Feature

10 of the best photos of each of Greater Manchester’s 10 boroughs

We've been showcasing some of the stunning sights and talented photographers the region has to offer over on our Instagram for the past 10 weeks.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 8th April 2021

How often do you stop and take a moment to truly appreciate the beauty of our region?

Whether it be the ever-changing skyline of city centre buildings, the rolling hills within our borders, the lakes, rivers and reservoirs spanning for miles, or the wealth of untouched nature right on our doorsteps, Greater Manchester has a lot to offer.

And if there’s one thing that can really shine a light on that, it’s photography.

The power of photography has the ability to capture a moment in time that may otherwise have passed us by, and allow us to remember that moment forever.

So, in an attempt to not only showcase the beauty around us, but to also give a well-deserved platform to some of the region’s most talented amateur and professional photographers, for the past 10 weeks over on our Instagram – @the.manc – we have scoured the internet to find and feature 10 of the best photographs taken in each of Greater Manchester’s 10 boroughs – and it’s proven to be an extremely popular series with our 142,000+ audience.

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That popular, in fact, that we have decided to round-up each of the 10 posts in one place to really bring home why Greater Manchester is so great.

Don’t forget to go over and follow @the.manc on Instagram if you’re keen to see more.

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Manchester

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNSrkjDjDL6/

The borough of Manchester itself may not boast some of sights that its neighbours do, but it’s not one to be overlooked.

Manchester is overflowing with culture, character and charm.

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This was undoubtedly one of the hardest boroughs to whittle down 10 photos for, as there are plenty of talented photographers teeming our streets and an endless list of moments to capture, but with everything from sunkissed skylines and skyscrapers, to rainy days, blue skies and more, we’ve picked the best of a brilliant bunch.

Don’t forget to head on over to Instagram to show some love and check out more from the photographers featured in our Manchester round-up.

Salford

https://www.instagram.com/p/CL4jyNqgEHc/

There’s nowhere quite like Salford.

Besides being home to Greater Manchester’s second city, a wealth of cultural sites that are worth visiting, the ever-developing and expanding MediaCity UK, and some of the most close-knit communities around, Salford is also spoilt with green space and weekend walks thanks to Kersal Wetlands, Worsley Woods and Drinkwater Park.

It’s also hard to ignore the spectacular scenery on offer at the Quays, too.

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The 10 pictures featured as part of the Salford round-up showcase all the borough has on offer.

Don’t forget to head on over to Instagram to show some love and check out more from the photographers featured in our Salford round-up.

Oldham

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNAw3NwMbGJ/

How brilliant is that view of the Manchester skyline?

Thanks to its location neighbouring the Pennines and between the rivers Irk and Medlock, the eastern Greater Manchester borough of Oldham not only offers one of the best looks at the city centre from afar, but it also boasts gorgeous hill views and breathtaking reservoir scenery, with places like Tandle Hill and Dovestones all within its borders.

We were truly spoilt for choice when narrowing down 10 photographs to showcase here.

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Don’t forget to head on over to Instagram to show some love and check out more from the photographers featured in our Oldham round-up.

Bury

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMc0jFmjIg2/

Despite the pronunciation of ‘Bury’ being up for debate amongst us Mancunians, we can at least all agree that the borough has some great views, right?

Not only is it home to several popular town centres, alongside Holcombe Hill, Peel Tower and Heaton Park, but Bury is also known nationally for its black pudding, as well as being steeped in history as the regimental town of the Lancashire Fusiliers, and the start of the East Lancashire Railway.

Have a gander at 10 of the best snapshots captured by local photographers.

Don’t forget to head on over to Instagram to show some love and check out more from the photographers featured in our Bury round-up.

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Wigan

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMu2K3FLSib/

Can you believe that the vast range of sights and scenery showcased in this selection of 10 photos are all nestled in the same borough?

Wigan really has a lot to shout about.

Not only is the borough home to the famous Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls, and is known the world-over for its iconic pier and pies, there’s also a wealth of beautiful nature reserves, great public parks, monuments and some rich heritage to explore too.

Don’t forget to head on over to Instagram to show some love and check out more from the photographers featured in our Wigan round-up.

Rochdale

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMKlVeOAZrw/

We can’t get enough of the views on offer in Rochdale.

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This is one of Greater Manchester’s most underrated gems, so when it comes to experiencing all that nature and culture can bring, you need look no further than Rochdale with its bustling town centre, multiple reservoirs, the beautiful Hollingworth Lake, Healey Dell Nature Reserve and so much more.

It was hard to narrow it down, but we’ve picked a selection of photos that truly show what Rochdale is made of.

Don’t forget to head on over to Instagram to show some love and check out more from the photographers featured in our Rochdale round-up.

Bolton

https://www.instagram.com/p/CLmgTSCjY04/

There’s so much hidden beauty in Bolton.

The northwestern borough doesn’t always get the level of recognition that the rest of the region does, but with its popular country parks, reservoir walks, picturesque views over the city, and a historic town centre with streets that have been used as filming locations for a number of films and well-known TV shows, don’t count Bolton out.

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Here’s 10 of the best snapshots Bolton has to show for itself.

Don’t forget to head on over to Instagram to show some love and check out more from the photographers featured in our Bolton round-up.

Stockport

https://www.instagram.com/p/CLHa5lzDrVH/

Stockport has plenty of show-stopping sights.

The region’s most-southern borough is known by the rest of Greater Manchester for its iconic viaduct, M60 pyramid and Plaza, but with the wonders of Lyme Park, Reddish Vale and Etherow Country Park all within its borders too, Stockport has so much more to offer than initially meets the eye.

We’ve selected 10 of the best snapshots by local photographers to show Stockport off.

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Don’t forget to head on over to Instagram to show some love and check out more from the photographers featured in our Stockport round-up.

Tameside

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKwdfXtA1cQ/

Looking for some of the best views in Greater Manchester?

Head to Tameside.

With are large chunk of the eastern borough neighbouring Derbyshire and the unrivalled sights of the Peak District National Park, Tameside is home to some of the best views the region has to offer, whatever the weather, so we’ve done our best to highlight its beauty through the lens of local photographers.

Don’t forget to head on over to Instagram to show some love and check out more from the photographers featured in our Tameside round-up.

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Trafford

https://www.instagram.com/p/CLUS4scDibR/

Trafford’s got it all.

The sought-after borough in the southwestern part of Greater Manchester is known for bringing a little bit of everything to the table, so from cultured high streets and grand shopping centres, to public parks, nature reserves, National Trust sites and everything in between, we’ve picked 10 of our favourite snapshots to best represent the area.

The beautiful scenes from the recent winter months are definitely the star of the show.

Don’t forget to head on over to Instagram to show some love and check out more from the photographers featured in our Trafford round-up.

Featured Image – @lef_tsotour | @dalangs84

Feature

You can get a mobile massage treatment in your office – just like us

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

We’d like to introduce you to the pioneering personalised service offering massage treatments on the move at practically any location including direct from your office – including to those of us here in Manchester.

In a world where you can get practically anything delivered straight to your door, it wasn’t going to be long until some genius invented a way to get a massage from the comfort of your own office.

And that genius is none other than, Ruuby.

Named ‘London’s first digital beauty concierge’, Ruuby have been pampering the nation’s capital for almost a decade before branching out to further locations.

Ruuby beauty services UK
The gorgeous set up provided by Ruuby
ruuby massages UK
Look at that lovely branding on the towels.
They did wonders with our otherwise plain downstairs office space. (Credit: The Manc Group)

In October 2024, the company expanded beyond its domestic reach in the likes of the capital, the Cotswolds and Surrey into Europe, making its first mark Switzerland: the perfect country for both luxury and essential beauty treatments with a tailored experience.

The month following saw the group moving up North and all the way to Manchester, where people can now book professional treatments best suited to them, right on their doorstep.

If you’re feeling sceptical still, you can take it from us here at The Manc; we couldn’t tell you how relaxing and comforting these massages are.

There are a range of treatments available and we opted for two bespoke massages, a sports massage and a deep tissue massage.

Each experience is suited to your personal needs meaning each massage therapist will be able to fine-tune their relaxation abilities to what benefits you best.

After choosing the bespoke massage that I felt would work best for me, I went into this with no prior massage experience and I came out feeling taller, broader and more refreshed. Highly recommend.

ruuby manchester
Mid-day office massage? Yes, please.
ruuby office massages
How relaxing. What a shame you have to go back to work after!
Credit: The Manc Group

My masseuse guided me throughout the whole process and we soon discovered that I was able to tolerate much harder pressure than I thought which helped release tension I didn’t even know I had!

The same applies to how firm you’d like your session to be, as the masseuse can help with a brief overview of your time together, but the amount of pressure you like is down to personal preference.

It’s not just massages either: there’s everything from waxing, nails and hair to physio and IV drips; how about getting Marbella ready in less than an hour with a spray tan service set up wherever you are?

As Ruuby is a mobile and remote work environment, there are a number of at any time up and down the country, meaning your next beauty slot could be as little as an hour away, find out more HERE.

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Featured Image – The Manc Group

Feature

Farm shops are cool now – and Albion Farm Shop is the best of the best

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Albion Farm Shop's huge breakfasts

At some point in life, your idea of a great day out switches from drinking and clubbing to visiting a farm shop, or a garden centre, or something similarly wholesome.

And up in the hills above Manchester is surely one of the best in the UK – Albion Farm Shop.

This Saddleworth favourite is half-cafe, half-shop, with produce all either grown right outside, or sourced as locally as possible.

And while places like Hollies Farm Shop in Cheshire pull in seriously big, glamorous crowds (maybe it’s the Molly-Mae effect), there’s something much more charming and authentic about Albion Farm Shop.

Maybe it’s the tractors parked outside, the fact the produce section is in a drafty barn, the mismatched shelves and cabinets. It’s not curated like this – it just is.

The food in the cafe itself is up there with the best British grub in the North West, and I say that with my hand on my heart.

Whether it’s a full breakfast spilling over the edge of a plate, sandwiches served in a doorstop of bread, or a full menu of burgers made with British beef cap and smoked bone marrow patties, you can’t steer far wrong.

Rag pudding and a burger at Albion Farm Shop
Rag pudding at Albion Farm Shop
Chips with a side of bone broth gravy.
Chips with a side of bone broth gravy
Those huge burgers
Those huge burgers

There are chunky chips served with a full bowl of bone stock gravy on the side (hello, this is Oldham), onion rings so big you can wear them as a bangle, and big bowls of homemade soup.

And it would be remiss of me not to mention the rag pudding, a traditional dish from this neck of the woods. Famously, she’s not a pretty menu item, but this steamed suet pastry stuffed with braised beef shin is comforting and delicious.

If you want to stick northern fare but don’t fancy rag pudding, you can also grab a wedge of cheese and onion pie, lambs liver with mash, or any number of seasonal specials (for us, it was roast pork).

There are cracking views of the surrounding countryside, a resident cat who’s usually sleeping in the entranceway, and charm packed into every square foot.

Albion Farm Shop is at Oldham Road, Delph, Saddleworth OL3 5RQ.

The resident cat at Albion Farm Shop
The resident cat at Albion Farm Shop
Roast pork in the cafe
Roast pork in the cafe
The Albion Farm Shop cafe
The Albion Farm Shop cafe
Albion Farm Shop
Albion Farm Shop
Inside the shop itself
Inside the shop itself
The produce barn
The produce barn
Local cheeses
Bakery items
The produce barn

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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