Salford Quays, Greater Manchester’s waterfront destination is situated just a 15 minute tram ride away from the centre of Manchester, our destination today. An adult return from Piccadilly costs £3 see Metrolink for details and passengers need to take the Eccles line for MediaCityUK. If you are planning on travelling by car there is a large car park at the Lowry Outlet. We visited on a Saturday and our visit coincided with the local derby between Manchester United and Manchester City which was taking place at 12.30 pm a stone’s throw from here. Our tram was crowded with football fans all dressed in the bright red United shirts.
Unfortunately, just as our tram was nearing MediaCityUK it began to rain. Some people are of the opinion that it always rains in Manchester – that’s why cotton mills flourished in Manchester during the nineteenth century as cotton is less likely to snap in damp conditions. Having grown up in this part of the country but also lived elsewhere I don’t believe it rains more in Manchester but it feels like it at the moment!
Umbrellas up, we started our walk around MediaCityUK, a gleaming digital destination on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal. It’s home to BBC North and ITV including the ever popular soap opera, Coronation Street whose fictional home Weatherfield is based on Salford.
Strolling around the various buildings we spotted studios for the children’s television programme Blue Peter and a signpost to the Blue Peter garden, and just as we arrived at the garden the rain showers ceased and some blue sky became visible through the clouds.
Next, we headed over to The Lowry, home to two theatres and an art gallery featuring the works of the local artist L.S. Lowry, famous for his paintings of urban landscapes with human figures.
The gallery, located on the upper floor contains the largest public collection of the artist’s work and admission is free. Walking round, we admired his paintings, mostly of the local industrial districts of Pendlebury and Salford with his trademark ‘matchstick men’ figures. Photography in the gallery is not permitted so I have included a photograph from the gift shop which hopefully might give an indication of his style of painting to those unfamiliar with his work – a style of which I’m very fond.
Feeling hungry, we wandered across the square to the Lowry Outlet which contains a variety of stores, restaurants and cafes. The mall is quite small but does contain Marks & Spencer and Clarks Shoe outlets.
Returning outdoors we crossed the bridge to visit IWM North, part of the Imperial War Museum housed in a distinctive steel building. This iconic building represents a globe torn apart by conflict. It was designed by Daniel Libeskind and admission to this museum is also free. Touring the galleries is a moving experience as the powerful stories depict how war shapes lives, from reading a soldier’s last letter home to viewing a twisted piece of metal from New York City’s World Trade Centre – so sad but so real.
Rather than return on the tram from MediaCityUK, we walked along the tree lined canal promenade to the tram stop at Salford Quays. Across the water we could see Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United Football Club since 1910. It is often referred to as the ‘theatre of dreams’ and was given this nickname by the famous former player Sir Bobby Charlton. By this time the football match was nearing its conclusion but we could clearly hear the ooh’s and aah’s of the spectators from within the stadium. If you are a fan of Manchester United, a stadium tour and visit to the club museum may be of interest.
In recent years many apartment blocks have been built around the district and it is envisaged the area will grow further with the planned construction of more commercial and residential developments.
An Open Sea swimming tournament was taking place along this stretch of water so we stopped to watch the swimmers for a few minutes bobbing along at a fast rate in the hopefully not too cold water. There was more activity at the Salford Quays end where some members of the army were racing two dragon boats – the teams must have been extremely fit and strong as they were paddling at a phenomenal speed along the canal.
We took a tram to the city centre and spent some time looking round the shops before returning to our car. We had left it in the central Piccadilly Gardens car park which offers an ‘early bird’ bargain price of £4.50 for up to 12 hours parking if the ticket is obtained before 9.00 am. We actually arrived at 8.56 am which could be viewed as either perfect timing or cutting it fine but at least we found a parking place on such a busy day in the city centre.
MediaCityUK and Salford Quays have plenty of attractions for a full day out and combined with those in Manchester city centre, (you can view my previous Manchester post here for suggestions on what to do there) a pleasant weekend city break can be taken in this vibrant part of north west England. Don’t be put off by the weather, whatever it’s like you’ll always receive a warm Mancunian welcome!
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Manchester looks like it has plenty to offer to keep visitors occupied. we will have to spend some time there when next we are back. Thanks for sharing Marion. Allan
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Manchester is one of my favourite cities Allan so I hope sometime you get an opportunity to explore. Marion.
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I’ve never been to Salford Quays but I was quite surprised to find a Lowry collection in the Winter Gardens museum in Sunderland last week. It included some of his very early work and I was joking that it was a pity nobody had discovered me at that stage of my life 🙂 🙂 Trouble is, I never improved!
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I never moved on from stick men either Jo. I’ve never visited Sunderland and didn’t know some of Lowry’s early work was on display there. Thank you for your ever welcome comments.
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Ha ha! I check out your blog because you liked a post on mine (10000 miles and more) and find that your latest post is about my own home turf(ish)! I enjoyed reading your thoughts on it.
Did you know that you can actually do a tour of the BBC, although you have to book in advance and it costs something like £10. Details are here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/tours/media_city My mum has done it with the WI and they had fun.
Also, if it’s a supermarket you’re looking for, can I give a shout out for the ever-wonderful Booths, near the Holiday Inn. Booths is like a northern Waitrose, only posher(!), and specialises in food that’s locally sourced, from small producers, that kind of thing. (Their Christmas book was once described – on Mumsnet, I think – as “food porn of the highest order”.)
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Hi Alison! We’ve actually taken the MediaCity tour and it was good. I’m a fan of Booths too. I’ve been in that branch but we also have one where we live, too so we can go often. Thanks for reading and commenting on my post.
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Architecturally, there were some fascinating buildings in this post. Thanks for sharing your day.
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It’s my pleasure, thank you.
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inspiring, thanks
I’ve put it on my ‘to do’ list
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That’s good to read.
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What a top post. So many things you mentioned and Bobby Carlton reminded me of when I lived in Wales We didn’t travel to England that much but I knew the area and loved reading of your adventure.
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Thanks Sue for your ever welcome thoughts! We must be both showing our years being able to remember Bobby Charlton !! M.
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Ha ha. Too right.
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Very nice photos!
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Thank you for your kind words.
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Thank you for sharing! Before reading your post I had a totally different image of Manchester. I have never been to Manchester so it was surprising to see that the city looks very modern. Or is this perhaps a new and modern part of Manchester?
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Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post Piia. Salford Quays is quite a new development just outside the city centre. It has grown rapidly especially since both BBC and ITV television companies decided to move many of their production studios out of London. Manchester City centre retains some beautiful old buildings and it’s one of my favourite cities in the U.K. Hopefully you will be able to visit for yourself sometime!
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Looks like a wonderful place to visit. The architecture of some of the buildings is amazing. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you. It’s definitely worth a visit if you are ever in north west England.
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We love strolling around here, I find it fascinating how much this whole area has changed over a relatively short period of time. There’s so much to see and do now – love the Lowry and his paintings too. Trams on football days though is something else!
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It was very bad timing on our part to decide to go there when United were playing City but apart from the crowded tram and the rain, all went well!
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It’s happened to us before – quite an experience. We’ve never experienced anything bad just the trams are more crammed than you would ever believe possible!
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Great informative article and pics.
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Thank you once again for your inspiring comments. It makes my day!
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Our pleasure.
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I really wish I had paid a visit to the Salford Quays when I stayed with my sister in Salford for a month about 5 years ago! I generally love water bodies and the rain. Hopefully I’ll visit Manchester again soon.
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I do hope you get a chance to visit Salford Quays sometime soon. Thank you for reading and commenting on my post, it’s much appreciated.
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Very good article about my neighbourhood. I live in Salford Quays for 2 years now and I don’t want to live anywhere else in Manchester.
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How lovely that you like be in this neighbourhood! It’s so nice, and you’ve got waterside walks, shopping, museums, theatres and easy access into the city centre. Who could ask for more! Thanks for reading and commenting on my post it’s very much appreciated.
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I enjoyed this post – as I always do, Thanks!
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Thanks Nick for your kind thoughts, they are very much appreciated. I’m so pleased you are continuing to enjoy my blog.
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Have been here once, so your post brings back pleasant memories!
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That’s good to read Rashmi. Did you stay in Manchester?
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Sorry, I meant to say Tom!
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My second home (girlfriend’s from there) I like Manchester a lot. The People’s History museum is my favourite ‘attraction’
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Thanks Tong for your welcome thoughts on my post. I haven’t visited the People’s Museum but will look out for it next time I’m there.
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I thought you called me ‘thong’ for a minute there!
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Very interesting. My son went to university in Manchester but all this wasn’t built then. It looks like an interesting place to visit, but I wouldn’t like the rain!
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Manchester has changed considerably over recent years, the centre still contains some fine architecture and with the tram network it’s easy to get out of town. Thank you for reading and commenting on my posts, it’s much appreciated.
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You were lucky finding car parking for less than a fiver in Manchester 😉
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Yes, that car park is good value if you arrive before 9.00 am but costs about four times as much if you arrive a minute later!
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That’s Manchester!
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Those pictures make it look beautiful.
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Thanks Ian, it’s a pleasant urban landscape.
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