and also offers train services to Manchester, Stockport, Knutsford, Northwich and Chester. If travelling from London on Virgin Trains, all their trains stop at Stockport; it can be easier to alight at Stockport and catch an Altrincham train from there. As has been stated though, check the timetable as they are normally only one train per hour.

The train from Manchester Piccadilly to Altrincham continues to the Roman town of Chester and passes through the Cheshire countryside and various towns and villages on the way. It is good value for money, though not a particularly luxurious train.

Tickets can be bought from the conductor on the train. If there are two of you travelling, look out/request 'Duo' tickets where the second passenger travels half price.

By plane

Manchester Airport is only a few miles away. Buses (Arriva No. 18) are available to Altrincham from the airport however taxis are often the best choice. It is possible to travel into Manchester by train and then to Altrincham by either tram or train. Alternatively you can travel by tram from the Airport to Cornbrook and then onto Altrincham by tram from there (This is NOT a fast journey and will take about 90-minutes).

By bus

Altrincham Bus Station is part of Altrincham Interchange and is adjacent to the Railway Station on Stamford New Road.

Buses from Manchester are available, though invariably take longer than the tram or train. Buses are also available to many other destinations including Manchester Airport, The Trafford Centre, Knutsford and Warrington via Lymm.

By car

The nearest motorway is the M56, which passes within a few miles of the town; you can use Junction 7 (Bowdon) and then the historic A56 (which was once the Roman road from Chester to Manchester) or Junction 6 (Hale Barnes) and use Hale Road. Both these will take you into Altrincham town centre.

However, when travelling from London and the south the M6 (junction 19) is only about 6.5mi to the southwest of Altrincham. Travelling to Altrincham from Manchester City Centre the most direct route is along the A56 through Stretford and Sale.

Car Parks are well signed, most require a nominal payment.

By taxi

The main taxi rank is in front of the Altrincham Interchange by the clock tower on Stamford New Road.

By boat

If you fancy a novel way of accessing the town why not cruise in a narrow boat along the Bridgewater Canal which passes through Broadheath on its way from Manchester to Runcorn.

Get around

The town centre is best explored on foot, if you are travelling to the outlying areas then either local buses or the tram or train.

Map
53°23′2″N 2°20′56″W
Map of Altrincham
  • Bike & Go: On Altrincham Station on Platform 4 is a bike hire facility, similar in nature to London's Boris Bikes.
  • Cycle Hub: Near to Platform 1 at Altrincham station at the west end of the station is a Cycle Hub facility that allows you to leave your bike and take other modes of transport. Access is via a season ticket from Transport for Greater Manchester.

See

  • 1 Dunham Massey, WA14 4SJ, ☏ +44 161 941-1025, . A National Trust (NT) owned property. The historic house and grounds of Dunham Massey are a short distance from the town and it is perfectly possible to walk to them. The grounds contain a large amount of open space and deer, and the house is often open to visitors, as is the historic water mill. NB. The banner image at the top of this page is of Dunham Massey Hall. 
  • 2 Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN, ☏ +44 1625 374400. A joint Cheshire County Council (CCC) and NT property. NT Members still have to pay for parking. Similar to Dunham Massey, although Tatton Park contains a petting zoo with farm animals and a Children's play area in addition. Tatton Park is also home to an annual Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) flower show (usually in late July) and plays host to a series of summer evening concerts each year, which vary from classical to pop. 
  • 3 Frank Sidebottom Statue, Stockport Road, Timperley. A statue of the papier mâché headed comedian was unveiled on 20th October 2013 at 11:37 in Timperley Village. Often dressed up by the locals to match the season. Expect a Santa outfit on him at Xmas. 
  • 4 Art With a Heart, 82-84 George Street, Altrincham, . Wednesday – Sunday 10AM – 5PM. Home of the Arts for the Community in Altrincham. Now relocated to George Street Free entry. 
  • 5 Bravest Little Street in England, Regent Rd (Blue plaque on side of Phantong Restaurant). The families that lived on Chapel St. in 1914 sent more than 160 men to fight in the trenches of World War I. King George V called Chapel Street in Altrincham the 'bravest little street in England' for providing so many volunteers. Out of the 161 that were sent, 29 of the recruits failed to return to their loved ones in the cul-de-sac which was demolished in 1960 to make way for flats. The plaque reads: 'Chapel Street Altrincham. From just 60 houses 161 men volunteered in the Great War 1914-18. 29 were killed. Recognised and praised by King George V' 

Other Blue Plaques in Altrincham are: -

  • Helen Allingham (Victorian water colour artist) at 16 Market Street, Altrincham
  • Ronald Gow (dramatist) on the old Barclays Bank, Stamford New Road
  • Altrincham Market Site as part of the Altrincham Charter (granted in 1290) celebrations
  • George Massey (set up the first gas-making plant in Altrincham) Unicorn Hotel, Altrincham

Do

  • 1 Altrincham Garrick Playhouse, Barrington Rd, ☏ +44 161 928-1677. "Discover a world of entertainment and drama" at Altrincham's recently refurbished playhouse and theatre. Drama, musicals, concerts and pantomime. 
  • 2 Goose Green. An evening (or afternoon) in the Goose Green area is recommended. This compact historic area has recently been given a facelift and is home to various restaurants and bars; on warm evenings the clientèle use the open air facilities to drink (and smoke) outside. Look out for the statue of a goose in the passageway from Stamford New Road. Altrincham Cinema is a short distance away and many cinema goers stop for a drink before and after the film. 
  • 3 Altrincham Football Club, Moss Ln, ☏ +44 161 928-1045. Altrincham FC play a short distance from the town centre at the Moss Lane ground. The ground is still predominately terraced . Admission is £13 for an adult to stand, £8 for a concession, £5 for a 12-16 and £2 for an under 12. 
  • 4 Altrincham Ice Rink (Silver Blades), Oakfield Rd, Station Site, WA15 8EW (At the rear of the railway station), ☏ +44 8700 852929 (premium rate number from most mobiles and non-BT landlines), . Silver Blades Altrincham is open 7 days a week including bank holidays and is home for all ice disciplines including general public skating, figure skating, ice dancing, speed skating and ice hockey. 
  • 5 Vue Cinema, Denmark St (Across the disused railway bridge from Goose Green), ☏ +44 8712 240 240 (premium rate number from most mobiles and non-BT landlines). 
  • 6 Timperley Sports Club, Stockport Rd, Timperley (Off A560 to east of town), ☏ +44 161 980-4397, . "One of the oldest private sports clubs in the UK (founded in 1877) that incorporates Timperley Cricket Club, Hockey Club and Lacrosse Club. We are proud of our excellent facilities enjoyed by our 700 members including a brand new purpose built clubhouse, two artificial turf pitches and two cricket pitches on site."
Timperley Sports Club

 

  • 7 Altrincham Kersal Rugby Football Club, Kersal Drive, Stelfox Ave, Timperley (Off B5156 to the east of Timperley Village), ☏ +44 161 973-9157. Amateur Rugby Union club that caters for all ages both men and women. 
  • 8 Altrincham Leisure Centre, Oakfield Rd (Behind the railway station), ☏ +44 161 926-3255. Includes swimming pools, sports halls and gym. 
  • 9 Trans Pennine Trail. The Trans Pennine Trail is a route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders linking the North and Irish seas, passing through the Pennines, alongside rivers and canals and through some of the most historic towns and cities in the North of England. The trail passes along the abandoned Warrington to Timperley Railway line to the north of Altrincham before veering off towards the River Mersey and across to Stockport 
  • 10 Altrincham Golf Course, Stockport Rd, Timperley (Off the A560 to the east of the town.), ☏ +44 161 928-0761. "Altrincham is an 18 hole, par 71, 6,385 yard, parkland golf course with Timperley brook meandering throughout. It provides a challenging test for any standard of golfer. The course is one of the Northwest's best pay and play courses which also offers great value golf course season tickets. It has some of the best kept greens in the area and the course plays well all year round." 
  • 11 Ringway Golf Club, Hale Rd, Hale Barns, ☏ +44 161 980-2630. This private members club welcomes visitors and societies. 
  • 12 Dunham Forest Golf Club, Oldfield Ln, ☏ +44 161 928-2605. Visitors should contact the Professional Shop on +44 161 928-2727 to check availability and reserve a tee time. 
  • 13 Hale Golf Club, Rappax Rd, ☏ +44 161 980-4225. Visitors are very welcome at Hale Golf Club. A 9-hole course. 
  • 14 Code to Exit (Escape Room), 143 Manchester Road, WA14 5NS, ☏ +44 161 759-5025. A popular escape game in which the teams experience a not everyday thrill and adrenaline rush.

    "We can confirm that there are no physical challenges or fear factors involved. Our game is all about engaging with your team and enjoying the experience of finding clues, solving puzzles and riddles in a fun and safe environment." (updated Mar 2016)

  • Altrincham Walk. Occasionally there are guided walks; but visit this website for a do-it-yourself guided walk with an excellent commentary. 

Buy

Once a major retail centre hosting higher-end retailers and independents, the retail scene in Altrincham Town Centre had deteriorated in recent years but is now undergoing a major revival. It has concentrated on being a food and drink town with some retail outlets; there are a few independent stores (some listed below) and the usual high street favourites can be found at the north end of George Street in Altrincham (Marks and Spencer, Waterstones, Next, W H Smiths, Boots and Rackhams). The Market is thriving and well worth a visit. Hale village also has a good selection of independent retailers.

Altrincham Market
  • 1 Altrincham Market, Market St/Greenwood St/Central Way. Visit the market in the town centre where local produce, and many other things can be bought. There is a Farmers' Market on the 1st Friday of each month. Every Thursday and Friday evening in the run up to Xmas they hold twighlight markets with stall, food, drink and music. The market has been refurbished and the old market hall is now all about eating and drinking even a real ale bar has appeared. In October 2015 the market won the Observer Food Monthly's 'Market of the Year' award. 
  • 2 Walton's Models, 30 Stamford St, ☏ +44 161 928-5940. Model railway specialists 
  • 3 Abacus Books, 24 Regent Rd, ☏ +44 161 928-5108. Independent bookshop 
  • 4 Warhammer (Games Workshop), 49 Railway Street, WA14 2RQ, ☏ +44 161 929-9896. (updated Nov 2015)

Eat

  • 1 Altrincham Market, Market St/Greenwood St/Central Way. The market has been refurbished and the old market hall is now all about eating and drinking even a real ale bar has appeared. In October 2015 the market won the Observer Food Monthly's 'Market of the Year' award. (updated Oct 2015)
  • 2 Altrincham Fish Bar, 41 Greenwood St. Traditional fish and chip shop, with formica tables in the dining room, maritime kitsch and some quite curt service! 
  • 3 Francs Restaurant, 2 Goose Green, ☏ +44 333 123 3954. French cuisine 
  • 4 Greenhouse Vegetarian Restaurant, 41-43 Oxford Rd, ☏ +44 161 929-4141. The only vegetarian restaurant in Altrincham. It serves fresh, made-daily salads and hot meals. £5.25 salad plate, £6.15 hot meal.. 
  • 5 The Hale Grill, 183 Ashley Rd, Hale, ☏ +44 161 941-7851. 
  • 6 Masala Bangladeshi Take Away, Church St, WA14 4DW. Try the traditional dish "Bangla Achari". 
  • 7 Piccolinos, 214/215 Ashley Rd, Hale, ☏ +44 161 928-9500, . 
  • 8 Taste Buds, 2 Lloyd St. The place to go for a cheap, quality doner kebab or a chicken burger after a night out. Takeaway only. 
  • 9 Thai Chilli Club, 12 Ashley Rd, ☏ +44 161 926-9197. Excellent lunchtime offers. 
  • 10 Joanne's Fish & Chips, 50 Borough Road, WA15 9RA. A fish & chip shop since 1901. Pensioner portions £2.30 excellent value. Open Tue & Fri lunch and Mon-Fri tea time 
  • 11 Whoots, Altrincham Railway Station (On Platform 1). A menu that is comprised of freshly made, quick, nutritious, takeaway options for busy people. Selections include hot drinks, porridge, fruit parfaits, smoothies, milkshakes and frozen yoghurt. 
  • 12 La Rioja, 28-30 Regent Rd, ☏ +44 161 929-1124. Serves traditional tapas. 
  • 13 Farina, 21 The Downs, ☏ +44 161 929-4008. Italian style food 
Goose Green
  • 14 Yara, 23 Oxford Road, ☏ +44 161 926-8001. Popular venue specialising in traditional Lebanese and Syrian food. Booking is essential. 
  • 15 Sugo Pasta Kitchen, 22 Shaw's Rd, Altrincham WA14 1QU (Opposite the Market), ☏ +44 161 929 7706. Popular new restaurant, booking essential (updated Jan 2016)

Drink

  • 1 Cheshire Midland, Ashley Rd, Hale. The place to go for a cheap pint, but avoid in the summer and Christmas season as it's extremely busy due to the influx of students. 
  • 2 Costa Coffee, 33-35 George St (Above Waterstones). Another outlet has now opened across the pedestrianized street from this one. 
  • 3 Costello's, 18 Goose Green, ☏ +44 161 929-0663, . This bar serves well-priced and excellent-tasting beers from the local Dunham Massey Brewing Company. Be careful though, some are strong! In the Good Beer Guide and been awarded Trafford & Hulme Pub of the Year 2012 and 2013. 
  • 4 The Gardeners Arms, Deansgate Lane, Timperley, ☏ +44 161 941-1880. 12:00 - 23:00 most days. Recently spruced up local pub with a selection of real ales from Theakstone's brewery. Good reasonably priced home made meals 
  • 5 Mort Subite, 39 Greenwood St. Belgian bar. 
  • 6 Old Market Tavern, Old Market Pl (off Church Street (A56)), ☏ +44 161 927-7062. A selection of over twelve local cask ales plus Belgian beers,traditional ciders, wines and an excellent range of whiskeys. Live bands on most Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. On Thursday night they have an open acoustic night which is open to all and has been going for over three years. Wednesday night is Jimmys' quiz night just a £1 to enter and free food at the end of the quiz. As well as good food every day they also show all lot of the MCFC and MUFC matches. The building used to be the Town Hall and then a police station. It was also the first building in Altrincham to have gas lighting. Have a look for the blue plaque. 
  • 7 Old Packet House, Navigation Rd, WA14 1LJ, ☏ +44 161 929-1331. Good Beer and food. Holds the Cask Marque Award for serving great quality real ale. A great place to talk to the landlord about motorbikes and skiing. 
  • 8 Pi, Shaws Rd (Opposite the market). Always has at least 2 real ales on, one local usually from the Tatton Brewery; plus more exotic lagers and beers many from foreign shores.. Food is pie, mash and peas! 
  • 9 The Quarry Bank Inn, 151 Bloomsbury Lane, Timperley, WA15 6NY, ☏ +44 161 903-9483. Best pub in Timperley Village serves Hydes ales. Food available, popular for its lunchtime menu. Still has a bowling green attached. 
  • 10 The Railway, 128 – 130 Ashley Road, Hale (100m to north west of station), ☏ +44 161 941-5367, . A traditional pub with excellent real ales and a great atmosphere. Unchanged from the 1930's. Serves lunch M-F 12:00-14:00. This pub still has individual rooms, so you can escape into your own corner if required. Sky Sports. Watch out for the Coronation Street star! This is the venue for the Altrincham Festival pub quiz, usually in the second week of July 
  • 11 The Swan with Two Nicks, Park Lane, Little Bollington, Altrincham, WA14 4TJ (Take the Lymm Road (A56) towards Lymm after about a mile turn right into Park Lane), ☏ +44 161 928-2914, . Country pub and restaurant close to the National Trust's Dunham Park, hence on weekends in the summer it can be very busy. The pub is dog friendly and serves real ale including one or two ales from the local Dunham Massey Brewery. 

Sleep

Cresta Court Hotel, Altrincham

Connect

  • 1 Altrincham Information Centre, 18a Stamford New Rd (Opposite the Railway/Bus Interchange), ☏ +44 161 912-5931. 
  • Altrincham Today. News and stories about happenings and developments in Altrincham 
  • Visit Altrincham. Community Website 

Go next

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