Ashton-in-Makerfield, a historic town in the Borough of Wigan, grew on coal and cotton but today thrives on green spaces, rugby league pride, and easy access to Liverpool and Manchester. You’ll find lakeside trails, a renowned racecourse next door at Haydock, and one of the North West’s friendliest high streets.

Use Ashton as a calm, value-for-money base with excellent rail links from Bryn station and nearby Wigan North Western. Within 30–60 minutes you can reach Liverpool’s UNESCO waterfront, Manchester’s museums, and rolling moorland above Rivington.

Expect hearty Northern fare (don’t miss a Wigan pie “barm”), mild changeable weather, and casual pubs pouring cask ales. Trains and buses are frequent; taxis are affordable for countryside hops. Book flexible tickets and pack layers for wind on the hills.

Ashton-in-Makerfield

Ashton mixes small-town warmth with surprising variety: the wildlife-rich Three Sisters Recreation Area (and its motorsport circuit), canal-side walks by Wigan Pier, and the grand Haigh Woodland Park with rope courses and artisan food kiosks.

• Top sights nearby: Three Sisters Recreation Area, Haigh Woodland Park & Haigh Hall, Wigan Pier & Leeds–Liverpool Canal, Museum of Wigan Life, Pennington Flash Nature Reserve, Haydock Park Racecourse.
• Where to eat and drink: The Fat Bull (Ashton; steaks, small plates), Baldy’s (Wigan; award-winning burgers), Wigan Central (craft beer bar by the station), The Anvil (traditional cask ale pub), local Galloways Bakers for a classic pie barm.
• Stay: Search stays in Ashton via VRBO or hotels via Hotels.com. Nearby options include Holiday Inn Haydock M6 Jct 23 and Mercure Haydock Hotel.
• Getting there: Fly into Manchester (MAN) or Liverpool (LPL). For European flights compare on Omio; from outside Europe search Kiwi.com or Trip.com. Trains in the UK (and all Europe): Omio; buses: Omio.

Liverpool

Port city, pop anthems, and a skyline of docks and domes—Liverpool’s waterfront museums and Beatles lore make an irresistible day trip. Bold Street delivers indie cafés and global bites; the Georgian Quarter pours pints in ornate pubs.

• Don’t miss: Royal Albert Dock, The Beatles Story, Maritime Museum, Tate Liverpool, Ropewalks street art, Anfield exterior photo stop if you’re a football fan.
• Eat & drink: Bold Street Coffee (specialty brews), Baltic Market (street-food hall), Maray on Bold Street (small plates and falafel), The Philharmonic Dining Rooms (Victorian pub grandeur).
• Stay (if you opt for a night): Browse VRBO Liverpool or Hotels.com Liverpool.

Manchester

Industrial swagger meets creative energy. Manchester offers world-class libraries, revamped canals, and some of the UK’s best dining scenes from Northern Quarter to Deansgate.

• Highlights: John Rylands Library, Manchester Art Gallery, Science and Industry Museum (for steam power and textiles), canal walks at Castlefield, football heritage at the National Football Museum.
• Eat & drink: Federal Cafe & Bar (Antipodean brunch), Mackie Mayor (beautiful food hall), Rudy’s Neapolitan Pizza, Dishoom (Irani-heritage classics), cocktails at The Refuge or a Bavarian beer at Albert’s Schloss.
• Stay (optional): See VRBO Manchester or Hotels.com Manchester.

London (Optional Day Trip)

Crave a marquee day of London icons? With fast trains from Wigan North Western to Euston, you can tick off Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and the Thames in a single, memorable swoop.

• Getting there: Early Avanti West Coast service (about 2h05–2h20). Advance off-peak returns often £50–£120. Compare on Omio trains.
• Stay (if you extend): VRBO London or Hotels.com London.

Day 1: Arrival and Lakeside Ashton Stroll

Afternoon: Arrive at MAN or LPL. Take the train to Bryn or Wigan North Western via Omio (30–60 minutes from either airport with one change; ~£6–£15). Check in at your Ashton base. Stretch your legs at Three Sisters Recreation Area—easy loops around the lake with resident swans and wildflowers.

Evening: Dinner at The Fat Bull in Ashton for ribeye or small plates like Korean chicken. Fancy a pint after? Pop to Wigan Central (craft taps, railway-themed) or The Anvil for traditional cask ales and conversation.

Day 2: Wigan Heritage and Haigh Woodland Park

Morning: Grab a coffee and a sausage barm at a local bakery (try Galloways). Canal-side stroll by the revived Wigan Pier then head to the Museum of Wigan Life to browse mining and mill-town exhibits.

Afternoon: Taxi or bus to Haigh Woodland Park (10–15 minutes). Walk woodland trails, ride the miniature railway if operating, or tackle the Aerial Adventure high ropes. The Kitchen Courtyard offers artisan gelato, pies, and roastery coffee for an easy lunch.

Evening: Back in Wigan, smash-burgers at Baldy’s, then a relaxed nightcap at Wigan Central. If you prefer quiet, return to Ashton for an early night—tomorrow is city day.

Day 3: Liverpool Waterfront, Beatles Stories, and Baltic Bites

Morning: Train from Bryn to Liverpool Lime Street via St Helens Central (45–55 minutes; off-peak day return ~£7–£11 on Omio). Start with Bold Street Coffee, then walk to Royal Albert Dock for The Beatles Story and maritime history along the colonnades.

Afternoon: Explore Tate Liverpool or the Museum of Liverpool, then dive into the Baltic Triangle’s Baltic Market: halloumi fries, bao, Neapolitan slices—mix and match.

Evening: Dinner at Maray (order the Disco Cauliflower and falafel) or book a table at the ornate Philharmonic Dining Rooms for hearty pub classics. Train back to Ashton.

Day 4: Haydock Park or Knowsley Safari, plus Prescot Dining

Morning: If your dates align with a meeting at Haydock Park Racecourse (5–10 minutes by taxi), spend the morning trackside—arrive early for paddock views. Otherwise, head to Knowsley Safari (25–35 minutes by car/taxi) to loop past rhinos, lions, and baboons, then stroll the foot safari with birds of prey demos.

Afternoon: Continue at Knowsley or detour to Prescot’s Shakespeare North Playhouse for a tour or matinee if scheduled. Coffee on the high street between venues.

Evening: Dinner at Pinion (Prescot)—a beloved neighborhood bistro known for superb value prix fixe, hand-rolled pastas, and sticky toffee pud. Short taxi back to Ashton.

Day 5: Manchester Museums, Markets, and Music Halls

Morning: Train from Bryn/Wigan to Manchester Victoria or Piccadilly (50–65 minutes; ~£9–£13 via Omio). Brunch at Federal Cafe & Bar, then marvel at the neo-Gothic John Rylands Library—reading room like a cathedral to books.

Afternoon: Choose your curiosity: Manchester Art Gallery (Pre-Raphaelites to present) or the Science and Industry Museum for steam engines and early computing. Lunch at Mackie Mayor food hall—tacos, wood-fired fish, fresh pasta.

Evening: Pre-dinner negroni at The Refuge, then dine at Dishoom for black daal and smoky grills. For late vibes, swing by Albert’s Schloss for live music and Bavarian cheer before the train home.

Day 6: Rivington Pike and Terraced Gardens

Morning: Train to Horwich Parkway (30–40 minutes; ~£6–£9 on Omio), 10-minute taxi to Rivington. Hike the Terraced Gardens to Rivington Pike for big moorland views; paths range from gentle to moderately steep. Coffee and cakes at Great House Barn café by the reservoir.

Afternoon: Optional tree-to-tree thrills at Go Ape Rivington (book ahead) or continue lakeside along Anglezarke. Reward yourself at the Rivington Brewing Co Taproom with a pale ale brewed on-site.

Evening: Dinner at The Cherry Tree at Blackrod—polished plates (think pan-roasted cod, braised beef) and a well-curated wine list. Short taxi back to the station and home to Ashton.

Day 7: Optional London Icons in a Day (Train from Wigan)

Morning: Early train from Wigan North Western to London Euston (about 2h05–2h20; advance returns typically £50–£120 on Omio). See the city your way with a classic hop-on route:

- Book the Big Bus London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour to cover Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, and more with live commentary.

Afternoon: Stroll Westminster to see Big Ben and the Abbey from the outside, or upgrade your day with a guided Abbey entry tour (time permitting). Coffee along the Strand, then amble Covent Garden’s arcades.

Evening: Celebrate with city lights on the water: the London Dinner Cruise on the Thames River pairs a 3–4 course meal with skyline views.

Alternative for Potterheads: swap sightseeing for the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Transport (round-trip coach from central London).

Late afternoon departure: Return from Euston to Wigan for your onward trip, or continue to your airport. For European flights, compare on Omio; long-haul options via Kiwi.com or Trip.com.

Practical Notes and Booking Tips

• Rail savings: Buy off-peak day returns and consider advance fares for London. Use Omio to compare trains and buses quickly.
• Weather: Layers and waterproofs for hill days; trainers are fine for Haigh and canal paths, boots for Rivington.
• Match days: Rugby league fixtures in Wigan and St Helens add electric atmosphere but can affect traffic—book taxis ahead.
• Where to stay: Centralize in Ashton/Haydock for easy driving and short taxis, or split your week with a Liverpool or Manchester night—compare on Hotels.com and VRBO.

Across seven days you’ll taste small-town Lancashire life, breathe in moorland air, and tap into Liverpool and Manchester’s cultural rhythm—then, if you wish, toast the Thames on a London finale. It’s a Northern base with national reach, stitched together by easy trains, great food, and generous hospitality.