Stalybridge station in Greater Manchester opened in 1845 as a junction for the Stockport-Stalybridge Line, catering for passengers from London transfers. Although the line has since been lost, the original tunnel is still used today by trains heading to and from Yorkshire. The station's Victorian buffet dates from 1885 and underwent minor facelifts in 1998 and 2012 - it has since won awards from CAMRA and English Heritage. Today the station sits on the Huddersfield Line, offering trains to Manchester Airport, Scarborough and Liverpool Lime Street.
Resting at the base of the Pennine Way on the western edge of the Peak District, Stalybridge offers the perfect rural escape for visiting city folk. Retail lovers should head to the excellent pedestrianized shopping centre, then relax in Stamford Park, a green space with an arboretum and ponds. Stalybridge also hosts the pub with the longest name in Britain - The Old Thirteenth Cheshire Astley Volunteer Rifleman Corps Inn.