Greater Manchester is one of the best cities in the world for browsing pre-loved fashions and homewares for a bargain price, with charity shops all over the region.
While Manchester itself is well-known globally for its vintage shopping, especially across the Northern Quarter, there’s a massive scene in the suburbs beyond the city centre.
If you’re on a bargain hunt or just looking to shop more sustainably, it’s easy to get about and will only cost you a couple of quid.
Stagecoach’s bus network will whisk you right across Greater Manchester from only £2 a ticket, or if you’re a student you can save up to 55% on fares with a UniRider mobile ticket.
Back to shopping. Itching for our new season wardrobe without spending a fortune or harming the planet, we headed out on a big tour of the city’s top-tier charity shops.
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First up, it’s Mustard Tree in Ancoats, where you can pick up stunning mid-century furniture for an absolute bargain, or browse a massive range of pre-loved fashion items.
Discovering the best Greater Manchester charity shops by Stagecoach bus. Credit: The Manc GroupDiscovering the best Greater Manchester charity shops by Stagecoach bus. Credit: The Manc Group
This place is legendary for good reason, and the money you spend goes to supporting Mustard Tree’s incredible work combating and preventing poverty, inequality and homelessness across Greater Manchester.
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From here, it’s an easy walk down to Piccadilly Gardens and onto the bus to Withington, where there’s a top-notch Cancer Research shop with loads of books, and an RSPCA full of beautiful items.
Finally, it’s a short ride on a Stagecoach bus along to Didsbury – arguably one of the best Greater Manchester towns for charity shopping.
You name it, you’ll find it here, from coats in Oxfam to bags in Cancer Research, from jumpers in Barnado’s to shoes in Sue Ryder.
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So it just goes to show you don’t need to get stuck in a Northern Quarter rut when you’re thrifting for new clothes – not when you can get all the way across town from just £2 with Stagecoach.
Spooktacular Halloween trail to return to National Trust site Quarry Bank
Daisy Jackson
A Halloween trail is set to return to Quarry Bank Mill this autumn for one of the region’s most hauntingly beautiful seasonal events.
The National Trust site is a former working mill and one of the country’s finest industrial buildings – but as night falls and the shadows lengthen, a haunting will begin…
This year’s Halloween at Quarry Bank will again feature spooky light installations, a mesmerising laser garden, and a thrilling fire show, as well as live performances and seasonal food and drink.
Returning for a second year, Halloween at Quarry Bank will be an unforgettable experience for all ages.
Fog will swirl through the paths around the grounds, as glowing demon eyes watch over passers-by and giant skeletons loom over twisted trees.
If you’re brave enough, the trail then heads inside the mill itself, where creaking and clanking sounds of its industrial past hint at something a little more haunted.
Credit: Andrew Ogilvy PhotographyCredit: SuppliedCredit: Supplied
As you wander the trail, you’ll pass installations like glowing fire spheres and catacombs echoing with whispers from the past, plus plenty more surprises waiting in the shadows.
Then you can refuel with ‘bewitched burgers and freaky fries’, plus hot toddys and decadent hot chocolates.
You can even toast a marshmallow over an open fire.
Halloween at Quarry Bank is designed for families, couples, and groups of friends alike, and attracts visitors from all over Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside and Lancashire.
Entry to the trail is on a timed slot system – tickets are on sale now HERE.
Inside the brand-new rental houses at Bolton’s landmark £35m development, Deansgate Gardens
Daisy Jackson
The first residents are in, and the launch of Deansgate Gardens – a landmark £35m development in Bolton town centre – is live.
This impressive new development has brought 167 high-quality rental homes to Bolton, creating a residential neighbourhood that features rooftop terraces, gardens, and stunning communal spaces.
The homes on Deansgate, Bolton have been built specifically for renters, with spacious layouts in an ideal location just a two-minute walk from Bolton Town Hall and a short commute to Manchester.
And, unusually for new rental developments, it’s not all about apartments here (though there are beautiful one- and two-bedroom apartments with rooftop gardens available).
It’s also somewhere you can rent two-bedroom townhouses, and have your very own yard.
Every home is built with energy efficiency in mind, with heat pumps and enhanced insulation, plus rooftop solar panels on selected homes, keeping those pesky bills down.
This pet-friendly development comes from developer Placefirst, and is a key moment in the wider £1bn regeneration masterplan for Bolton.
Inside Deansgate Gardens in BoltonInside Deansgate Gardens in BoltonA spacious bedroomThe rooftop terraceView from the rooftop terrace
Deansgate Gardens is located just opposite the former Beales department store, connected by the train station, bus interchange, and town centre within walking distance.
These stylish new homes are built around a central square and communal courtyards. The result? Somewhere residents can relax, socialise, and connect.
There’s even a dedicated Resident Service Manager and 24/7 maintenance support for peace of mind.
And just a short walk away you’ll find parks like Queen’s Park, plus beautiful routes along the River Croal.
Ready to make these houses your home? Book in for a tour around Deansgate Gardens today HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
14th November 2023 
