Welcome to Eccles
What and Where is Eccles?
Eccles is a historic market town in the City of Salford, Greater Manchester, England, located about 4 miles (6 km) west of Manchester and 3 miles (5 km) west of Salford city centre. It lies north of the Manchester Ship Canal and is part of the North West England region. The town has a population of around 38,000 people.
The name Eccles may derive from an old British word for church, reflecting its origins around a parish church that dates back over 800 years. Historically, the town was rural until the Industrial Revolution ushered in textile and engineering development, and it later became better known for its transport links and local commerce.
Eccles is internationally associated with the Eccles cake, a small, round, flaky pastry filled with currants and spices — and one of its most enduring cultural contributions.
Markets & Community Shopping
Eccles Market
A longstanding local shopping destination with stalls and independent traders offering produce, goods, gifts, and services, sitting at the heart of the town’s shopping area.
Eccles Old Indoor Market
A traditional indoor market on Church Street, open for decades and offering a variety of stalls — from fresh meat and sweets to crafts, accessories, tools, and gifts.
Regular Markets and Artisan Markets
Historically, Eccles has hosted periodic artisan and makers markets where local creators and small businesses sell handmade crafts, vintage items, art, food, and drink along Church Street and in the town centre. These markets tie into wider town events that celebrate local enterprise and independent makers.
Getting Around Eccles
Eccles is well connected by:
- Train services to Manchester and Salford,
- Metrolink trams with links into MediaCityUK and the wider Greater Manchester region, and
- Regular bus routes.