Gorton is a Town in the county of Greater Manchester.
Gorton in Greater Manchester is located 2.4 km SW from Droylsden, 2.5 km NE from Levenshulme and 4.1 km W from Denton.
Gorton, a district in east Manchester, has a rich industrial heritage and a strong sense of identity, shaped by its working-class roots and historical landmarks. Once a rural settlement, it expanded rapidly during the Industrial Revolution, becoming home to mills, engineering works, and a growing population drawn to employment in Manchester’s booming industries. The area became particularly well known for its railway heritage, as it was home to the famous Gorton Tank locomotive works, which played a key role in Britain’s railway development.
One of Gorton’s most striking landmarks is Gorton Monastery, a magnificent 19th-century Franciscan church designed by Edward Welby Pugin. Often referred to as Manchester’s Taj Mahal, the monastery is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and has been restored as a cultural and events venue after falling into disrepair. Another significant historical site is Debdale Park, a large green space offering a welcome contrast to the surrounding urban environment. The park includes reservoirs that were originally part of Manchester’s water supply system and are now popular for walking, cycling, and water sports.
Despite economic challenges in the late 20th century, Gorton has seen regeneration efforts aimed at improving housing, public spaces, and community facilities. The area retains a strong local character, with markets, independent shops, and a deep-rooted sense of pride among residents. As Manchester continues to grow, Gorton remains an important part of the city’s history, blending its industrial past with efforts to create a thriving community for the future.
Gorton postcode: M18 8AW
There are great places to visit near Gorton 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.
There are a number of towns near Gorton including Bolton, Westhoughton, Horwich, Little Lever, Salford Quays, Rochdale, and Littleborough.
Gorton has some unmissable hills nearby like Winter Hill, Winter Hill Summit, Adam Hill, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, The Great Knoll, and Burnt Edge.
Gorton'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.
The area around Gorton features a number of interesting old mines including 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).
Don't miss Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, Noon Hill, Two Lads, Hanging Stone, Rivington Cup Marked Stone, and Rainsough Hill Camp's ancient sites if visiting the area around Gorton.
There are a several good round cairns in the Gorton area like Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, and Noon Hill.
Gorton's best nearby ruins can be found at 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).
Hole Bottom, Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, and Hole Bottom Mining Area are great places to visit near Gorton if you like historic sites.
The area around Gorton boasts some of the best lakes including Reservoir Of Dean Mills, The Turton Reservoirs, Turton and Entwistle Reservoir, Jumbles Reservoir, Wayoh Reservoir, Rivington Lakes And Reservoirs, and Yarrow Reservoir.
Historic Monuments to visit near Gorton include Two Lads, Holy Well Spring, Bury Castle, Worsley Green Monument, and Hyde War Memorial.
Gorton's best nearby rivers and streams can be found at Rushtons Brook, Holden's Brook, Stones Bank Brook, Cadshaw Brook, Roscow Clough, Dean Brook, and Raveden Brook.
Gorton has some unmissable woodlands nearby like Fox Hill Plantation, Ousel Nest Quarry, Walker Fold Woods, Raveden Clough, Roscow's Tenement Clough, Dean Wood - Rivington, and Rivington Hall Wood.
There are a number of geological features near Gorton including Jumbles Fossil Tree, Fairy Battery, The Margery Flags at Rivington Pike, Tigers Clough, and Jepsons Clough.
Historic Buildings to visit near Gorton include Bradshaw Brook Viaduct, Turton Tower, Prospect Tower, Archway at Turton Tower, Medieval Style Railway Bridge at Turton Tower, Smithills Hall, and Sheephouse Farm.
Nature Reserves to visit near Gorton include Ousel Nest Quarry, Doffcocker Lodge, Nob End SSSI, Leverhulme Park, Darcy Lever Gravel Pits, Aspull Sough, and Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve.
The area around Gorton boasts some of the best villages including Cadshaw, Rivington, Barrow Bridge, Bromley Cross, Chapeltown, Darcy Lever, and Whelley.
The area around Gorton features a number of interesting country parks including Smithills Country Park, Moses Gate Country Park, Cutacre Country Park, Darcy Lever Gravel Pits, Hollingworth Country Park, Haigh Country Park, and Pennington Flash.
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 are great places to visit near Gorton if you like waterfalls.
There are a number of events near to Gorton including Rivington Pike Easter.
Dean Wood - Rivington, Rivington Hall Wood, Horrocks Wood, Old House Ground Plantation, and Etherow Country Park are great places to visit near Gorton if you like bluebell woods.
Places near Gorton feature a number of interesting sssis including Nob End SSSI.
Gorton has some unmissable parks nearby like Queens Park, Hall Lee Bank Park, Moss Bank Park, Wythenshawe Park and Gardens, Gorton Park, Debdale Park, and Heaton Park.
The area around Gorton boasts some of the best shopping centres including Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park, Manchester Christmas Markets, The Trafford Centre, and Manchester Arndale.
The area around Gorton features a number of interesting gardens including The Rock Garden, The Walled Garden at Moss Bank, and RHS Garden Bridgewater.
The area around Gorton features a number of interesting canals including 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.
The area around Gorton features a number of interesting cities including Salford, and Manchester.
The area around Gorton boasts some of the best museums including Salford Museum and Art Gallery, The Imperial War Museum Salford, and Lancashire Mining Museum at Astley Green.
Disused Railway Lines to visit near Gorton include The Old Whelley Line, Lancashire Union Joint Line, Ringley Road Station (ruin), Clifton - Accrington and Colne Line (disused), and Linnyshaw Loopline.
Gorton is near some unmissable moated sites like Wigan Golf Club,
Manchester Airport is a great place to visit close to Gorton if you like airports.
Gorton History
There are some historic monuments around Gorton:
