Sale

Sale sits just south-west of Manchester city centre, close enough that most visitors use it as an easy, cheaper alternative for exploring the city while still having proper things to do on its own doorstep. Sale Water Park is the obvious draw, a large stretch of open water and green space that gives the town a breathing room you don't always find this close to a major city.

Hotels here tend to be small and personal rather than big chains, though the chains are represented too. Amblehurst Hotel, Brooklands Lodge, Eskdale Lodge, Lennox Lea Hotel & Apartments, The Belmore and The Normanhurst Hotel cover the independent end, while Premier Inn Manchester Sale and Travelodge Manchester Sale give budget-minded visitors a reliable base. Most are within easy reach of the Metrolink, which makes getting into Manchester itself straightforward without needing a car.

Beyond the water park, Bean & Brush Family Art Cafe offers a low-key, creative option for a few hours, particularly if you're travelling with children who want something more hands-on than sightseeing. It's the kind of place that fits Sale's character well: unpretentious and geared towards actually doing something rather than just looking at it.

With well over a hundred restaurants listed, Sale works well as a base for people who want to eat well without travelling into the city every night, then hop on the tram when they do fancy a change of scene. It's a practical, well-connected town rather than a destination built around a single big attraction, and that's largely the appeal.