Explore Bolton

There are many reasons why you would come to Visit Bolton, so where to start! 

Firstly, you can enjoy Bolton’s culture and there is lots of it! They have a staggering six theatres including the Octagon, a highly regarded producing theatre across the country, the amazing Bolton Albert Halls which has been a key part of cultural enjoyment for over 100 years and the historic Victoria Halls and Bolton Little Theatre. 

Culture is knitted into the town’s urban environment with the stunning architecture of Le Mans Crescent providing a backdrop to popular film and TV productions like Peaky Blinders, The Ipcress File, Passenger and A Gentleman in Moscow, giving us the nickname the ‘Hollywood of the North’. 

The centre is also home to the museum with one of the largest collections of Egyptology outside London as well as the ever-popular aquarium. 

They have a range of public spaces like Victoria Square and Queens Park which play host to national events such as the annual Bolton Food and Drink Festival which attracts over 500,000 each year, IRONMAN weekend and the Right to Roam festival. 

Enjoy a fantastic range of shopping destinations, including Market Place Shopping Centre with a host of high street shops and independent brands. They are also proud to have the Middlebrook Retail Park which is one of the largest leisure, sports, and retail venues in the country. 

Of course, you may just want to get in touch with nature in their great outdoors walking, cycling or just relaxing on the West Pennine Moors or Rivington Pike

Things to do in Bolton

What's on in Bolton

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Discos for Grown Ups: The Live Show 25 Jun 2026 -

Discos for Grown Ups: The Live Show

Discos for Grown Ups - The LIVE Show is a spectacular musical journey through three decades of the…

The Rocket Man: A Tribute to Sir Elton John 27 Jun 2026 -

The Rocket Man: A Tribute to Sir Elton John

Pack your bags, strap yourself in, zero hour 7.30pm, for a night like no other as we celebrate Sir…

A Sky Full of Stars: A Tribute to Coldplay at Albert Halls Bolton 03 Jul 2026 -

A Sky Full of Stars: A Tribute to Coldplay at Albert Halls Bolton

Get ready for an electrifying night of music and magic with Sky Full of Stars—the most…

Bolton Town Wrestling @ Last Drop Village Hotel & Spa 04 Jul 2026 - 01 Nov 2026

Bolton Town Wrestling @ Last Drop Village Hotel & Spa

Audiences are invited to welcome back show favourite Matt Fowell alongside Bolton Town Wrestling…

Dreamcoat Stars 05 Jul 2026 -

Dreamcoat Stars

Stars of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT sing the greatest musical hits in this…

Comedy Night @ Last Drop Village Hotel & Spa 24 Jul 2026 -

Comedy Night @ Last Drop Village Hotel & Spa

Audiences are invited to get ready for an evening filled with laughter, joy, and side-splitting…

The Radiohead Project 24 Jul 2026 -

The Radiohead Project

The Radiohead Project is a stunning live tribute show that celebrates one of the greatest bands of…

The Chicago Blues Brothers 25 Jul 2026 -

The Chicago Blues Brothers

The Chicago Blues Brothers are back – and they’re tearing the roof off the Country…

Dinosaur Adventure Live 27 Jul 2026 -

Dinosaur Adventure Live

A dinosaur show 65 million years in the making, this brand-new adventure invites audiences into a…

Bolton Food and Drink Festival 22 Aug 2026 - 25 Aug 2026

Bolton Food and Drink Festival

Bolton Food and Drink Festival returns this August bank holiday, and it’s set to be the most…

The World Famous Elvis Show 05 Sep 2026 -

The World Famous Elvis Show

'THE WORLD FAMOUS ELVIS SHOW STARRING CHRIS CONNOR AND THE STEELS' with his 12 piece band is…

Oh What A Night! 11 Sep 2026 -

Oh What A Night!

The show all Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons fans have been waiting for is coming to Bolton…

Arrival - The Hits of Abba 12 Sep 2026 -

Arrival - The Hits of Abba

50 years since ABBA’s iconic ‘Arrival’ album first lit up the charts, the…

Boyband in the Buff: Starring Gareth Gates 17 Sep 2026 -

Boyband in the Buff: Starring Gareth Gates

Get ready to scream like it's 1999! Boyband in the Buff is the ultimate throwback concert…

The Magic of Motown 18 Sep 2026 -

The Magic of Motown

Seen by millions, The Magic of Motown is back! It’s no surprise that this show is one of the…

Northern Live 24 Sep 2026 -

Northern Live

NORTHERN LIVE – DO I LOVE YOU Keeping the Faith to the original sounds of the underground…

Vicky Jackson as Pink 27 Sep 2026 -

Vicky Jackson as Pink

Vicky Jackson, recognised as the definitive Pink tribute has been wowing audiences worldwide with…

Bolton Film Festival 30 Sep 2026 - 04 Oct 2026

Bolton Film Festival

Bolton International Film Festival returns for its ninth edition. Celebrating films from home and…

Luther Live & Velvet Voices 01 Oct 2026 -

Luther Live & Velvet Voices

​​​​​​Step into a world of soul, romance, and unforgettable grooves with Luther Live & Velvet…

Sweet Caroline 2026 02 Oct 2026 -

Sweet Caroline 2026

Direct from the West End - the Ultimate tribute to Neil Diamond. Direct from London’s Adelphi…

Tits Up 07 Oct 2026 -

Tits Up

Three women. Three lives. One fight! Tina is a devoted mother, Rachel, a career driven businesswoman…

Swan Lake at Albert Halls Bolton 13 Oct 2026 -

Swan Lake at Albert Halls Bolton

After last year’s triumphant tour, Crown Ballet® is thrilled to return to the UK with a…

An Evening With Bolton Legends 14 Oct 2026 -

An Evening With Bolton Legends

Live and unmissable, join two iconic Bolton Wanderers figures for a fantastic night of football…

Ghost & History Tours at Smithills Hall 23 Oct 2026 - 13 Nov 2026

Ghost & History Tours at Smithills Hall

One of Bolton's original family homes dating back to medieval times,Smithills Hall, will host…

Ultimate Classic Rock Show 25 Oct 2026 -

Ultimate Classic Rock Show

Dust off your air guitars for an evening of the very best classic rock anthems from legends past and…

Where to eat and drink in Bolton

Achari

Achari Restaurant Bolton is a contemporary Indian restaurant and takeaway providing an…

Ciao Napoli

Located right at the heart of Bolton, Ciao Napoli serve classic Mediterranean cuisine in a relaxed…

Harvester

Family friendly pub with easy access off the M61. A large menu available, something for all the…

La Scala

Superb Italian restaurant and previous winner of the Bolton News Restaurant of the Year.

Nam Ploy

Nam Ploy is an enchanting Thai restaurant in Bolton which offers an unforgettable dining experience…

Odessa

Join Odessa for something to eat and drink, or a chat. You can eat in or take away. Wide…

The Brewhouse

The Brewhouse is everything desired from a local inn and restaurant - superb freshly prepared food…

Shopping

Where to stay in Bolton

The Brewhouse

Welcome to the Brewhouse! Formerly the Cheetham Arms, the property was extensively refurbished in…

The Mercury

Superbly located on the outskirts of Bolton, the Mercury is just 300 metres from the M61, Junction…

Bolton articles

Your Ultimate Guide to Summer Events in Greater Manchester

Summer's here - and so is a packed calendar of events across Greater Manchester's ten boroughs. From food festivals and free family fun to live gigs and cultural celebrations, there's something going on in every corner of the city-region. Whether you're planning a weekend visit, a day out with the…

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Bolton Food and Drink Festival 2024: Festival Lineup

With less than a month until the UK’s biggest Food and Drink Festival begins, take a look at the lineup to make sure you don’t miss out on the fantastic events and entertainment on offer. This year’s festival is bigger and better than ever with a mix of celebrity and regional chef cookery demos, two…

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Guide to Arts and Culture in Greater Manchester

Galleries, theatres and museums are a big reason to visit Manchester. Permanent collections, temporary exhibitions, famous names, well-loved plays and local or global artefacts offer a window to the world. But wouldn’t it be nice to do more than just look out of a window? Even Da Vinci needed…

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Walking Routes in Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester is fit to burst with walking routes and trails, so we've put together a round-up of some of the best, with easy-to-use downloadable trail maps. Whether it's an easy family walk, a strenuous 5k or a picturesque dog walk you're looking for, these walks near Manchester mean you have…

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Where is Bolton