Victoria Square is a stunning open space in the centre of Bolton…read more On one side sit the majestic Albert Halls, with its imposing steps up to the doors and tall clock tower. The whole area really is quite stunning and on a clear blue day it's a lovely place to come and have a sit down and watch the world go buy as you take a break from shopping or work. There's plenty of benches around the outside of the square, with a few trees about as well if you need a bit of shade. Victoria Square really enhances Bolton's character, and makes an ace change from all the average shops around.

I don't go to Bolton very often these days, but every time I visit this town I take time to admire…read moreits splendid town hall. The original building was opened in June 1873 by HRH Prince Albert. Known as Albert Hall, it saw the first recital of the organ in October 1874. Sadly, in 1981 the original Albert Hall was destroyed by fire, but the rest of the building was saved and came back to life as the new Albert Hall and Festival Halls. It now contains several function rooms, as well as the tourist information centre. The building is dominated by the impressive tower clock, beneath which sits a portico entrance with white frieze. A grand staircase is flanked by fountains and lions. Opposite is a War Memorial. Bolton Town Hall stands in the middle of the town's life. It is surrounded by the bank, a plenty of shops, a court, a taxi rank, with a bus interchange just across the road.

Review 500! Wowzers…read more I'm chuffed that it's this local landmark, as we walked up to Peel Monument on what was probably the loveliest, sunniest first day of Spring that I can remember. Occupying a prominent position on Holcome Hill, you can see the monument from miles around and it serves as a beacon for walkers or those of us that just enjoying getting up to it "because it's there". It's a memorial to Sir Robert Peel, born in Bury, who twice served as Prime Minister and is regarded as the father of the modern British police. On a clear day, which we were lucky coincided with our visit, you can look out across the Greater Manchester landscape to the towns, villages and moorlands beyond. Sit down on the grass and take it all in. There are public footpaths leading up to it from Ramsbottom; we didn't need a map as you could see it above you most of the time. Alternatively, there are lanes you can park on further up the hill as it's a bit of a climb, but definitely worth visiting.

Sir Benjamin Dobson was a leading industrialist in his time, but was also Mayor of Bolton for four…read moreyears and actually died in office. Dobson was mayor of Bolton from 1894 to 1898, and was so respected that he was even knighted in 1897. This statue is one of two statues flanking the Albert Halls on Bolton's Victoria Square. The statue portrays him as a portly man with a great flicked moustache. You've got to love a good moustache. I love that the inscription on the statue reads "a useful life and public service to Bolton." Nice. Just useful, was Dobson.

Towering 160m above both what was once the old-money village of Alderly Edge (now a mecca for…read morePremiership footballers and Wags) and the Cheshire Plain in general, the edge has some of the best views of anywhere in the area thanks to the dramatic edge - a steep cliff-like drop. The edge has historic associations with, somewhat incongruously, mining and wizardry, but these days it's a great place to go for a walk with either the kids, the dog, visitors or even a solitary stroll. There are car parks at both the foot of the edge and the top (the latter is the main one) giving the option of a quick trip to the edge itself and back or a longer, more demanding up-and-down walk.

Rivington Barn is brilliant. It's a truly magnificent hall which dates from the 1200's and is a…read morestone's throw from some stunning woodlands and ornamental Chinese gardens built by former resident and nut-job, Lord Leverhulme. There's a cracking little tea room that's pretty functional in terms of what it sells (tea, coffee, flapjacks, etc) but you couldn't wish for anything more as the surroundings are so achingly lovely. If you were looking for an idyllic setting for a wedding, Rivington Hall Barn is tough to beat. Also, if you're a biker, then a ride through the Pennines should definitely be on the cards. Every Sunday, hundreds (if not thousands) of people in leather congregate here (and the nearby Lower Barn) to show off their gleaming machines and generally dribble over the finer points of tweaked engines and buffed exhaust pipes (or whatever it is you perverts talk about). In short, should you be in the area and be faced with reasonable weather, make a bee-line for this place. You'll be fizzing with enthusiasm about it for weeks.

This is an amazing place on most Sundays. Bikers meet here from all over the place, riding many…read moremiles just to show off their bikes and have a drink and a chat with like-minded people. All are welcomed and many bikers will talk about their bikes until the light fades! The cafe at the top of the hill is quite an impressive structure and has a very basic array of foods and drinks plus a licensed bar. The area itself is huge and features many scenic walks. No entrance fee.

On my to do list of must sees in liverpool was the Three Graces - The fundamental international…read moresymbol for Liverpool, is the Royal Liver Building, as well as The Cunard and the Port of Liverpool buildings. They are all side by side located on The Pier head in Liverpool. Stunning architecture, all majestic in their own right.

This is the first building you see when your ship arrives at the cruise port. One of the famous…read moreThree Graces it stands out more than the other two. On top of the two towers of the building are statues of Liver Birds which are said to be good luck to sailors and the city. probably one of the most iconic buildings in Liverpool. It is a must see when you visit.

Anyone who visits Northern Quarter, or walks past Affleck's Palace or down Tib Street, will be…read moreamused by this creation. How would one describe it? To paraphrase the famous surrealist line, it is beautiful like a fortuitous encounter of a caterpillar and a saxophone within the remains of a red brick warehouse. As if this was not enough, there is a Freudian twist to it in the form of something that suggests the sculpture is of hermaphrodite nature, in that it has something female and male to it at the same time. Considering the status of Northern Quarter as the place for all things peculiar, the composition is a perfect fit.

The Alan Turing Building is the location where the School of Mathematics of The University of…read moreManchester is based; it also houses the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics. As everyone can imagine, it's named after the famous British mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing. It's quite a new building, completed only a few years ago, in 2007. Many facilities are provided: spacious and well-lit lecture theatres, a cafe on the ground floor, a small library, computer rooms and even showers. The bridge across the atrium is the common room for mathematics academics and graduate students, where morning coffee is served.

The Alan Turing is the place where I spend most of my mathematical life. It's a great building!!…read moreThe worst thing about the building is that some of the offices (including mine) have no windows. However it's not hard to pop out into the main foyer, which with a glass roof certainly does not lack for natural light. There are plenty of top quality teaching rooms with particularly nice blackboards. My favorite thing about the ATB is the atrium bridge area. It a place where staff and postgrads can relax, chat and get away from maths (although you may struggle to avoid mathematical conversation). It location makes in easy to see from the upper level so you can quickly check who's about from your office (and then decided if you want to sit with them)