Stockport Foodie Friday Archives

Growing up in South Manchester, I spent a lot of time in Stockport. I suppose it was easier for my family to drive and park there to go shopping and such like. I’ve always felt at home there. It’s a small town, with a compact shopping centre and the more I visit and explore in my adulthood, the more I love it.

In more recent years, I’ve been excited by the food and drink scene, spending time up near the famous Victorian market, enjoying the hospitality of many of the bars and restaurants in the area. I could cheerfully list a whole heap of places where I’ve wined and dined well in recent years, but with half term approaching, I thought I’d put together a list of fine things to do in Stockport. As ever, if I’ve missed something important, please do comment below and I’ll add it in.

Things to do in Stockport

If you’re new to Stockport and fancy a bit of family fun on a dry day, one thing we did a couple of years ago was download a Treasure Trail map, which is a really excellent way of getting to know somewhere. We did it with a couple of other families, and despite visiting Stockport regularly for over 40 years, I discovered so much I’ve never seen before. So that’s well worth looking at.

Additionally, Stockport has its own heritage trail, which if you’re a fan of historical buildings and such like, it’s also worth looking at. Keep an eye out for the plaques on the buildings around Stockport, and I believe you can pick up a trail map at the Stockport Visitors Centre.

Things to do in Stockport

Here is my big list of things to do in Stockport. Some indoor fun and outdoor things to explore, some in the town centre and some a little further out. There’s lots to see, do and explore in Stockport!

Things to do in Stockport

Museums & Galleries

Bramall Hall and Gardens
Chadkirk Chapel Museum
Old Rectory House
Old Town Dungeon & Court House
Robinsons Brewery Visitors Centre
Staircase House Museum
Stockport Air Raid Shelters
Stockport Art Gallery
The Stockport Museum
Stockport Town Hall
Strawberry Studios
The Avro Heritage Museum
The Hat Museum – currently closed, but reopening in March 2024!
The Underbanks & Underbank Hall
Visit Crowther Street, which LS Lowry once painted

Days Out: Visiting Stockport Air Raid Shelters

The Great Outdoors

Abney Hall Country Park
Alexandra Park
Brabyns Park
Cale Green Park
Dragon Miniature Railway
Etherow Country Park
Marple Locks
Reddish Vale Country Park
Reddish Vale Farm
Stockport Viaduct – the UK’s largest brick build structure
The Garden House (farm)
The Roman Lakes, Marple
Vernon Park
Woodbank Memorial Park

Winter in Abney Hall. PLUS Save Abney Cafe!

Indoor fun

Awesome Walls Climbing Centre
Brooklyn Pottery
Jump Heaven trampoline centre
Kids Go Karting
Merseyway Shopping Centre
Ropes Race Climbing Centre
Savoy Cinema, Heaton Moor
Stockport Garrick Theatre
Stockport Victorian Market Hall
The Light Cinema
The Produce Hall
The Stockport Plaza – theatre and period style cafe
Tramp2Lean trampoline centre
X-GENVR – virtual reality experience

Things to do in Stockport

Other fun things…

Stockport Foodie Friday – once a month head up to the Victorian Market to enjoy an evening of good food, good music and good fun!

Living in South Manchester, my local food festival is the increasingly popular Stockport Foodie Friday. This is a fantastic festival located in and around Stockport Market, and it takes place on the last Friday of each month.

I’ve been going with friends for the last few months and I’ve loved the child friendly, relaxed atmosphere. The range of interesting street foods, not to mention the market stall offering prosecco by the glass (a bargain £3 if memory serves).

The area outside the market hall is fringed with street food vendors, each with a small queue of hungry festival goers. Local bands entertain the crowds with live music which drowns out the gentle hum of the diesel generators which make it all possible. The pubs are filled with thirsty visitors and when the sun shines, the area is filled with relaxed and happy people, all contentedly munching away, bumping into people they know and happily soaking up the atmosphere.

I’ve been to loads of food festivals and apart from the range and quality of the food, one of the things I enjoy most about Stockport Foodie Friday is the convivial atmosphere. It’s like a relaxed village fete with something for everyone.

The last time I went I had an amazing veggie burrito from The Wrapscallion, the time before a Pad Thai from Somtam Street, and I can never resist a portion of hot churros with chocolate sauce. Both times I’ve been keen to try out the veggie dishes from Nasi Lemak Street Food, but both times they’ve sold out before I got there.

Each month there are old favourites as well as newer street food traders, indoors (where there is more seating) there are a few market stalls open as well as a bar or two. It’s a lovely evening out with friends and family. It’s great for kids and equally good with foodie loving friends who might enjoy a prosecco or a craft ale alongside their al fresco meal.

On the last Friday of each month you can usually find me chatting with old friends, making new ones, gobbling down some street food and quaffing prosecco by the glass at Stockport Foodie Friday. There’s plenty of parking and public transport nearby, the atmosphere is fantastic and the variety and quality of the food available is excellent. Stockport Foodie Friday is well worth a visit.

To find out more about Stockport Foodie Friday visit their website.

Stockport Foodie Friday