RDA reveal attractions for staycation tourists

ROCHDALE Development Agency has named its top tourist attractions in the borough as more families around the country make alternative holiday plans for this summer.

It is hoped more holidaymakers will be drawn to the borough as a ‘compelling alternative’ to more traditional UK hotspots like the Lake District and Cornwall, which have hinted at limited summer seasons, as the ongoing pandemic means more people will be considering a ‘staycation’ for their summer holiday.

RDA chairman Paul Ormerod said: “We know Rochdale is not up on most people’s lists of obvious tourist destinations. But we have magnificent scenery, easy access to the centre of Manchester, and a rich historical heritage. Everybody who spends a few days on staycation here will be most welcome.”

The agency says the borough’s dramatic surrounding Pennine scenery, historic legacy and thriving social scene make it a ‘best kept secret’ for travellers.

Councillor John Blundell, an RDA board member and Rochdale Council cabinet member for Regeneration, said: “Rochdale Borough is delighted to welcome visitors this summer. We really do offer something for everyone.”

RDA’s star attractions include:

●●The Pennine Way, with its many miles of marked walking and mountain bike trails;

●●The magnificent Grade-1 Gothic Town Hall, whose chimes were used by the BBC to fill in for Big Ben;

●●A fascinating history, as the birthplace of the world-wide co-operative movement and one of the places that sparked the Industrial Revolution;

●●Excellent bars and restaurants, including The Flying Horse Hotel, winner of the Campaign for Real Ale’s National Pub of the Year;

●●Dippy the dinosaur, the Natural History Museum’s superb diplodocus skeleton currently in residence at Number One Riverside.