When you tell people you live in Glossop, they usually know the town from sitting in a traffic jam on the way to the Peak District or Sheffield. Everyone’s been through it but not many stop. That could be about to change.
Last month Glossop’s long-shut indoor market reopened as a food hall – a multi-kitchen venue with street food counters, communal tables and a bar selling cocktails and craft ales. It’s a big moment for the town, and some would say it marks a turning point, but to me it seems more like the natural progression of a place that’s been on the up for some time.
As a longtime Glossop resident who grew up here in the 80s and 90s, then relocated to Chorlton for 15 years before returning about a decade ago, I’ve noticed a shift in the town’s character. When I first moved back in 2014, I’d tell friends there was only two things to do here: fell running and thrifting. Now I’d have to add the food scene to that. I used to miss the variety and quality of places to eat out in Manchester. As you’ll see from this guide, that’s not a problem anymore.
The shopping scene has gone from strength to strength too and I don’t just mean the charity shops (of which there are multitudes). You could easily spend a day mooching around the small, independent businesses in Glossop. And that was the case even before the Market Arcade reopened with a bunch of new boutiques, delis and shops.
Is it possible that Glossop will become a day-out destination like Altrincham, Macclesfield, and Hebden Bridge? Maybe. It’s only half an hour on the train from Manchester Piccadilly and to city eyes, the surrounding scenery is striking.
The boundary of the Peak District National Park tactfully swerves around Glossop, much like it does with Buxton, but it’s still a great starting point for hikers, runners and cyclists. You can walk into the national park from Glossop Station in about 25 minutes (or run it in ten). And if you don’t want to go that far, it’s got two elegant parks; Howard Park, which houses a Victorian era public swimming pool, and Manor Park, which has a miniature railway and is bordered by the village-like charm of Old Glossop.
Looking back, I think the shift in Glossop’s character started in 2016 when they knocked down the 240 ft Ferro Alloys chimney. Towering over the terraced houses, it made it look like a grim industrial town rather than what it actually is nowadays: the gateway to one of the most beautiful regions in the UK. Yet even with that eyesore gone, it always used to surprise me when I saw tourists here. Did they get lost? Make a mistake? They must be disappointed if this rainy mill town is their holiday destination. I might have to adjust my views on that. I’ve always known Glossop is a great place to live. Now it seems like it’s a good place to visit too.
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GlossopMore detailsAlmanac
Almanac opened in summer 2025 and has early signs of building the same enviable reputation as chef-owner Luke Payne’s nearby success story, The Packhorse. But while the Packhorse is a country pub complete with roaring fires and Sunday roasts, Almanac is a sleek restaurant which takes its style inspiration from classic New York meets New Orleans brasseries and its culinary notes from historical British food writers Mrs Beeton and Elizabeth David.
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GlossopMore detailsAnason
Anason is a Turkish-Mediterranean cafe which is fast becoming a local favourite for breakfasts, brunches and lunches in Glossop. Situated on Norfolk Square, it’s got possibly the best location in town, and some would say the best coffee too, but we’ll let other people argue about that one.
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GlossopMore detailsCoda Vinyl
Music has always been in the blood of Coda Vinyl owner Neil McDonald. First as the guitarist with 90s Manchester band Puressence and now as a record store owner with two shops to his name: Vinyl Planet in Macclesfield, and as of spring 2025, Coda Vinyl in Glossop. Along with his partner Barbara, he’s created a place where you can browse, buy and sell new and secondhand vinyl from across the eras and genres.
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Peak DistrictMore detailsCoombes Edge and Cown Edge
Sitting back-to-back on the boundary of the Peak District National Park, Coombes Edge and Cown Edge provide stunning views of Greater Manchester and Kinder Scout.
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GlossopMore detailsGeorge Street Community Bookshop
Owned and run by the community since the previous owner retired in 2018, George Street Community Bookshop is a quirky, characterful and well-stocked shop spread over two floors (with a staircase lined with more books in-between).
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GlossopMore detailsGlossop Market Hall
The long-anticipated Glossop Market Hall reopened in November 2025 following a £7.3m redevelopment project. The market stalls have been replaced by a light, airy food hall featuring the kind of trend-leading restaurants and cafes you’d normally have to travel into Manchester to find.
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GlossopMore detailsHarvey Leonard’s Wine & Ale
The first thing you notice when you step out of Glossop Station will likely be the beckoning glow of Harvey Leonard’s, the bar and bottle shop in the Old Conservative Club building across the road.
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GlossopMore detailsMettrick’s Butchers
Back in the early 1900s, John Mettrick’s great granddad’s uncle left his job at a butchers in Manchester equipped with just a sausage recipe and a dream. 12o years later and Mettrick’s Butchers is still going strong (and its sausages are as popular as ever).
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HadfieldMore detailsPortobello
Not strictly in Glossop but just one stop down the train line in Hadfield – and well worth the detour. Act out your favourite League of Gentlemen scenes while you’re there.
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Peak DistrictMore detailsSnake Woodlands
Not far after the road descends from the summit of the Snake Pass (the road between Glossop and Sheffield), you’ll find an area of Forestry England land known as Snake Woodlands.
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GlossopMore detailsThe Two Hares
We hate to use that threadbare phrase ‘hidden gem’ but we’ll make an exception for The Two Hares. Tucked away down a ginnel in a Tardis-like space you can’t see from the high street, it’s from a team that was honoured in the Michelin Guide for their last venture. Hidden gem, indeed.
