Rediscover Bolton together

When did you last look around you? I mean really look. We all take our locality for granted but you don’t need to travel far to have a fresh adventure – sometimes the most surprising discoveries are right on your doorstep. This date card invites you to become tourists in your own town, seeing Bolton through new eyes and uncovering the hidden stories, architecture, and charm that often get overlooked in everyday life.

Follow a Trail with the TrailTale App

If you enjoy walking and learning along the way, download the free TrailTale app, which offers self-guided walking tours across the UK – including Bolton. You’ll get a mapped-out route, with stops that highlight the town’s architecture, history, and hidden gems. It’s like having your own private tour guide in your pocket, and you can go at your own pace.

Highlights of the Bolton route include:

  • Le Mans Crescent and the Town Hall
  • Historic churches and hidden courtyards
  • Interesting facts and stories tied to local landmarks

Tip: Make a game of it; take turns reading the facts, and alternate guessing the answer. Who know’s Bolton best?

Take a Stroll with the Little Bolton Wander

Curated by local organisation Boo Coaching & Consulting, the Little Bolton Wander is a gentle, fact-filled walk around the most historic parts of Bolton town centre. Starting and ending at Little Bolton Town Hall, this self-guided route encourages you to explore at your own pace, making it perfect for a relaxed and engaging date.

The walk highlights several points of interest, including:

  • Nelson Square
  • Samuel Crompton Statue
  • St. Andrew’s Court
  • Silverwell House
  • Samuel Crompton’s Grave
  • Bolton Parish Church
  • Ye Olde Man & Scythe
  • Ye Olde Pastie Shoppe
  • Bolton Town Hall

Visit local museums and hidden spaces

As you walk, make time to explore places you may have not visited in years – or ever! You could:

  • Admire the Egyptology section in Bolton Museum
  • Peek into Bolton Parish Church and its peaceful gardens
  • Walk the Samuel Crompton Trail and discover Bolton’s industrial story
  • Stop by Le Mans Crescent, imagining it as a film set — it’s been used as one more than once!

Take tourist-style photos of each other along the way – you’ll be amazed at how photogenic your town really is.

Being a tourist in your own town of Bolton reminds you that you doesn’t have to travel to faraway places; sometimes, it’s been around you all along, for you to discover together.