Salford Quays
Salford Quays is the regenerated former Manchester Docks at the end of the Manchester Ship Canal, a short tram ride from the city centre. Its waterfront piers hold The Lowry arts centre, Imperial War Museum North, the BBC at MediaCityUK and outlet shopping, so it fills a full day with culture, food and waterside walks.
Photos
Carolynne James
From docks to waterfront
The docks closed in 1982 with the loss of around 3,000 jobs. Salford City Council took over much of the site in 1983 and redevelopment began in 1985, turning the old basins into a district of offices, homes, cultural venues and public walkways along the water. Public and private investment had reached around £280 million by the early 1990s.
What to see
The Lowry, at the end of Pier 8, opened in 2000 with theatres and a gallery named after painter L. S. Lowry. Across the water near Lowry Bridge stands Imperial War Museum North. MediaCityUK on Pier 9 is home to the BBC and other media firms, and the Quayside mall has outlet stores, cafés, restaurants and a cinema. The Quays sit across the water from Trafford, and the two councils promote the area jointly for visitors.
Getting there and making a day of it
Take the Metrolink Eccles line to MediaCityUK or Exchange Quay. Combine a gallery visit with lunch on the waterfront, then walk on to Old Trafford, under a kilometre away, for a stadium tour or match. The Quays also hosts the Great Manchester Swim open water event. The Quayside cinema is a good fall-back for a rainy evening.
Highlights
- The Lowry arts centre
- Imperial War Museum North
- MediaCityUK, home of the BBC in the north
- Quayside outlet shopping and cinema
- Metrolink tram from the city centre
Good to know
- Metrolink's Eccles line stops at MediaCityUK and Exchange Quay.
- Old Trafford football stadium is under a kilometre away.
- The area is in Salford, just west of Manchester city centre.
Frequently asked questions
Nearby
Sources: en.wikipedia.org