Summer Gardens at Quarry Bank

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

Book now

Summer gardens at Quarry Bank

9 July-30 September 2019

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Summer gardens at Quarry Bank
John Millar
Book now

Take a trip to Quarry Bank this summer and see the picturesque summer gardens at their very best. We really love that the gardens are set in a dramatic valley on a number of different levels with something different to see around every corner. Take a stroll to take in the summery scent, discover spectacular views and displays of colour.

During the beautiful summer months, you’ll find Peonies, geraniums, nepeta and tiarella in full bloom; elsewhere in the garden, lots of fruit and vegetables coming through – onions, garlic and runner beans ripening and strawberries on their way.

With stunning views down the River Bollin, Quarry Bank gardens were first established in the 1790s by Samuel Greg and his wife, Hannah. A perfect emulation of nature, paths trail upwards through the valley passing by caves, cliffs, fantastic mature Beech trees and rhododendrons. A lot of the trees and plantings that the Gregs cultivated back in the eighteenth century are still thriving today.

Wander around the upper garden at Quarry Bank and marvel at the recently restored glasshouse. With thousands of panes of glass, shimmering and sparkling in the sunlight, it is home to many exotic fruits and plants. A perfect spot for taking in the spectacular views – grab an ice-cream at the Garden Café and enjoy the vantage point.

Bursting with lots of wildlife, the lower garden has plenty to keep little eyes, hands and minds active. Take time to spot the many trout in the meandering river Bollin and if you’re visiting as a family make sure you grab a tracker pack from the garden kiosk. Complete with binoculars, microscope and sheets to record your findings, little ones will love spotting dragonflies, butterflies, bugs and many other wondrous creepy crawlies.

The gardens at Quarry Bank are all maintained and loved by a dedicated team of 60 staff and volunteers. You’ll see them out and about, pruning and planting vegetables, during the warm summer months. There’s plenty to explore this summer at Quarry Bank. Keen gardeners and lovers of the outdoors, of all ages, will find that Quarry Bank offers a wealth of green-fingered inspiration.

Where to go near Summer Gardens at Quarry Bank

The Loft
Manchester
Music venue
The Loft

The Loft is an intimate, industrial-style club tucked away on the edge of Manchester city centre. Known for its impeccable sound system and low-key vibe.

Stables Tavern
City Centre
Restaurant
Stables Tavern

The Stables Tavern is an olde style pub in the St John’s neighbourhood of Manchester, where the Rovers Return once stood.

Manchester
Restaurant
Ban Di Bul

Ban Di Bul is a longstanding Korean restaurant in the very centre of Manchester.

Bridge Cottage
Port Sunlight
Gallery
Bridge Cottage

Bridge Cottage is one of Port Sunlight’s most charming and architecturally distinctive Arts & Crafts homes. Often hold art Exhibitions and Tours.

A projected image of the Stockroom.
Stockport
Library
Stockroom

Stockroom is Stockport’s new centre for culture and creativity, with a library, a children’s play area and a whole host of exciting events.

Inside main hall Birch Community Centre, showing high hammer-beam ceiling.
Manchester
Theatre
Birch Community Centre

Housed in a striking neo-Gothic former parish hall, Birch Community Centre is a hidden gem on Brighton Grove, just opposite Platt Fields Park. Its vaulted wooden ceiling and arched windows…

A series of microphones hang from the ceiling with a muted warm light in the background.
Rochdale
Event venue
RISE Inavate Centre

RISE Inavate Centre will be used for a thought-provoking sound installation by Shilpa Gupta at Manchester International Festival 2025.

Interior Decorations - Viet Deli
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Viet Deli

Viet Deli is a small venue, not the kind of place for a sit down meal. Serving only bánh mì, traditionally street food in Vietnam.

Levenshulme
Restaurant
My Nawaab

Eye-catching banqueting hall in Levenshulme, with a wide-ranging buffet showcasing freshly-prepared Indian and Pakistani cuisine.

SB_BreweryTour - Taproom One
Manchester
Brewery
Seven Bro7hers Brewery & Taproom

Discover the heart of Salford’s craft beer revolution at the Seven Bro7hers Brewery & Taproom—a spirited, family-run brewery where the brewing kettles gleam and the atmosphere buzzes with energy.

What's on: Families

Haphazard 2025 at Z-arts
FamiliesManchester
Haphazard 2025 at Z-arts

A free day of bizarre behaviour and exciting live performance at Z-arts. Expect the unexpected. Playful, unpredictable, and not easily forgotten.

Free entry
Africana and Caribbean Food Fest
FestivalsLeeds
African & Caribbean Food Fest 2025

Calling people of Leeds and beyond! The city’s favourite African and Caribbean Food Fest is back, and this year it’s turning up the heat with Harmony of Colours, a celebration…

Free entry

Culture Guides

Harry Baker
Literature Events in the North

From environmental to experimental, our poetry and prose picks from around the North are focused on the unusual and the fun.

Exhibitions in the North

Captivating, urgent and intimate - we bring you our top exhibition picks, with even more art festivals, artist-led shows and new venues.

Helena Hauff
Music in the North

Shape-shifting bands, scorched-earth techno, and off-grid festivals. Our latest music picks catch the live scene at its most urgent, inventive and alive.

Cloudwater Production One
Tours and Activities in the North

Go forth with wild abandon to dance the pavements, dabble with the paint and down the pints in this month's tours and activities guide.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Experimental performance, thought-provoking new writing and our picks of Manchester International Festival - here’s what’s taking centre stage this summer.

Classical Music in the North

Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.

A young boy with a white sash around his left arm cries.
Cinema in the North

Outdoor cinema announcements, a major retrospective at HOME, and the best of indie cinema.