The best places to visit in the UK in 2026 have been named by Time Out, and it’s a list full of your usual suspects – seaside towns, capital cities, countryside beauties, and… Stockport.
That’s right, Greater Manchester’s trendiest new borough has put itself firmly on the map, with the magazine claiming there to be ‘something bubbling in this buzzy Manchester satellite town’.
Stockport has been praised by Time Out for its ‘real energy and creativity, as well as a fertile independent culture’.
The guide highlighted the town’s businesses including Where The Light Gets In, the new Fell taproom, and its proximity to the Peak District.
And Time Out also raved about Stockport’s Underbank, which hosts summer street parties known as Stock Party, filled with street food and party vibes.
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Stockport made the list of just 14 places around the UK that are must-visits in 2026, joining more obvious destinations like the striking island of Anglesey in Wales, the colourful town of Portmeirion, and Scotland’s northerly Caithness, where you stand a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights.
Stockport isn’t the most unlikely name on the list, though – Sunderland, Birmingham, and Derby are also on there.
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Blackpool, too, is representing the North West on Time Out’s guide to the top places to visit in the UK in 2026.
The new Sticky Fingers bakeryUma ramen in StockportLoft Social
Time Out wrote of Stockport: “It might be a stretch to call Stockport ‘resurgent’ considering it hasn’t been exactly, well, surgent since the late 19th century, but there’s definitely something bubbling in this buzzy Manchester satellite town.
“The tourist poster that hails the town as ‘the new Berlin’ may be tongue-in-cheek, but there’s real energy and creativity – as well as a fertile independent culture – to back up the hyperbole.
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“The twin epicentres are the historic Market Place and the Underbank, a warren of bars, records shops and indie cafés (think Edinburgh’s Cowgate without the full-throttle booziness).
“Loft-style restaurant Where The Light Gets In offers foodies a Michelin-class option in a town that’s suddenly found its appetite, while Cumbrian brewery Fell opened a snazzy new neighbourhood bar at the tail-end of last year. Any over-indulgence is easily cured, too: the serenity of the Peak District is a short train journey away.”
Stockport Council said: “We’ve been named 3rd in Time Out’s list of the best places to visit in the UK in 2026 and we couldn’t be prouder!
“It comes at a great moment for the town with Stockroom welcoming over 100,000 visitors a month and Merseyway Shopping Centre footfall topping 10 million last year, showing just how much people are enjoying spending time in Stockport. And with Stock Party returning this July, there’s even more to look forward to!
“Thank you to everyone who follows us, supports local businesses, turns up to events and helps make our borough what it is!”
League One set for an all-Greater Manchester playoff final as Bolton book trip to Wembley
Danny Jones
It’s official: we’re all set for a fully Greater Manchester League One playoff final as Bolton Wanderers are the latest to secure a return to Wembley against Stockport County.
The resurgent old Lancashire club clinched their spot in the knockout conclusion of the third division with a single strike in the second leg of the semis, and it wasn’t a bad finish, either.
Beating Bradford City 2-0 on aggregate, Bolton will now play familiar regional rivals Stockport, with Wanderers set to clash with County in a decisive derby once again.
Bolton‘s instinctive volley from Chelsea youth product and former Hull City man, Xavier Simons, resulted in some very satisfying limbs at Valley Parade.
The home fans did have plenty to cheer on the night, with efforts from Metcalfe, Power and Wright all either hitting the woodwork or being deflected just past it.
They thought they were level in the tie at one point after Kayden Jackson put the ball in the back of the net, but it was ultimately ruled out.
Agonising stuff for the Bradford supporters to burst into bedlam before the flag was raised for offside.
Many supporters will argue that the key moment came somewhat against the run of play, but The Trotters won’t care one bit as they book another trip down to the capital.
You can watch the rest of the highlights, including those scenes in the away end, down below.
Speaking even before the game, head coach Steven Schumacher told Sky Sports: “It’s a club we believe is bigger than this division, but this division is not easy to get out of.
“The expectation and the demand to get to the Championship is there, and once you’re in the building and you feel the mood when you win games, when you lose games, you can sense that this is a club that is desperate to get out and get to the next level.
“When you look at the size of both Bolton and Bradford and how well they are supported, both clubs are probably too big to be in League One. But that’s where both clubs find themselves, and one of us has got to find our way out of it if we can.”
You’d dare say he can practically smell promotion via the playoffs now; the local side has come quite a way since the lows of administration in 2019 and the bottom tier of the EFL – not without some heartbreaks in previous playoff finals – but could he be the one to get them back where they belong?
In case you missed the action from the other game, you can see more HERE, and to hear Schumacher’s thoughts after the decisive result, look no further…
Injury-stricken Stockport County book place in another playoff final at Wembley
Danny Jones
A somewhat makeshift Stockport County squad have booked themselves yet another trip to Wembley in the League One playoff final following a comfortable second leg win over Stevenage FC.
They did it with two fine finishes, as well.
Beating Stevenage 3-0 overall on aggregate, the Hatters secured a third visit to the capital under manager Dave Challinor, who continues to boast an impressive record of either promotion or reaching the knockout stages in almost every single year of his career as a coach.
With three-time Aston Villa loanee Louie Barry opening the scoring with a fine finish and top scorer-turned centre-half, Kyle Wootton, getting back on the scoresheet, even from defence, it was a night to remember for supporters in SK3.
With Barry having not only come back to the club for yet another loan spell but having quickly returned to form after scoring yet another big and important goal for County, not to mention a first senior career hat-trick in a 3-1 against Peterborough back in April, he was one of the stars on the night.
Meanwhile, Wootton – who was leading the race in terms of goalscoring before numerous defensive injuries saw him moved to centre-back (now several games into his run at the heart of the backline) – still proved to be a threat in the opposition box via set-pieces as he has done all season.
Barring a slightly fortunate deflection, some fans may have argued it was an even better take than the opener from the 22-year-old. He received praise from fellow former striker and veteran EFL player, Troy Deeney, after the match.
Speaking from an ex-pro and now manager’s perspective, he applauded the 29-year-old’s “ego check” and willingness to effectively give up the race for the golden boot, telling CBS Sports: “I don’t know a striker that I’ve ever met that would do that.”
But here’s what it means…
THEY'RE GOING TO WEMBLEY ‼️
Stockport County fans invade the pitch after victory in the EFL League One semifinal playoffs 👏 pic.twitter.com/NvCuDfD6qF
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 13, 2026
As for Challinor, the gaffer praised the Edgeley Park crowd, crediting them for keeping the energy up in and around some lulls in the game and resisting the slip into complacency.
Thanking them in a video on social media following the full-time whistle, Barry acknowledged them as “the 12th man”, with Wootton urging them to get behind the boys for “one more” game as they aim to “get the job done.”
Stockport County will face either Bradford City or local Greater Manchester rivals Bolton Wanderers in the third-tier conclusion, with the other semi-final kicking off at 8pm tonight. Who do you think is going to go all the way?
You can see the highlights from the decisive game down below.
Daisy Jackson -
15th January 2026 
