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Salford Quays At Night, Manchester

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Things to see in Manchester

Tourist information: 

Manchester Visitor Information Centre
45 - 50 Piccadilly Plaza
Portland Street
Manchester
M1 4AJ.
Tel: 0871 222 8223.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0930-1730, Sunday 1030-1630.
www.visitmanchester.com

Castlefield

Heading south to the edge of the city, Castlefield is Manchester's regenerated canalside district, transformed in the 1990s into a thriving bar, restaurant and cafe scene. As well as a mock-up of the original Roman Fort, the area is a fantastic testament to the city's industrial age with labyrinthine canals, viaducts, iron bridges and revamped warehouses. It is surprisingly quiet during the day and a great place to escape the hustle of the city.

Opening Times: Daily.
Admission Fees: No.
Disabled Access: No
Unesco: No
Address: Manchester, United Kingdom
Manchester Cathedral

The Cathedral is actually the third to have been built on the site since the eighth century and boasts the widest nave of any church in England. In 1940 a bomb destroyed the entire north-east end of the cathedral. It underwent 20 years of restoration and then suffered more damage from the 1996 IRA bomb. A hi-tech visitor centre at the site includes interesting interactive displays covering the history of the Cathedral and mediaeval Manchester. A licensed restaurant in the basement offers historic and comfortable surroundings in which to eat, drink and relax.

Opening Times: Mon-Friday 0830-1830, Sat 0830-1700, Sun 0830-1900.
Admission Fees: No.
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Cathedral Yard, Manchester, United Kingdom
Telephone: (0161) 833 2220.
Website: http://manchestercathedral.org
Manchester United Football Stadium

Manchester United are one of the richest and most popular football clubs in the world, whose success peaked with a dramatic treble winning season in 1999 when they won the Premiership, the FA Cup and the European Cup. They're the reigning English champions, having won the Premier League for the past three seasons: 2008-09, 2007-08 and 2006-07. Visitors flock to Old Trafford (also known as the 'Theatre of Dreams') from all over the world to take a tour of the famous ground, which allows a peek at the changing rooms and a walk through the tunnel to the pitch.

Opening Times: Tour times vary.
Admission Fees: Yes.
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Sir Matt Busby Way, Manchester, United Kingdom
Telephone: (0161) 868 8000.
Website: http://www.manutd.com
Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester

This 2.8 hectares (6.9 acres) complex is set at the site of the oldest passenger railway buildings in the world. It's a great place to learn more about the city's industrial beginnings and amazing scientific achievements, made vividly alive through the former factory buildings, machinery and historic locomotives. In addition to the permanent collections, there are frequent special exhibitions. There is a shop, a restaurant and a café too.

Opening Times: Daily 1000-1700.
Admission Fees: No.
Disabled Access: No
Unesco: No
Address: Liverpool Road, Manchester, United Kingdom
Telephone: (0161) 832 2244.
Website: http://www.msim.org.uk
National Museum or Football/Urbis

Close to the Cathedral, Urbis is a striking glass-and-steel structure - its groundbreaking triangular architecture takes on a different appearance on each side. It is currently closed to visitors as part of plans to reopen as the new National Museum of Football in 2011.

Disabled Access: No
Unesco: No
Address: Cathedral Gardens, Manchester, United Kingdom
Telephone: (0161) 605 8282.
Website: http://www.urbis.org.uk
People's History Museum

Housed in an old Edwardian hydraulic pumping station, the museum is the only national centre devoted to the history of working people in Britain, providing a fascinating insight into the often harsh working conditions of those employed in the city's cotton industry. It recently underwent major renovation and a separate Archive and Study Centre, formerly separate, has been combined with the museum as part of the revamp.

Opening Times: Mon-Sun 1000-1700.
Admission Fees: No.
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: The Pump House, Manchester, United Kingdom
Telephone: (0161) 838 9190.
Website: http://www.phm.org.uk
Salford Quays

Salford Quays is a joint tourism initiative between Salford City Council and Trafford Borough Council and is supported by The Lowry, Imperial War Museum North, Manchester United Football Club, Lancashire County Cricket Club, the Lowry Outlet Mall and the Copthorne Hotel which are private sector partners in the area.

The Lowry is one of Manchester's most renowned centres for arts and performance and is the architectural flagship of the redeveloped Salford Quays waterside location. Incorporating two theatres, a range of galleries, as well as restaurants, bars and cafés, the Lowry's eyecatching architecture won it the 2001 building of the year award. The building takes its name from the celebrated painter LS Lowry (who died in 1976) and houses a permanent Lowry exhibition alongside displays of more contemporary artists. In line with regeneration projects throughout the city, Salford Quays has been built around the regenerated docklands and today is a vibrant hub of the city's arts, leisure and sports scenes.

 The easiest way to get to the 'Quays' is on a tram from the city centre.

 

Opening Times: Daily.
Admission Fees: No.
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: The Lowry, Salford Quays, United Kingdom
Telephone: (0161) 848 8601.
Website: http://www.thequays.org.uk
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