The best: Alternative mates’ dates spots around Manchester

Sat on the edge of the Peak District, Cheshire’s Lyme Park is the archetypal National Trust day out, delighting families, friends, nature lovers and culture vultures throughout the year.

With a thousand-acre deer park, woodlands, cafes, off-lead dog walking areas, the Old Hall and a neo-classical mansion at its centre, the sprawling heritage hotspot is an accessible slice of history amongst the county’s most romantic scenery, where you can spend a day in your own Pride & Prejudice fantasy.

A jaw-dropping revival of Worsley New Hall’s historic 154 acre grounds, RHS Bridgewater showcases its breathtaking horticultural grandeur as one of the best botanical gardens in the country – and sits less than ten miles from Manchester City Centre.

Featuring vivid wildflowers, endless unspoilt woodlands, magnificently preserved architecture and even a serene Chinese Streamside space within its walls, RHS Bridgewater is the perfect alternative mates’ date idea, where blossoming botanists can marvel at the vast selection of plant life and fascinating local history.

Become a member, book your visit and check out RHS Bridgewater’s events programme below.

Fresh from a major refurbishment, Manchester Museum needs no introduction as one of the city centre’s most rewarding daytime destinations. Housing everything from ancient Egyptian artefacts to live vivariums, the world-renowned treasury of historical wonder delivers endless, unhurried inspiration in spades.

Grab your friends, stroll down Oxford Road and revel in one of the region’s best collections of objects, fossils and animals – all without spending a penny.

It’s no secret that padel – the fast-paced yet accessible fusion of tennis and squash – is one of the UK’s fastest-growing sports, and the inclusive, social wellbeing activity has rapidly taken Manchester by storm.

For a mates’ date with a lightly competitive edge, head to Club de Padel in the heart of Deansgate with a few friends and fire off a few pay-to-play doubles’ sessions with breathtaking views of the surrounding skyscrapers.

No need to despair over membership options, and all you need is appropriate clothing, with rackets and fresh balls available upon arrival.

Check out where to play padel around Manchester HERE.

For those preferring hiking boots to court trainers, Rivington Pike rises above the West Penning Moors to provide intrepid ramblers a nourishing walk to the summit, where sweeping views extend across Lancashire and back to town. Start from the historic Terraced Gardens, wander through woodland paths and reservoirs, and take in the gorgeous vistas once you reach the top of this pleasantly approachable Boltonian hill.

Check out our round-up of the best walks around Greater Manchester HERE.

A distinctly characterful setting for a low-key mates’ date, Withington Baths blends Edwardian heritage with a welcoming, community-led atmosphere that has served South Manchester’s swimming community for more than a century.

The achingly gorgeous Grade II-listed building retains its original tiled pool hall and stained-glass windows, giving every swim or gym session a sense of calm old-world charm, lengths away from the frenetic jostling and echoing shrieks of modern leisure centres.

Become a member from just £23 a month below.

A short train ride from Manchester, the award-winning contemporary gallery Hepworth Wakefield continues to set the standard for modern art in the North.

Until 26 October, art-lovers can catch the acclaimed Helen Chadwick retrospective Life Pleasures, which revisits the late artist’s boundary-pushing installations and photography, while the rest of the collection features some of the best modern works in the country.

Check out membership fees and book your visit below.