Manchester

Today, leisure cruisers have joined the tankers on the Manchester Ship Canal, while the historic wharves and warehouses of Castlefield have earned it the title of Britain's first Urban Heritage Park.

Salford Quays, Greater Manchester’s waterfront, is now a bustling leisure destination which houses the Lowry gallery, the Imperial War Museum North and a multitude of further arts and entertainment venues. This is the place to join friends in a waterside pub or to enjoy a romantic meal with views of the historic docklands.

Walking to work in Manchester
Manchester’s commuters can happily combine the comfort of train travel with the health benefits of a waterside stroll: the central Deansgate and Manchester Oxford Road Stations are conveniently located by the Rochdale Canal, so workers can easily walk the last leg to the office. Similarly, people alighting at Salford Central Station have the opportunity to finish their journey with a power walk along the River Irwell.

Ever busy, Manchester Piccadilly is right by the peaceful Ashton Canal – so once you’ve escaped the bustle of the station you can skip the queues for the Metro and stroll to work along the canal. Metro passengers can also come up for air at Deansgate – the Rochdale Canal runs parallel to the Metro line through the city towards Dawson Street.

Salford Quays is quickly establishing itself as Manchester’s second biggest business district – housing headquarters and call centres for many major companies. Like London’s Docklands, this area is enhanced by views of the water: here the Manchester Ship Canal and assorted waterside pubs - perfect for long leisurely lunch breaks and after-work celebrations.

Getting to the match
Fans of Manchester City Football Club are increasingly choosing to escape the queuing traffic and travel to Manchester stadium on the towpath of the Ashton Canal. Cyclists and walkers can get a head start on their gridlocked peers with this direct route to and from the city centre.

Out and about
Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, quaint waterside villages such as Delph and Uppermill evoke the spirit of times past with stone-built weavers’ cottages and merchants’ houses. Wigan Pier, at the heart of the Leeds and Liverpool canal, takes visitors back in time with the sights and sounds of the year 1900 and is popular with canal buffs, walkers and cyclists.

Download a Guide and map to Manchester’s Canals

This summer, why not explore Manchester’s waterways? Drop in to Manchester Visitor Information Centre to discover more about this secret world in the city centre. Enjoy al fresco dining alongside the canal, marvel at Manchester’s waterfront industrial heritage or simply watch the world go by away from the bustle of the city.
Manchester’s Visitor Information Centre is located at the Town Hall Extension, Lloyd Street, Manchester, M60 2LA.