Bolton

Bolton was the birthplace of Samuel Crompton, who invented the spinning mule that was to become so important to the Lancashire cotton industry. His invention is in the town’s Tonge Moor Museum, which also features James Hargreave’s Spinning Jenny and Richard Arkwright’s water frame.

The Animal World and Butterfly House is set within Moss Bank Park, it provides a living environment for all kind of animals from farm animals to tropical birds. The Butterfly House has free flying butterflies in a tropical environment along with insects, spiders, reptiles and tropical plants.

Bolton has an all-in-one Museum, Gallery & Aquarium, which has one of the region’s most impressive art collections. Bolton also has a football team who are currently in the Premiership. It speaks volumes of the northwest’s footballing heritage that so many towns make it into the top flight at one time or another.