Stockport

城市概覽

It's never been a port, as those rivers are not navigable, and the suffix probably means "market place". What the rivers did provide was power for waterwheels and hence textile mills, so the town became industrial from the 18th century. Whilst the Lancashire towns specialised in cotton, Stockport's trade was silk, especially for hat-making. This continued into the 20th century until the fashion for elaborate hats passed, and Luton captured the remaining trade. In 2011, it was home to 137,000 people.

如何抵達

By air Stockport is 7 miles east of Manchester Airport (MAN IATA). From the airport station take Skyline Bus 199 heading for Buxton; it runs every 20-30 min and takes 15 min. Trains take 35 min because they all go into Piccadilly then come out again, whether you take the hourly direct train heading for Cleethorpes, or take any other train and change in Piccadilly.

By train

1 Stockport train station. On the Manchester spur of the West Coast Main Line, so many trains from the south and Midlands stop here before continuing to Manchester Piccadilly, another ten min down the line. This means that services between Stockport and Piccadilly run 6AM-midnight every 5 min or so. (updated Dec 2023) There should be three trains per hour from London Euston taking just under two hours and continuing to Piccadilly. Crossing the Midlands these may also call at Milton Keynes, Crewe, Stoke-on-Trent, Macclesfield and Wilmslow. Trains run at least hourly from Birmingham New Street and continue north via Wolverhampton to Stockport and Piccadilly. Trains from Norwich and Cleethorpes run hourly via Sheffield to Stockport, continuing to Manchester Airport or via Warrington and Widnes to Liverpool. Trains from Chester run hourly via Knutsford, Hale and Altrincham to Stockport and Piccadilly. Trains from Cardiff run every 30 min via Hereford, Shrewsbury, Crewe and Wilmslow to Stockport and Piccadilly. A direct train from Blackpool runs via Preston, Chorley, Bolton and Piccadilly to Stockport, continuing to Hazel Grove, but it's quicker to take a fast train and change in Manchester. Just north of the station, the tracks cross the River Mersey Valley on an impressive 27-arch brick viaduct that was built in 1840. It often features in the paintings of L.S. Lowry.

By car The M60 thunders over Stockport on its viaduct, exit at jcn 1 for west side and jcn 27 for east. (It's not that big a town - the orbital motorway restarts its numbering here.) Stockport is on A6, the historic route from L

當地交通

Stockport is not connected to the Manchester tram network. For city centre take the train or use Bus 197, which runs M-Sa every 20-30 min, hourly Su, taking an hour to Manchester Albert Square. Bus 192 also runs very frequently along the A6 but can get caught in traffic. For Manchester Airport use Skyline Bus 199 which runs every 30 min daily (hourly Sunday) between 4:30AM and 11PM, taking 15 min. Southbound it runs from the airport via Stockport, Disley (for Lyme Hall), Whaley Bridge and Chapel-en-le-Frith to Buxton. For Marple take Bus 383/384 (circular services), which runs every 15 min. Alternatively Bus 358 serves Marple on the way to Hayfield (hourly). For Cheadle take Buses 11, 11A from Stockport. Stockport Interchange (Bus Station) has now reopened following a large refurbishment and most buses now call there.

必看景點

Consider buying a combi-ticket for the council's four museums (all closed Monday) of Air Raid Shelters, Staircase House, Bramall Hall, and guided tour of Hat Works: adult £13, conc £10. The ticket is good for a single entry to each (but not to special exhibitions) without time limit. 1 Hat Works, Wellington Mill, Wellington Rd South SK3 0EU, ☏ +44 161 474-2399. Tu-F 10AM-5PM. Museum about the local hat-making industry, and a display of headwear from across the centuries and around the world. It's partly closed until late 2020 so the machine gallery can't be visited. Free, guided tour adult £5, conc £3.75. (updated Dec 2019) 2 Air Raid Shelters, 61 Chestergate SK1 1NE, ☏ +44 161 474-1940. Tu-F 1-5PM, Sa Su 11AM-5PM. During World War II, a network of tunnels and air-raid shelters was hewn out of the sandstone beneath town centre, big enough to shelter 6500. One section has been opened up as a museum. Adult £5.50, conc £4. (updated Oct 2022) 3 Staircase House, 31 Market Place SK1 1ES, ☏ +44 161 218-1460. Tu-F 1-5PM, Sa Su 11AM-5PM. Entered via an unpromising modern building, but within is a well-restored house dating from the 15th century. Its centrepiece is its unusual Jacobean newel cage staircase. Adult £5, conc £3.75. (updated Dec 2019) 4 Stockport Town Hall, Edward Street, SK1 3XE, ☏ +44 161 474-3451. Grandiose Edwardian wedding-cake built 1904–08 in white Portland stone - its architect Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas also built Belfast city hall in similar style. It's normally only open for special events, or booked tours for groups of 15+. However you can stroll into the fine Italianate entrance hall. You might also be able to sneak a peek at the Ballroom with its mighty Wurlitzer, a "Publix 1" designed to accompany silent films. Otherwise catch one of the organ concerts, held monthly on a Monday at noon. (updated Dec 2019) 5 Vernon Park is a mile east of town centre along the banks of the River Goyt, and adjoining the larger Woodbank Park. Opened in 1858, it was cre

體驗活動

1 The Plaza, Mersey Square SK1 1SP (by Mersey Square), ☏ +44 161 477-7779 (bookings), [email protected]. This restored 1930s cinema shows films, theatre, panto, tribute acts and other shows. The authentic 1930s tearoom on the first floor has views onto Mersey Square. (updated Oct 2022) Redrock Stockport is a gym, cinema and leisure complex in town centre, opened in 2018. Building Design magazine awarded it the Carbuncle Cup as the UK's worst new building. 2 Garrick Theatre, Exchange Street, Wellington Road South, SK3 0EJ, ☏ +44 333 666 3366, [email protected]. Long established amateur theatre with a varied programme. (updated Oct 2022) 3 Stockport County FC, Edgeley Park, Hardcastle Road SK3 9DD, ☏ +44 8456 885 799, [email protected]. "The Hatters" were promoted in 2024 and now play football in League One, the third tier. Their stadium has a capacity of 10,800, all-seated. Adult £15, conc £10. (updated May 2024) 4 Bruntwood Park. This park has an eighteen-hole par 3 pitch and putt course (Apr - Oct £6.90) that makes the most of the landscape and sits alongside the existing mature trees. BMX track (free). It also has a fully accessible child's playground and a refreshment kiosk and a restaurant with a Victorian conservatory which has been converted into a restaurant. (updated Feb 2020)

美食

Last Monsoon, 54 King Street West SK3 ODT (corner of Wood St), ☏ +44 161 476-4266. M-Th 4:30-11PM, F Sa 4:30PM-midnight, Su 3-11PM. Reliable Indian restaurant, good portions and service. (updated Dec 2019) Rozafa, St Petersgate. Tu-F noon-2PM and 5-10:30PM, Sa 5-11PM, Su 4-9:30PM. A good Greek Cypriot restaurant