Things To Do
From Bolton Interweb
Museums
Like any self respecting town, Bolton has a range of museums, mostly council-operated. They're not bad in comparison with other provincial towns but don't be expecting the Victoria and Albert, Hampton Court, or Seaworld, you'll be very disappointed. Still, it would fill the odd couple of hours, although in respect of the main museum, gallery and aquarium, not a couple of hours on the days you are most likely to have them spare. Well, what do you want for nothing?
Bolton Museum, Archive, Art Gallery & Aquarium
Located behind the Town Hall in the town centre in Le Mans Crescent (not that you could race down it - it's cobbled). Tel: 01204 332211. Entry is free and it is open Monday to Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm. Closed Sundays and public holidays (except certain dates listed on the website from time to time), which is a bit daft really coz that's when a lot of people would probably visit. Still this is Britain and it is a public service so common sense doesn't come into it.
Still council run but open Sundays though not Mondays or Tuesdays and not Thursdays sometimes, and closed entirely from October to March unless it's open. Make sense? Good luck.
This one isn't free - there are a range of concessions and family tickets including joint tickets with Smithills Hall. The museum is a 15th century half-timbered hall at one time occupied by Samuel Crompton, inventor of the Spinning Mule, which revolutionised the cotton industry.
Open year-round but with different seasonal opening times, Tuesday to Sunday, but not Saturdays when people have the spare time to go around museums. So perfectly in line with the concept of not serving the public. If you want a wedding there then no problem, hand over the cash and its yours. The hall is an early example of a Lancashire manor house, and underwent extensive restoration a few years back. Admission charges apply. Don't want to pay for the tour? The Smithills Coaching House Restaurant is on the grounds and gives you a flavour. It is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. It has a bar, which is the most important thing if touring old houses isn't your thing but you got dragged along and were too polite to decline. The Coaching House - Telephone 01204 840377.
Other Attractions
Animal World & Butterfly House
Moss Bank Park, Moss Bank Way, Bolton BL1 6NQ
Tel: 01204 336926 (Environmental Care - is that Parks Department?) or maybe 01204 334050 (no longer advertised)
Houses a variety of animals and birds, including farm animals, alpacas, chipmunks (last time I went), wildfowl, and tropical birds as well as tropical butterflies and moths, insects, spiders, reptiles and tropical plants. In fact they have 80 exotic species, not including the lesser spotted unspecified bull terrier, and occasional very very lost overseas tourist. Sorry, moths and spiders??? I know it's free but really... Why not take a few such creatures from home and offer to donate them to the collection - I assume this would be appreciated.
Admission is free, the attraction is open daily, but don't go expecting London Zoo - the chipmunks are (were) the highlight although the alpacas may make your heart race! Tell the kids you're taking them to the zoo and watch their little faces fill with joy, whilst your wallet isn't unfilled by a ticket booth. They'll be grown up before they realise what a cheapskate you are.
Opening Times (used to be):
Apr to Sept - 10.00 am - 4.30 pm
Oct to Mar - Saturday to Thursday 10.00 am - 3.30pm, Friday 10.00 am - 2.30 pm
But the website seems non-specific these days.
Six miles to the East is the home of the World Famous Wrigley Collection. Whilst some may believe this to be a display of used chewing gum remnants, it is in fact over two hundred oil paintings, watercolours, prints and ceramics collected by local magnate Thomas Wrigley and donated to the town in 1897. None bear any resemblance to a stick of gum, new or used. Opening times for the art gallery and museum are Tuesday - Friday: 10am - 5pm, Saturday: 10am - 4.30pm. Not open on the days when people have time off to visit galleries like Sundays and public holidays in keeping with the policy of local government bloody uselessness.
Not in Bolton exactly but also six miles to the East, the associated Transport Museum closed in 2003 and is subject of a restoration project, but it remains a living history experience. If you are in the area and want to experience the days of steam trains, it is well worth a visit. The main station is in Bury Town Centre, with plenty of car parking nearby.
Now this definitely isn't in Bolton but it is less than an hour's drive away and for visitors to the North West something totally different to the usual attractions such as Blackpool. Near Buxton, this would make a great day out for all the family with an opportunity to support the work of this fantastic donkey sanctuary. Open Friday to Sunday from 12pm to 4:30pm you could also find yourselves mixing with stars of stage and screen that form an impressive list of patrons. There is a tea room, picnic area, and memorial garden. Freshfields Farm, Peak Forest, Derbyshire, SK17 8EE. Tel: 01298 79775. The A6 road from Buxton to Bakewell passes through jaw-droppingly stunning countryside unsurpassed anywhere in the world.
© Evrose, 2011
