Travel & Tourism

You can now stay at the cosy and historic Smithy Lodge in Heaton Park

The perfect winter getaway situated just on the outskirts of Manchester.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 14th December 2022

Is the frosty weather making you long to wrap up in a cosy winter setting somewhere like you’re the main character in a Christmas movie? Let us introduce you to the Smithy Lodge in Heaton Park.

Nestled against a treeline in Manchester’s beloved Heaton Park, home of festive favourite Lightopia and, of course, the legendary Parklife festival, is the historic Smithy Lodge, a quaint little cottage perfect for living out your Cameron Diaz in The Holiday fantasy.

Seriously though, this beautiful Grade II listed building dates all the way back to 1806 – named after a local blacksmith’s workshop situated nearby on Middleton Road – is one of the most picturesque little hideaways that we’ve come across in Manchester.

Cut to today and the lodge is now a luxury two-floor space that makes for an ideal staycation for those who want to get out of the city but don’t want to travel too far.

Smithy Lodge facilities
Credit: Hoseasons

Sleeping four people and having quickly become a popular site for couples getaways, the Smithy Lodge not only feels like a blast back through time but the pristine, traditional and fundamentally rural surround makes it feel like a high-end experience that few other Manchester hotel stays can offer.

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Complete with all the modern amenities you need as well as private parking, an electric car charging station and nearby access to the golf course combines English heritage with the expected hallmarks of modern city break culture.

Better still, if you’re travelling from out of town and still looking to head into the city centre or any of Greater Manchester‘s surrounding boroughs, the Heaton Park tram stop is just across the park.

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This former octagonal gatehouse might be a little bit more updated and mod-con than Hagrid’s Hut but it’s definitely giving us the same cosy winter vibes.

You can stay overnight in a replica of Hagrid’s Hut from Harry Potter

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It goes without saying that one of the lodge’s main selling points is having Heaton Park, with its long stretches of open fields and serene lakes all on your doorstep. Say no more.

Prices currently start from £289 but this number obviously changes depending on popularity and the season, with rooms often selling out rather quickly.

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You can check availability at the Smithy Lodge HERE and two festive slots are still free if you’re looking for a last-minute winter getaway this holiday season.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image — Hoseasons/Wikimedia Commons

Travel & Tourism

Forget pub crawls – you can now go on a guided cheese crawl around Manchester

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Manchester is a foodie’s paradise and with so many options at hand why not break it down into individual food groups – starting with the dairy crowd pleaser, cheese.

Long gone are the draining pub crawls of the past, it’s time to make way for the new pioneer in the world of adventurous crawling, ‘The Manchester Cheese Crawl’.

There’s always lots of food and drink options flowing throughout our bubbly city spanning all cuisines and cultures so it comes as no surprise that the latest way to experience Manchester is via cheese, a staple of many citizens’ diets.

On the tour, there will be insider knowledge on-hand as you wander the streets and sample the creamy delights, assisting you with any dying queso queries and pecorino ponders that you need to get off your chest.

There’ll be plenty of familiar independents on the Manchester Cheese Crawl, including Northern Soul’s impressive grilled cheese sandwiches as well as more traditional cheese samples.

How could this experience get any better I hear you ask, how about a free glass of fizz to accompany those already impressive cheese selections? Yes please! 

Guests can expect to sample some of Manchester’s dairy delights while being directed by some of Manchester’s top cheese connoisseurs that are the real big cheese.

Groups who take the tour aren’t just treated to food and drink, they also receive free entertainment from their food guides who are prepared to make you chuckle with their incredible humour.

Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire Cheese, a cheeseboard staple, has been recalled
The Manchester Cheese Crawl will feature plenty of bites for curd nerds
A selection of dairy heaven displayed on a wonderful variety cheese board.
A selection of dairy heaven displayed on a wonderful variety cheese board.
Credit: Unsplash

Previous visitors have commented on their experience while taking the tour sharing the names their groups received with highlights such as ‘Shaken not curd’ and ‘Three blind mice’.

They really are serious about their cheeses, another previous visitor who went on the tour revealed their guide even had a name that perfectly fit the occasion, ‘Mel the babybel’. 

It’s sure to be a fantastic day with games and activities planned for all as you walk between the shops landmarked on the cheese-filled route.

Everyone on the tour also gets a small taste of the high life as they are treated to a Lancashire cheese handmade by a local star and celebrity.

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Starting at the Richard Cobden Statue and finishing on the always vibrant Tib Street, a quick google search reveals this walk isn’t too strenuous taking only 12 minutes but with many cheeses to get your whiskers on it will probably take around an estimated two hours to tackle.

Running this Saturday 16 November and planned to continue until November 2025 and beyond, you’d be emmental to miss out on this cheesy adventure.

If all this cheese talk has left you dreaming about your next foodie fix, tickets for ‘The Manchester Cheese Crawl’ are on sale and available here.

Featured Image: Unsplash

Travel & Tourism

Manchester has been named one of Europe’s top destinations to visit this winter

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Manchester has been named one of the top winter destinations in Europe. Credit: The Manc Group

Manchester has been named one of the best places to visit in Europe this winter – apparently our city is ‘brilliant when the cold snap hits’.

The list of 14 winter destinations includes snowy paradises like Grindelwald in Switzerland and Lapland in Finland, as well as vibrant cities famed for their Christmas vibes, like Riga in Latvia and even Amsterdam.

But coming in at a respectable 6th place – and the only UK city on the list – is our very own home city.

Time Out’s list of the best winter destinations in Europe, picked by travel writers, shouted out the Manchester Christmas Markets, as well as the quieter places you can hide from the elements (and the crowds).

Picked for being the best place to find indoorsy things to do, Time Out listed Mackie Mayor and Skof, as well as John Rylands Library, as reasons people should visit Manchester this winter.

They wrote: “Even though it’s pretty much guaranteed the North of England will be battered by wind and rain throughout the winter, Manchester is a brilliant place to be when the cold snap hits.

“Spend your days dipping into vintage shops and record stores, and fuel up with street food at Mackie Mayor (or for an occasion, book a table at new-ish fine dining spot Skof). 

“What’s more, Manchester’s home to a surprisingly brilliant selection of Christmas markets, from classics to goth-themed, all selling great food and gifts from independent shops. 

“If the weather really goes wild, hide out in John Rylands Library, one of the most hauntingly beautiful spots in the city.”

High praise indeed!

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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