Serviced Apartments in Bolton

Discover the best activities and attractions Bolton has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

Bolton Museum, Art Gallery and Aquarium
Bolton Museum is a major cultural hub that houses diverse collections — from local and natural history to art and world cultures — and runs exhibitions, family activities and outreach programmes. Its presence raises Bolton’s cultural profile, brings school groups and tourists into the town centre, and supports local creative jobs and vendors who participate in museum events. The museum’s changing exhibitions and community projects help foster local pride, lifelong learning and accessible cultural experiences. Visitors come for the mix of local heritage displays, specialist collections and regular events, making it a focal point for residents and visitors alike.

Smithills Hall and Smithills Country Park
Smithills Hall is a well-preserved medieval manor set beside extensive parkland and countryside trails, offering guided tours, historical reenactments and seasonal events (weddings, fairs and family activities). As a heritage attraction it draws visitors regionally, supports local hospitality and event businesses, and provides volunteering and education opportunities that connect people with Bolton’s past. The adjoining country park and farm-style activities encourage outdoor recreation, promoting wellbeing and helping small local enterprises (cafés, outdoor retailers) benefit from visitor spending. Its mix of history, green space and community events makes it a distinctive heritage-park combination unique to Bolton.

Jumbles Country Park and the River/Reservoir Walks
Jumbles Country Park and the nearby reservoir and river corridors offer accessible waterside walking, birdwatching, cycling and peaceful green space close to the town. These natural assets improve local quality of life by providing free, healthy recreation and hosting community events, informal sports and conservation volunteering — all of which feed demand for local services such as cafés, outdoor shops and guided-tour providers. The scenery and wildlife attract day-trippers from Greater Manchester, supporting small-scale tourism and encouraging environmental education. Its popularity stems from easy access to countryside in an urban area and varied walking routes suitable for families and outdoor enthusiasts.

Bolton Market and Churchgate Shopping Area
Bolton Market, together with the surrounding Churchgate shopping streets, is a long-standing retail and social centre that supports independent traders, speciality food vendors and regular market days. The market helps keep money circulating locally, provides small business opportunities, and offers affordable shopping that attracts residents and visitors alike. Market-based events, seasonal stalls and food traders also contribute to the town’s street-level atmosphere and night-time economy, encouraging complementary spend in nearby cafés and restaurants. Its mix of traditional stalls and contemporary artisan producers gives shoppers an authentic Bolton experience.

The Octagon Theatre
The Octagon Theatre is Bolton’s principal producing and receiving theatre, staging a wide range of drama, comedy, music and community productions and running youth and participation programmes. It is an important cultural employer and training ground, nurturing local talent and bringing national touring work to the town, which in turn sustains hospitality, transport and retail businesses on performance nights. The theatre’s educational outreach and community engagement help broaden access to the arts and strengthen civic identity. People come for professionally produced shows, local premieres and lively cultural seasons, making the Octagon a cornerstone of Bolton’s cultural life.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Bolton, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Rail services (Bolton station, Horwich Parkway and local stops) - Bolton is served by Bolton railway station (town centre) and nearby Horwich Parkway; frequent regional and commuter services (operated primarily by Northern) provide direct journeys into central Manchester and connections onwards to towns in Greater Manchester and Lancashire, making rail a key option for commuting and regional travel.
- Bus network (Bolton Interchange and local routes) - Bolton Interchange (the town’s main bus hub) links an extensive local and regional bus network; services are operated by multiple operators and connect Bolton with surrounding towns, suburbs and Manchester, with frequent routes for peak commuting and local trips.
- Long-distance coaches (National Express and others) - National Express and other coach operators provide intercity coach links to destinations across the UK, using the interchange/town centre for pick-up and drop-off.
- Metrolink and tram absence / interchange options - There is no direct Greater Manchester Metrolink tram service into Bolton; passengers typically change in Manchester for tram/light-rail connections. Tram extension proposals have been studied at times but are not yet implemented.
- Park-and-ride and railpark facilities - Park-and-ride facilities (for example at Horwich Parkway and other suburban stations) support rail commuting into Manchester and around Greater Manchester.
- Community transport, dial-a-ride and accessible transport - A range of community transport services, volunteer car schemes and dial-a-ride options operate to support residents with mobility needs and to provide local, demand-responsive travel.
- Taxis and private hire - Licensed taxis and private-hire vehicle services (including app-based operators) provide on-demand local and regional travel, including airport transfers.

Major Highways
- M61 - Primary motorway link from Bolton to Manchester (southern end) and northwards towards Preston and the M6 corridor; key route for commuting and regional traffic.
- M60 (Manchester Orbital) - Greater Manchester’s ring road giving orbital access around Manchester and linking to motorway routes serving the wider conurbation.
- M6 - Major national motorway reachable via connecting routes (M61/M62), providing north–south national connectivity toward the West Midlands and Scotland.
- A666 - Major A-road serving Bolton and linking the town to the M61 and surrounding towns to the north and south; important local trunk route for road freight and commuter traffic.
- A58 / A575 / A579 (principal A-roads) - Important regional A-roads providing radial links into and out of Bolton to nearby towns and suburban areas, forming part of the town’s primary road network.
- A666(M) / regional distributor roads - A network of distributor routes and link roads feed the local motorway junctions and industrial/retail areas, supporting freight and local access.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Cycle lanes, routes and towpaths (network overview) - Bolton has a growing network of cycling facilities including signed on-road cycle lanes, quieter “cycle-friendly” streets, segregated sections on some key corridors, and canal/towpath routes used by cyclists and leisure riders; Bolton Council has an LCWIP (Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan) and has been implementing active travel improvements with Greater Manchester funding to expand protected provision and improve connectivity to employment, education and rail hubs.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Bolton Interchange redevelopment (completed in recent years) - The town-centre interchange project has modernised bus facilities and improved integration between bus and rail, with upgraded passenger facilities and a more accessible town-centre gateway.
- Greater Manchester Bee Network and bus franchising - The roll-out of the Bee Network and bus franchising across Greater Manchester aims to deliver more integrated route planning, simplified fares/ticketing and improved service standards in Bolton as part of city-region-wide reform.
- Station and accessibility upgrades - Ongoing station-area and accessibility works (forecourt improvements, step-free access upgrades and station gateway/streetscape projects) have been undertaken or planned to improve interchange quality and pedestrian links around Bolton railway station.
- Active travel and cycling upgrades - Local and GM-funded projects (LCWIP / Active Travel Fund) are delivering new and upgraded cycle lanes, junction improvements for cyclists and pedestrians, and safer walking routes to schools and transport hubs to encourage modal shift.
- Cleaner bus fleets and low-emission initiatives - Continued fleet renewal and funding support are delivering low-emission/zero-emission buses on some routes, aligning with Greater Manchester’s emissions-reduction targets and improving local air quality.
- Strategic rail and timetable improvements (regional level) - Capacity and timetable changes across the Manchester–Lancashire corridor (including changes following regional rail programmes) have gradually improved peak service resilience and journey opportunities for Bolton commuters; further service upgrades remain subject to operator and national/regional funding decisions.
- Feasibility work for light-rail/Metrolink extensions and major scheme bids - Periodic feasibility studies and business-case work have examined extending light-rail/Metrolink or tram-train links to Bolton and other corridor upgrades; these remain proposals under review and would require major funding decisions before construction.
- Targeted highway and junction works - Local highway maintenance and targeted junction improvement schemes funded by national/GM programmes aim to reduce congestion hotspots and improve safety on key approaches to Bolton, with further small- to medium-scale improvements planned as funding is allocated.

In Bolton, finding the right furnished rental apartment for short term or long term rental can be challenging - especially with affordable rates all year round in Bolton. That is where we help companies find the right serviced apartment to stay when working away from home. Our accommodation offers you the perfect self-catering, furnished rental properties in central Bolton and easy-access locations nearby. Whether it be one week, one month or one year, we have flexible terms to suit you.