Bolton is leaning into its ‘Hollywood of the North’ nickname by launching new TV and film location tours around the town centre.
Merely months after being named Greater Manchester’s new ‘Town of Culture’, Bolton is already proving why 2024 is its year, as the town is celebrating its shiny new title by celebrating all the times it has been chosen as a filming location for dozens of major film and TV productions over the years.
Over the last decade or so, the Greater Manchester town centre and wider borough has become a favourite for production crews looking to replicate other well-known worldwide locations.
London, New York, and even Moscow are just a couple of the cities Bolton has doubled-up as.
Bolton has launched new ‘Hollywood of the North’ TV and film location tours / Credit: Channel 4 | BBC
Thanks to its cobbled town centre streets – including the iconic Le Mans Crescent – historic buildings and architecture, and striking rural landscapes, camera crews for popular TV shows such as Peaky Blinders, It’s A Sin, Brassic, The Stranger, Fool Me Once, and A Gentleman in Moscow have all rolled into town in recent times.
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Happy Valley, Coronation Street, Top Gear, and The Full Monty are just a couple of the others, and two BBC series, Alma’s Not Normal and Red Rose, are even set in Bolton too, as well as being filmed there.
So as you can see, it definitely makes sense why the town has been given the ‘Hollywood of the North’ nickname,
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It also makes sense why Bolton Council would want to pay tribute to this by launching a series of tours that taking people around key filming spots with a dedicated tour guide providing fascinating insight on where all the hit shows and films have been shot along the way.
The behind-the-scenes tours are led by local historian and professional tour guide, Suzanne Hindle / Credit: BBC
These new behind-the-scenes tours will feature all of the town’s famous filming spots, and visitors will get to explore places such as court rooms, cells, and Crescent corridors whilst hearing tales of how the industry adapt these unexpected locations to set the scene.
The Bolton TV & Film Tours are led by local historian and professional tour guide, Suzanne Hindle, and will kick off next Sunday (30 August), with others running on selected weekend dates until Friday 4 October.
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The tours are suitable for ages 16 and over, last approximately 90-minutes each, and are free to attend, although pre-booking is required and places are limited to 20.
A reimagined dance music celebration is coming to Manchester later this year
Thomas Melia
Get ready to hear some of the biggest anthems in dance music, reimagined and given an orchestral transformation right here in Manchester city centre.
Powerhouse music business Ministry of Sound has been uplifting and promoting dance music through its varied and electric live events for over three decades.
Now, it’s putting an all-new take on all your favourite dancefloor fillers that have been released over the past 30 years with a 31-piece orchestra, a whole team of vocalists and a stacked setlist.
Expect to hear the likes of Fatboy Slim with his huge tune ‘Right Here, Right Now’ alongside Darude’s standout hit ‘Sandstorm’, as performed by a live orchestral arrangement and light production.
After receiving a great reception at major music settings like Gone Wild, The Big Feastival and Silverstone Festival, paired with a sold-out show at the Royal Albert Hall, this all-new live show now visits the music capital of the North.
Of course, it’s only fitting that Manchester gets the chance to experience this innovative twist on classics and anthems, considering the city’s vibrant club contributions like the Madchester scene and legendary music institution the Hacienda.
Now, dance, house and trance spanning the past 30 years come together courtesy of the Ministry of Sound Classical, playing out across UK locations like Brighton, Newcastle and Birmingham, as well as Manchester.
The show is playing out at city-centre gig hotspot O2 Apollo, and is about to teach 3,500 Mancunians dance music history through a dance-meets-orchestra concert like no other.
This live music extravaganza is organised and led by dance music pioneers Ministry of Sound, who developed and defined the 1990s house music scene in London and across the country.
Ministry of Sound Classical is heading to O2 Apollo in Manchester on Friday 18 December with tickets and more information available HERE.
Featured Image – Press Shot (Supplied via Ministry of Sound)
What's On
Greater Manchester’s ‘Stroll for Salford’ walking event returns for its second year in 2026
Danny Jones
Following its successful debut last year, Greater Manchester’s now much-loved Stroll for Salford (SfS) event is back for 2026 this autumn.
We’d like to think everyone from around here is filled with hometown pride, but you ask anyone from Salford, and they’ll quickly remind you that this place is its own city, and that it quite rightly deserves celebrating all of its own.
And that’s exactly what the SfS is all about: not just toasting it as the region’s so-called ‘second city’, but as the culturally abundant place that it is and has been for more than 100 years.
Yes, with this sophomore edition following on from the borough celebrating its official Centenary, what better time to hail all things Salfordian.
Stroll for Salford is back🚶🧡
We are delighted to announce the return of the popular fundraising walk back for its second edition on Saturday 19th September as part of Salford's Centenary Year celebrations!
— Salford City FC Foundation (@SalfordCity_FDN) July 30, 2026
Set up by Salford City FC and the partnered charity arm, Foundation 92, the inaugural walk raised more than £3,000 for charity with its maiden event.
Thousands got behind the cause, be it through volunteering and/or donating, as well as talking on the walking route itself back in October.
It’s actually happening a little earlier this time, with the second Stroll for Salford scheduled for Saturday, 19 September.
Kicking off from 10am, those taking part will be setting out on foot for a six-mile journey across the city, starting at the likes of the Civic Centre in Swinton, before passing through other key towns and finishing, of course, at Salford’s AIG Stadium on Moor Lane in Kersal.
The local League Two side continues to do plenty of important work in and around the community – this is just one of many recent, well-received initiatives.
As mentioned earlier, those getting involved will not only receive a special Salford t-shirt following the event alongside a finisher’s medal, but even a complimentary ticket to go and see ‘The Ammies’ in action at their home ground this season.
Not a bad deal at all.
For anyone uninitiated interested in coming along the journey, the route will also pass several key landmarks and a real sense of local history – all while doing your bit for a good cause.
You can help raise important funds for the local area and sign up for the Stroll for Salford 2026 HERE.
Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, another wholesome all-ages event is fast-approaching this August, too; keep on reading to find out all about it…
Emily Sergeant -
21st August 2024 
