Activities in Bury

We start our guide to the best attractions in Bury with the town’s most famous landmark, Bury Market. This shopper’s paradise is home to over 400 stalls, and plays host to over 250,000 visitors per week. With indoor and outdoor sections featuring everything from fresh meat and fish to boutique fashion, it’s no wonder that Bury Market has been named the best market in the country on numerous occasions. Whilst you are there, make sure you grab a sample of the local delicacy, Bury black pudding.

Bury is home to the former UK Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel, who introduced the police force as we know it today – that’s why officers are nicknamed ‘peelers’ or ‘bobbies’. He is commemorated by a statue in the town centre, and by Peel Tower on Holcombe Hill in Ramsbottom. The 128ft monument gives views of the town and beyond, and walking up the hill to see it is a great way to spend some time in the outdoors, before heading into Ramsbottom for a well-earned drink.

Bury is also home to The East Lancashire Railway, a heritage line which once played an important role in the area’s industry by helping to bring raw materials and people in and out of Bury. It is one of few remaining steam train lines in the country and, although it is no longer used to support local industry, it is one of the most popular attractions in the region. You can learn all about the history of the East Lancs at Bury Transport Museum, before watching or riding one of the locomotives. The Trackside Bar also serves a variety of real ales and has a great selection of memorabilia dotted around.

If you would like to find out more about the military history of the area, take a trip to the Fusilier Museum on Moss Street, just a few minutes walk from our Bury hotel. Here you can explore over 300 years of Royal Lancashire Fusilier history and discover the part the regiment played in Britain’s war efforts over that period.

If you are a fan of the arts, you may prefer the Bury Art Museum, directly opposite the Fusilier Museum. The collections are sourced from both local and international artists and are regularly updated with touring exhibitions, so be sure to check what’s on during your stay.

Finally, if the outdoors is where your heart lies, then the picturesque scenery of Burrs Country Park will definitely be of interest to you. You can walk alongside the River Irwell, which features the Irwell Sculpture Trail, and stop for a picnic, or a pint in the Brown Cow pub.