Discover Stockport's Stories and Places
Your guide to the best walks, pubs, food, and history across Stockport, Marple, Heaton Moor, Reddish, Romiley and beyond.
Stockport wears its history on its sleeve. From the towering red-brick viaduct to the cobbled corners of the market, this borough is built on graft, trade, and quiet reinvention. But it’s not just a place for the past. With scenic walks, solid pubs, proper grub and pockets of creativity, Stockport’s carving out a name on its own terms. Whether you’re here for a wander, a bite, or to explore the towns that make up this stretch of Greater Manchester, here’s where to start.
Stockport at a Glance
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Top picks for: historic buildings, canal walks, indie food, green space, vintage shops, Sunday strolls
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Easy access from: Manchester (under 10 mins by train), Sheffield, Buxton, Macclesfield
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Local legends: Robinsons Brewery, Strawberry Studios, Regent Cinema, The Hat Works
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Underrated gem: Vernon Park — a quiet beauty just above the town, with views, statues and riverside paths
Must-Visit Places in Wigan
Explore some of Towns of Stockport
Marple
Peaceful canals, iron bridges, and plenty of routes for a long walk and a pint.
Reddish
Green space meets grit, industrial roots but full of local pride and nature.
Heaton Moor
Creative, stylish and full of indie cafés. Feels like the laid-back cousin of Didsbury.
Romiley
Village feel with countryside on the doorstep. Cosy pubs and good coffee.
Offerton
Largely residential but with good walks and strong community feel.
Bramhall
Leafy, well-kept and a favourite for garden lovers and brunchers alike.
Where to Eat in Stockport & Beyond
Where The Light Gets In
7 Rostron Brow, Stockport SK1 1JY
Tucked above the market, this is fine dining with a conscience. Seasonal menus, locally sourced ingredients and no two meals the same.
Kambuja Marple
12 Stockport Rd, Marple, Stockport SK6 6BJ
Authentic Cambodian food in Marpl, locals rave that it’s Michelin-level at a village-restaurant price
Cafe San Juan
27 St Petersgate, Stockport, SK11EB
Colombian-inspired breakfast and brunch, it’s widely celebrated as one of the town’s best cafés
Laco Café & Bistro
32 Little Underbank, Stockport SK1 1JT
A hidden gem just off the Market Place, Laco brings a touch of laid-back charm to the heart of town. From fluffy pancakes and Turkish eggs to stacked burgers and fresh pasta,
Mekong Cat
47 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 1JQ
Southeast Asian home-cooking—pho, noodles, salads—in open-kitchen style; so popular tables often book weeks out
The Produce Hall
22 Market Place, Stockport SK1 1EU England
A vibrant market-style venue with global street food, craft coffee and a creative atmosphere—it’s a crowd favourite
Where to Drink in Stockport & Beyond
The Magnet Freehouse
51 Wellington Rd N, Stockport SK4 1HJ
A CAMRA-fave with rotating local ales and a proper beer garden
The Elizabethan
33 Heaton Moor Rd, Heaton Moor, Stockport SK4 4PB
A local favourite in Heaton Moor with a proper beer garden, in a house built 1874. A warm place for a sunny afternoon or evening get-together and the occasional Gallagher
The Arden Arms
23 Millgate, Stockport SK1 2LX
Historic Robinsons pub with cosy snugs, excellent cask ales and a huge beer garden
Crown and Conspirator
26 Bramhall Lane South, Bramhall, Stockport SK7 1AF
A charming village pub with a grand front bar and cosy, all-weather sidewalk terrace. The rear of the pub has a stunning secret garden room with retractable roof.
Bakers Vault
Market Place, Stockport SK1 1ES
A gin-palace gem in the Market Place, hand-pulls, vintage décor and local list acclaim
The Fiveways
Macclesfield Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport SK7 6BE
A spacious, family-friendly pub with a beer garden, good food menu, and rotating ales. Regular pub quiz nights add to the community feel
Hatting, Markets and Making Things Matter
A Town That Built Things, and Still Does
Stockport was once the hatting capital of the world. By the late 1800s, millions of hats were made here every year and shipped across the globe. The Hat Works Museum still tells that story, of steam, sweat, and stiff brims, in a way that brings it all back to life.
But it wasn’t just hats. Stockport’s market thrived with traders and craftworkers, and that same spirit of making and doing never really left. Today, you’ll find independent printmakers, brewers, bakers and artists filling the town’s old buildings with new ideas.
Places like The Produce Hall and The Warren are bringing food and creativity into old walls. The Underbanks buzz with vintage shops and studios. There’s pride in the past, but also a proper belief in what’s still to come.
Stockport doesn’t try to be anything it’s not. That’s what makes it work.
Recommended Walk: Viaduct to Vale
Start at the historic Market Place. Walk past the old pubs and into Vernon Park, with its views across the Goyt valley. Follow the river trails into Reddish Vale for a quiet pint at the farm café or a proper pint at a pub nearby.
Insider Tips
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The Produce Hall is busiest weekends - weekdays are more chilled
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Market Place parking fills quick, but Redrock has space and it’s close enough
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Expect to hear “It’s not Cheshire, it’s Stockport” more than once
Plan Your Visit
Stockport is close to everything, but it’s more than a stop on the way. It’s a borough with its own mind, its own rhythm, and a proper sense of pride.
Whether you’re here for the heritage, the food, the walks or just to see what the noise is about — you’ll find a warm welcome and a bit of magic in the mix.
Community Question
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