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Bolton

England, United Kingdom · Europe

About Bolton

Bolton is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Little Lever, 40km from Snake Pass.

Bolton is a city located in England, United Kingdom. With a population of 141,331, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Bolton sits in United Kingdom, where you drive on the left. It's in the Europe/London time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Bolton to your route.

About Bolton

Bolton ( BOHL-tən, locally BOH-tən) is a town in Greater Manchester in England. In the foothills of the West Pennine Moors, Bolton is between Manchester, Blackburn, Wigan, Bury and Salford. It is surrounded by several towns and villages that form the wider borough, of which Bolton is the administrative centre. The

Read more town is within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire. A former mill town, Bolton has been a centre for textile production since the 14th century when Flemish weavers settled in the area, introducing a wool and cotton-weaving tradition. It was a 19th-century boomtown, development largely coincided with the introduction of textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution. At its peak in 1929, its 216 cotton mills and 26 bleaching and dyeing works made it one of the largest and most productive centres of cotton spinning in the world. The British cotton industry declined sharply after the First World War and, by the 1980s, cotton manufacture had virtually ceased in the town. The town has a population of 184,073, whilst the wider metropolitan borough has a population of 296,169. Bolton originated as a small settlement in the moorland known as Bolton le Moors. In the English Civil War, the town was a Parliamentarian outpost in 1644 in a staunchly Royalist region and, as a result, the Royalist Prince Rupert of the Rhine led the 1644 storming of Bolton of 3,000 Royalist troops, which is also referred to as The Bolton Massacre, with 1,600 residents perished and 700 were taken prisoner. Bolton Wanderers football club now play home games at the Toughsheet Community Stadium in Horwich. Cultural interests include the Octagon Theatre and the Bolton Museum and Art Gallery, as well as one of the earliest public libraries established after the Public Libraries Act 1850. Bolton is of high strategic importance, being the location of missile production for the Ministry of Defence through the MBDA facility at Over Hulton.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Bolton

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Bolton?

Bolton offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Bolton?

Plan your road trip to Bolton with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Bolton as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Bolton located?

Bolton is located in England, United Kingdom, Europe. The coordinates are 53.5833 latitude, -2.4333 longitude.

What is the population of Bolton?

Bolton has a population of approximately 141,331 people, making it a city in United Kingdom.

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Quick Information

Population
141,331
Continent
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
Region
England
Timezone
Europe/London
Coordinates
53.5833, -2.4333

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United Kingdom

Police
999
Ambulance
999
Fire
999
Non-emergency police
101
Driving side
left

112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.

Full driving guide for United Kingdom

Tags

EuropeUnited KingdomEnglandCity

Worth the detour from Bolton

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

cafe

Rapha Clubhouse Manchester

Manchester's cycling culture hub offering specialty coffee, kit, and a community space for riding enthusiasts.

17 km · about 20 min drive

racetrack

Aintree Motor Racing Circuit

Historic circuit inside Aintree Racecourse that hosted five British Grands Prix in the 1950s-60s, where Stirling Moss took his first home GP win. Club sprints still run on the old track.

36 km · about 40 min drive

famous road

Snake Pass

A twisting road through the Peak District connecting Sheffield and Manchester, beloved by motorcyclists and driving enthusiasts.

40 km · about 45 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Snake Pass Summit

The highest point on the A57 crossing the Pennines, with moorland views stretching across the Dark Peak landscape.

41 km · about 50 min drive

famous road

Trough of Bowland

Remote moorland pass through the Forest of Bowland linking Lancaster and Dunsop Bridge, following the route the Pendle witches were marched to trial in 1612. Sweeping single-carriageway bends with barely a building in sight.

44 km · about 50 min drive

cafe

Cat and Fiddle Inn

A historic pub near the summit of the A537 Cat and Fiddle Road between Buxton and Macclesfield, once named Britain's most dangerous road and a famous biking destination.

47 km · about 55 min drive

racetrack

Oulton Park

A picturesque Cheshire circuit winding through parkland with dramatic elevation changes, a favourite of British club and national racing.

47 km · about 55 min drive

famous road

Cat and Fiddle Road

A thrilling moorland road between Macclesfield and Buxton in the Peak District, one of the UK's most famous driving roads.

47 km · about 55 min drive

Driving roads near Bolton

  • 40 kmSnake PassA twisting road through the Peak District connecting Sheffield and Manchester, beloved by motorcyclists and driving enthusiasts.
  • 41 kmSnake Pass SummitThe highest point on the A57 crossing the Pennines, with moorland views stretching across the Dark Peak landscape.
  • 44 kmTrough of BowlandRemote moorland pass through the Forest of Bowland linking Lancaster and Dunsop Bridge, following the route the Pendle witches were marched to trial in 1612. Sweeping single-carriageway bends with barely a building in sight.
  • 47 kmCat and Fiddle RoadA thrilling moorland road between Macclesfield and Buxton in the Peak District, one of the UK's most famous driving roads.
  • 47 kmCat and Fiddle ViewpointA high-altitude viewpoint on the A537 between Macclesfield and Buxton, one of England's highest roads with expansive moorland vistas.
  • 49 kmMam TorKnown as the 'Shivering Mountain' for its unstable layers, this Peak District summit offers spectacular views along the Great Ridge to Lose Hill.

Driving in United Kingdom

Drives on
the left
Petrol
~€1.73/litre
Motorway tolls
None

When to drive here

April to October

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Bolton.

Little Lever

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

4 km awayPop. 10,100

Farnworth

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

4 km awayPop. 25,680

Little Hulton

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

6 km awayPop. 13,469

Kearsley

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

6 km awayPop. 10,127

Tottington

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

7 km awayPop. 7,713

Westhoughton

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

7 km awayPop. 26,260

Edgworth

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

7 km awayPop. 2,321

Radcliffe

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

8 km awayPop. 29,950

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence