Museums & Galleries · Peak District
Touchstones
📍 OL16 1AQ
Photo: David Dixon (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
- Museum, gallery and arts centre in a Grade II building
- Evolving museum collections display planned after refurbishment
- Refurbished galleries on the first floor
- New performance venue, creative studios and education rooms
- Community exhibitions and events held during closure
Touchstones is a museum, gallery and arts centre in a Grade II building in Rochdale town centre, though it is currently closed for redevelopment. Once reopened, the refurbished building will include a performance venue, creative studios, education rooms, meeting spaces, an evolving museum collections display, a new dining area and refurbished first-floor galleries. In the meantime, the team continues to work with community groups and artists, hosting events in community spaces and running projects around collections, schools and local studies. It suits those interested in local heritage, art and culture. Rochdale station is just 0.5 miles away, and with 18 bookable places to stay within 5 miles on BritStays, it's a convenient base for exploring the town.
Practical details
- Open
- Currently closed for redevelopment
- Booking
- Sign up to the mailing list for updates
From the attraction's own website on 18 Oct 2026 — check before you travel.
Facilities
- ✓ Restaurant
- ✓ Disabled Access
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Make a proper break of it — these stays are all within 25 miles.
0.1 mi
0.4 mi
0.4 mi
0.7 mi
1 mi
2.5 mi
🎪 What's on near Touchstones
Events from
Skiddle
Fri 13 Nov · 20:00
KTS Comedy Club at St Michael's Pub
St Michael's Pub, Manchester · 12.8 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 22:00
Lashimba B2B Urbi
Electric Pizza Shop, Manchester · 9.9 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 23:00
Free Karaoke || Creatures Comedy Club
Creatures Comedy Club, Manchester · 9.6 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 23:00
TZ Manchester
Bee Noir, Manchester · 10.0 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
🗓️ Make a break of it
Turn a visit to Touchstones into a proper getaway — ready-made plans, and the drive worked out with fuel, EV charging and the best stops.
A weekend in the Peak District: an accessible itinerary →
A weekend in the Peak District with the kids →
A weekend in the Peak District →
🗺️ Plan the drive to Touchstones
🚆 Or come by train
- Rochdale 0.5 miles
- Castleton 1.7 miles
- Smithy Bridge 2.3 miles
Straight-line distances · live departures on each station page