Astley is a Town in the county of Greater Manchester.
Astley in Greater Manchester is located 3.8 km SE from Atherton, 4.5 km E from Leigh - Greater Manchester and 6.3 km SW from Farnworth.
Astley, a village located in the Wigan area of Greater Manchester, is known for its semi-rural charm, rich heritage, and close-knit community atmosphere. With its roots as an industrial and agricultural settlement, Astley has maintained a blend of historical sites and green spaces that reflect its past while serving the needs of modern residents. Situated near Leigh and Tyldesley, Astley offers a quieter, more scenic lifestyle than the nearby urban centres, attracting families and those who enjoy the countryside while still being within commuting distance of Manchester and Wigan.
One of the most notable landmarks in Astley is the Bridgewater Canal, which runs through the village, once serving as a key transport route for the coal mines in the area. Today, the canal is a popular spot for leisurely walks, cycling, and narrowboat trips, providing scenic views and access to local wildlife. The canal paths link up with the Astley Green Colliery Museum, an important heritage site that preserves the village’s coal mining legacy. The museum features the only surviving pit headgear in the Lancashire coalfield, along with an array of exhibits and artefacts from the mining era. This museum is a point of pride for locals, preserving a piece of industrial history that shaped Astley and the surrounding region.
Astley is also known for its expansive green spaces and local parks. Astley Green Park is a favourite among families and offers playgrounds, open fields, and picnic areas, making it a hub for community activities and outdoor events. The nearby Chat Moss, a large peat bog area, is one of the region’s most important ecological sites. It provides habitats for a variety of wildlife and is part of an ongoing conservation effort to preserve the unique mossland ecosystem. These green spaces not only add to Astley’s rural charm but also highlight the village’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
Community life in Astley is lively, with various local groups and events that bring residents together. Churches, village halls, and sports clubs offer activities for all ages, from youth sports teams to social groups for retirees. Local pubs, cafes, and shops foster a friendly, village atmosphere where neighbours know each other, and newcomers are quickly welcomed. Astley’s proximity to the larger towns of Leigh and Wigan also means residents have access to a wider range of amenities, including schools, shopping centres, and healthcare facilities.
While Astley is steeped in history, it continues to evolve, balancing its rural roots with new housing developments and transport improvements. The Leigh Guided Busway, for instance, has improved connections to Manchester, making the area more accessible for commuters. Astley remains a charming and picturesque part of Greater Manchester, where heritage, community, and nature come together, offering residents a peaceful lifestyle with the conveniences of city life within easy reach.
Astley postcode: M29 7HT
There are great places to visit near Astley including some great towns, hills, hiking areas, old mines, ancient sites, round cairns, ruins, historic sites, lakes, historic monuments, rivers and streams, woodlands, geological features, historic buildings, nature reserves, villages, country parks, waterfalls, events, bluebell woods, sssis, parks, shopping centres, gardens, canals, cities, museums, disused railway lines, moated sites and airports.
Astley has some unmissable towns nearby like Bolton, Westhoughton, Horwich, Little Lever, Salford Quays, Rochdale, and Littleborough.
Astley's best nearby hills can be found at Winter Hill, Winter Hill Summit, Adam Hill, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, The Great Knoll, and Burnt Edge.
Astley's best nearby hiking areas can be found at Shaly Dingle, Winter Hill Summit, Hole Bottom, Hole Bottom Mining Area, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, and Burnt Edge.
Old Mines to visit near Astley include Shaly Dingle, Winter Hill Mines, Winter Hill Tunnel, Rivington Moor Colliery (ruin), Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Hole Bottom Mining Area, and Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin).
The area around Astley boasts some of the best ancient sites including Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, Noon Hill, Two Lads, Hanging Stone, Rivington Cup Marked Stone, and Rainsough Hill Camp.
Don't miss Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, and Noon Hill's round cairns if visiting the area around Astley.
Don't miss Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, Ouzel Hall (site of), Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin), Prospect (ruin), Rivington Moor Bell Pits (ruin), and Burnt Edge Colliery (ruin)'s ruins if visiting the area around Astley.
There are a number of historic sites near Astley including Hole Bottom, Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, and Hole Bottom Mining Area.
Lakes to visit near Astley include Reservoir Of Dean Mills, The Turton Reservoirs, Turton and Entwistle Reservoir, Jumbles Reservoir, Wayoh Reservoir, Rivington Lakes And Reservoirs, and Yarrow Reservoir.
The area around Astley boasts some of the best historic monuments including Two Lads, Holy Well Spring, Bury Castle, Worsley Green Monument, and Hyde War Memorial.
Astley has some unmissable rivers and streams nearby like Rushtons Brook, Holden's Brook, Stones Bank Brook, Cadshaw Brook, Roscow Clough, Dean Brook, and Raveden Brook.
The area around Astley boasts some of the best woodlands including Fox Hill Plantation, Ousel Nest Quarry, Walker Fold Woods, Raveden Clough, Roscow's Tenement Clough, Dean Wood - Rivington, and Rivington Hall Wood.
The area around Astley boasts some of the best geological features including Jumbles Fossil Tree, Fairy Battery, The Margery Flags at Rivington Pike, Tigers Clough, and Jepsons Clough.
There are a several good historic buildings in the Astley area like Bradshaw Brook Viaduct, Turton Tower, Prospect Tower, Archway at Turton Tower, Medieval Style Railway Bridge at Turton Tower, Smithills Hall, and Sheephouse Farm.
The area around Astley boasts some of the best nature reserves including Ousel Nest Quarry, Doffcocker Lodge, Nob End SSSI, Leverhulme Park, Darcy Lever Gravel Pits, Aspull Sough, and Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve.
There are a number of villages near Astley including Cadshaw, Rivington, Barrow Bridge, Bromley Cross, Chapeltown, Darcy Lever, and Whelley.
Don't miss Smithills Country Park, Moses Gate Country Park, Cutacre Country Park, Darcy Lever Gravel Pits, Hollingworth Country Park, Haigh Country Park, and Pennington Flash's country parks if visiting the area around Astley.
There are a number of waterfalls near Astley including Roscow Clough Waterfall, Smithills Hall Park Waterfall, Langshaw Ford Weir, Raveden Clough Waterfall, Raveden Plantation Waterfall, Yarrow Reservoir Overflow Cascade, and Upper Rivington Reservoir Yarrow Outflow.
Don't miss Rivington Pike Easter's events if visiting the area around Astley.
Don't miss Dean Wood - Rivington, Rivington Hall Wood, Horrocks Wood, Old House Ground Plantation, and Etherow Country Park's bluebell woods if visiting the area around Astley.
Places near Astley feature a number of interesting sssis including Nob End SSSI.
The area around Astley features a number of interesting parks including Queens Park, Hall Lee Bank Park, Moss Bank Park, Wythenshawe Park and Gardens, Gorton Park, Debdale Park, and Heaton Park.
Don't miss Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park, Manchester Christmas Markets, The Trafford Centre, and Manchester Arndale's shopping centres if visiting the area around Astley.
There are a number of gardens near Astley including The Rock Garden, The Walled Garden at Moss Bank, and RHS Garden Bridgewater.
Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal at Prestolee, The Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Haigh, Top Lock at Wigan, Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Crooke, The Leeds and Liverpool Canal near Shevington, Rochdale Canal Western Section, and Bridgewater Canal are some of Astley best canals to visit near Astley.
Astley's best nearby cities can be found at Salford, and Manchester.
The area around Astley features a number of interesting museums including Salford Museum and Art Gallery, The Imperial War Museum Salford, and Lancashire Mining Museum at Astley Green.
There are a several good disused railway lines in the Astley area like The Old Whelley Line, Lancashire Union Joint Line, Ringley Road Station (ruin), Clifton - Accrington and Colne Line (disused), and Linnyshaw Loopline.
Astley is near some unmissable moated sites like Wigan Golf Club,
There are a number of airports near to Astley including Manchester Airport.
Astley History
There are some historic monuments around Astley:
