Wind the clocks back a decade, and you’ll find Altrincham was a sleepy town with a scary amount of empty shops and a population that went elsewhere for pretty much anything. Fast forward to the present, and you’d be forgiven for thinking we’d confused Altrincham for a different town entirely. The place is alive with excellent cafes, bars and restaurants. Plus, the shopping has made great strides, so much so that you needn’t catch the Metrolink to Manchester for a bit of retail therapy. Stay with us at our Altrincham hotel and see for yourself. But be sure to give yourself enough time to tick off the top-class National Trust properties nearby as well, which head up our long list of great days out.
Things to do in Altrincham
Activities
Make the most of your stay in Altrincham by ticking off some of the area’s best days out. Nearby, you’ll find two of the National Trust’s most popular properties, which offer historic houses, gorgeous gardens and vast estates perfect for strolling around on a sunny day. Should the rain arrive, there are also indoor options like ice skating, escape rooms and a trip to the cinema.
Entertainment
See a show, catch a football match and enjoy an evening of live music with our round-up of Altrincham’s excellent entertainment venues. With two historic theatres, a smattering of live music venues and a run of locally adored dance classes, there should be something to do every day of the week, not to mention a year-round programme of theatre productions.
Places to eat
Altrincham’s food scene seems to grow with more and more fantastic restaurants and eateries with every passing day. All we can say is ‘Viva la revolucíon!’ Our foodie guide starts at Altrincham Market and delves into tasty tapas, champion curries, full English breakfasts and Altrincham’s one and only Michelin Guide restaurant.
Nightlife
Take your pick from some of our favourite bars and pubs in Altrincham, including stylish cocktail options, CAMRA-favourite drinking dens and cheap pints courtesy of a scenic Sam Smith’s pub. And if you get peckish, we’ve thrown in some popular gastropub choices for you to chomp through, as well.
Shopping
People travel from miles around to sample the shopping in Manchester, but the truth is you can go on a serious shopping spree by staying in Altrincham. The revamped Altrincham Market is a hive of activity, especially on the weekends, with stalls upon stalls of food, drink, arts, crafts and homeware for you to pick up at bargain prices. You can also make your way to The Stamford Quarter. It’s the town’s main shopping centre and home to the likes of House of Fraser, H&M and Flannels.
Getting Around
Altrincham town centre is compact enough that you can walk from our Altrincham hotel to most of the places featured in our local guide with relative ease. When it comes to getting here, the Altrincham Interchange is the town’s main transport hub. You’ll find it on Stamford New Road, next to the town’s historic Clock Tower. It’s three stations rolled into one. Bus services come and go to the surrounding area. The Altrincham Interchange is on the Mid-Cheshire line with Northern rail services connecting Chester and Manchester Piccadilly. It’s also the terminus of the Manchester Metrolink’s Altrincham line. If you need to catch a taxi anywhere, there are several local Altrincham taxi providers to choose from, or you can book an Uber. If you’re travelling from further afield, Manchester Airport is your closest international airport. It’s only a 15-minute drive away, and buses do run from Manchester Airport Train Station to the Altrincham Interchange. You can also stay at one of our hotels near Manchester Airport.
Shopping in Altrincham
