![\"Locals](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_JS366174964.jpg\")
Locals say the town is becoming a popular place to visit (Image: Jason Roberts \/ MEN)<\/p>\nNestled on the edge of Greater Manchester, locals say the town has everything for a good day out.Locals say the town is becoming a popular place to visit (Image: Jason Roberts \/ MEN)<\/p>\n
Country pubs, canal walks, and soon a brand new swimming pool in a \u00a320m community hub<\/a> – Marple<\/a> is a town on the up with lots of reasons to visit.<\/p>\n Nestled on the edge of Greater Manchester in the borough of Stockport<\/a>, it offers a mix of independent shops alongside food and drink outlets on a busy high street, but also quiet areas of calm.<\/p>\n In the town centre is the historic Memorial Park which opened in 1922, with a skatepark, play areas, multi-use games areas, and a bowling green.<\/p>\n To see planning applications; traffic and road diversions and layout changes; and more, visit the Public Notices Portal HERE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Marple has plenty of transport connections too, with two train stations, buses to Stockport, and the Peak District National Park nearby.<\/p>\n No wonder locals say they\u2019re seeing more and more visitors making the trip to Marple for days out, and footfall numbers to the area are up year-on-year according to Stockport council<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s so much to do in Marple, it\u2019s an escape from Manchester and very tranquil here,\u201d says Julie Lawford, a 68-year-old resident.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got the canal locks which our MP is campaigning to be a World Heritage site. We\u2019ve got country pubs and loads of places to go for walks, there are lots of cafes too.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a place people want to come to, it\u2019s becoming a destination for people to visit.\u201d<\/p>\n Like many in Marple, Ms Lawford is excited for Marple\u2019s new community hub to open next year, especially after the closure of the former Marple Baths in 2018.<\/p>\n Construction of the new site is already well underway, and once ready it will bring a library, a five-lane swimming pool, a small caf\u00e9, a 60-station fitness suite plus the relocated Marple Clinic.<\/p>\n \u201cThe new community hub will be so important for the town. I think it\u2019s long overdue, it\u2019s been a while since the old baths closed, this will give us a place to swim again,\u201d Ms Lawford added.<\/p>\n Another resident, Stuart Gray, said: \u201cMost people are quite pleased about the new community hub, it could even bring more people to visit here. Marple is a great place, it\u2019s got famous canals and people are very friendly. It feels more like a seaside town.\u201d<\/p>\n Join our Stockport WhatsApp group HERE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Marple\u2019s canal locks are a key part of the town\u2019s heritage, and played an important role in the Industrial Revolution in Greater Manchester.<\/p>\n These days, it is a popular spot for walking and cycling, and Hazel Grove<\/a> MP Lisa Smart is campaigning for the locks to gain UNESCO World Heritage status<\/a> in recognition of their significance.<\/p>\n There are also plans for a new heritage centre, cafe and community space<\/a> along the canal locks, which has been supported with more than \u00a3860,000 from a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant.<\/p>\n This will be housed in a former warehouse built around the time of the construction of the Peak Forest Canal and Macclesfield<\/a> Canal in the early 1800s, which sits between two grade-II listed roving bridges.<\/p>\n The canals are a source of pride in Marple, says resident Tim Clarke who went to school in the area.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cI would say that that part of Marple has a very nice feel, it\u2019s calm. There\u2019s plenty to do around here and you can go on long walks along the canal.\u201d<\/p>\n Another local named Mary said: \u201cMarple has got everything you could want really, there\u2019s loads to do here, and I\u2019m looking forward to the Marple hub being open.\u201d<\/p>\n Steve Gribbon is a councillor for Marple North and said there\u2019s a feeling that \u2018everything is on the up\u2019 in the town at the moment.<\/p>\n \u201cThe hub will be a hugely welcome addition not just to residents of Marple but people from the borough as well, no doubt when it does open people will want to come and have a look, it will be a fantastic new safe fun experience for people of all ages,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re blessed with the fact that to get here we\u2019ve got two train stations, we\u2019re a bus ride away from Stockport, it\u2019s very easy to get to.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got the canal walks, Etherow Park, fantastic country pubs both in the town centre near the canal locks and in the surrounding areas as well.<\/p>\n He continued: \u201cHaving visitors come here to spend the day is what we\u2019re after, we\u2019re a very welcoming town and we want to keep it that way.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re right on the border of Derbyshire and Cheshire, so we\u2019re out to the side to an extent, whereas you\u2019ve got places like Sale<\/a> that are more central.<\/p>\n![\"Memorial](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_JS377877867.jpg\")
Memorial Park in Marple.<\/p>\n![\"Stuart](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_JS377877862.jpg\")
Stuart Gray said people are looking forward to the new community hub opening.<\/p>\n![\"Tim](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_JS377877865.jpg\")
Tim Clarke with his mum Barbara in Marple.<\/p>\n![\"Marple](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_JS368288559-1.jpg\")
Marple will get a new swimming pool in the community hub.<\/p>\n