Chorley

10 miles north-west of Bolton, 12 miles south-west of Blackburn and 6 miles north of Wigan. Preston is 10 miles north of Chorley, and Manchester is 30 miles south-east of Chorley.
Chorley describes itself as "Lancashire's Market Town". The markets take place most days, and continue to attract shoppers from around the local area. Chorley Borough, surrounding the town, includes many charming rural villages, and contrasting types of countryside. To the east of the town, the terrain rises up into the West Pennine Moors. Relatively low altitude, but still a remote landscape. The terrain to the west of the town could not be more different, with the flat, fertile West Lancashire Mosslands stretching away to the coast at Southport

By train

Chorley station is blessed with direct train links with Manchester, Preston, Blackpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

By car

Chorley lies close to the junction of the M6, M61 and M65 Motorways. The closest link to the Motorway network is Junction 8 of the M61. The A6 and A49 roads both pass through the borough.

By plane

Direct trains from Manchester Airport in around 50 minutes.

• Astley Hall Museum and Art Gallery

  address: Chorley PR7 1AX
  Museum and art gallery within an eccentric Elizabethan historic house. The extensive landscaped grounds of Astley Park are open daily.

• Preston England Temple

  address: Hartwood Green, Chorley PR6 7EQ
  The Mormons or Church of Latter Day Saints were almost driven out of the US in the 19th C, but regrouped from their church in Preston to re-establish in Utah and worldwide. This temple, built 1994-98, commemorates that era, and now serves LDS for central and northern England, Scotland, and most of Ireland. Its gleaming white 48 m spire is visible for miles around.

• Hoghton Tower

  address: Hoghton Bottoms PR5 0SH
  16th century fortified manor house atop a hill. Note the well house, banqueting hall, state bedroom and ballroom, and no less than three "priest holes". There's a fanciful association with Shakespeare and a myth that King James I knighted his dinner as "Sir Loin" steak when he stayed here in 1617. What's genuine is the birth here of Sunday sports - James was persuaded to repeal the sterner sabbatarian rules, and issued the Book of Sports setting out what was allowed, initially for Lancashire, then the whole country. Archery and dancing on Sunday were fine, bear-baiting was definitely out.

• Winter HillAt 1496 ft this is the highest point of the West Pennine Moors, on the border with Horwich and Bolton. It adjoins Rivington Pike, with a tower built in 1733. Views stretch to Lakeland and Snowdonia. Various markers and monuments commemorate incidents both apocryphal ("ooh, they were never seen again!") and real, eg the 1958 crash of a charter flight from Isle of Man to Manchester. Towering over all is the 309 m mast of the ITV transmitting station, broadcasting across northwest England.

• Camelot Theme Park

  phone: +44 1257 453044
  address: Park Hall Road, PR7 5LP
  Theme Park with a loose Arthurian theme. Some decent rollercoasters. Book in advance online for savings against entry fees.

• Chorley Little Theatre

  phone: +44 1257 264362
  address: 10 Dole Lane, PR7 2RL
  Built in 1910 as a cinema, now run by local volunteers as an arts venue. Regular amateur productions of high quality. Hosts some of the biggest names in stand-up comedy throughout the year and still fulfils its original role as cinema on some Sunday evenings.

• Chorley MarketsChorley describes itself as Lancashire's Market Town and is proud of its popular market, which lies at the very heart of the town. The covered market opens 9am - 4.30pm on the following days. Monday - Flea Market and collectables. Tuesday - New goods and food cabins, with additional stalls on the adjacent Flat Iron car park. Thursday - craft, new goods and food cabins. Friday - new goods and food cabins. Saturday - new goods and food cabins with additional food and craft market on nearby Fazakerley Street every second Saturday.

• Tapas Esteban

  phone: +44 1257 261259
  address: 8 Cleveland St PR7 1BH
  Friendly tapas place, gets good reviews for food and prices.

• The Nile

  phone: +44 1257 241341
  address: New Market Street, PR7 1BY
  Kebab, pizza and similar post-pub food.

• Sir Henry Tate is a JD Wetherspoon on New Market St. It's open Su-Th 08:00-00:00, F Sa 08:00-01:00.

• Premier Inn Chorley South

  address: Bolton Road, PR7 4AB
  The hotel has an onsite restaurant and has free onsite parking

• Premier Inn Chorley North

  address: Malthouse Farm, Moss Lane, Whittle-Le-Woods, Chorley, PR6 8AB
  The hotel has an onsite restaurant and has free onsite parking

• Manchester or Liverpool for big city attractions, or north into the Lake District.