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What to do in Altrincham

Welcome to our guide to places to visit in the market town of Altrincham. Located on the south-west edge of Manchester, Altrincham is a leafy suburb whose centre has suffered economically since the opening of the Trafford Centre. Nevertheless, it remains an interesting place in which to potter, with plenty of independently-owned shops and restaurants. Last updated: April 2013.

Things to do in Altrincham

Altrincham’s relatively small size means that there aren’t a host of attractions in the town itself. However, if you’ve an afternoon or evening to while away, there are a few things to keep you occupied.

Strap on your skates: Everyone who was brought up in south Manchester went ice skating in Altrincham as a child. The ice rink in Altrincham has been recently updated and is open seven days a week. Visit the rink’s website for more details: Altrincham ice rink.

Visit a stately home: Located just outside Altrincham, Dunham Massey is an imposing Georgian house with a beautiful garden. The rose garden is particularly lovely.

Something to do on a rainy day: Altrincham has a multiplex cinema, Vue, with six screens and all the usual multiplex bobbins.

Five good shops in Altrincham

A fantastic concept that should be available in every town is Traders Outlet, where independent traders each rent an area within a store. The traders are hand-picked to make sure that the shop offers the best from local businesses. You’ll find jewellery, gifts, art and even a coffee shop.

London Tap Gallery is a contemporary art gallery with an interesting array of art for sale. The gallery has a selection of work in different media.

Greenginger Fabric is a cornucopia of fabric and haberdashery bits and bobs. They have a lovely range of things to rummage through and will also hand-make curtains for you.

A recent shop opening is Gummy Worm, a bright, modern sweet shop featuring an extensive range of traditional and new treats.

Altrincham Market has been in existence since 1290. It’s a real, proper market, with different types of market during the week and a farmers’ and craft market on the first Friday of every month.

Hotels in Altrincham

If you’re looking for an Altrincham hotel, there isn’t a lot of accommodation to choose from, and the hotels that are close to the town centre are all of the budget variety. Although the Travelodge is the most central, we prefer the Premier Inn, which is about five minutes walk from the town centre.

Recommended Altrincham restaurants, cafes and bars

A trip to the Continent: For a town of its size, Altrincham has more Belgian bars than might be expected. Almost adjacent to one another are The Belgian Bar and Mort Subite (which means ‘sudden death’). Both have cosy interiors and a very long menu of eclectic, top quality beers. Just don’t ask about the story behind Mort’s premises.

The French connection: No guide to Altrincham would be complete without a mention of Franc’s, a long-established brasserie on Goose Green. The menu of French bistro classics isn’t cheap, but the food is great quality and the surroundings are charming. There is a good value Menu Bon Marché for lunch and dinner.

Good all-rounder: Every town should have its own Gin Palace. Altrincham does, in the form of the Victoria, a recently refurbished pub on Stamford Street. It has great food, well chosen drinks (even the soft drinks menu is interesting) and, best of all, occasional Pie & Jazz nights.

Best for breakfast: Y McGregor is a fantastic café with a slightly perplexing name. Its food is delicious, healthy and homemade, and it’s a great spot to go for breakfast.