The station is 4+3⁄4 miles (7.6 km) east of Manchester Piccadilly on both the Rose Hill Marple and Glossop Lines.

It was built by the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway on its new line from Ardwick Junction, near to the Manchester and Birmingham Railway's terminus at Store Street station, to Sheffield; it opened as Ashton and Hooley Hill on 11 November 1841 when the line opened as far as Godley Toll Bar.

With the electrification of the Woodhead Line between Manchester and Sheffield in the early 1950s, Guide Bridge, already a major centre of railway operations, increased in importance.

The former TransPennine Express operator, Arriva Trains Northern, had plans to establish Guide Bridge as a major interchange station, coupled with hopes that the Woodhead line might re-open.

A subsequent review was taken, following complaints from neighbouring residents, with backing of local councillors over the re-distribution of cars once parked on the ample station facility to the surrounding residential streets with charging dismissed soon afterwards.

Improved lighting, an extended car park with 140 spaces, CCTV cameras and cycle storage lockers were also provided.

[4] In August 2023 it was revealed that the Woodhead Railway Heritage Group has submitted plans to create a museum to celebrate the Manchester to Sheffield rail link.

There was, for a time, a 16:08 Friday only "service" from Stalybridge to Guide Bridge whilst weekend engineering work was taking place in the Stockport area (in 2004).

[8] Subsequent to this, the once-weekly parliamentary train on the route operated in the other direction (leaving Stockport at 9:22 and calling at 9:37, on Fridays only).