Piccadilly Basin

In recent years, Manchester’s Piccadilly Basin has now become a fantastic waterside development spanning almost 13 acres.

This formerly neglected part of the city now houses a mixture of office, residential and retail leisure space, yet keeping its character by combining stunning modern architecture with historical buildings. The successful redevlopment aimed to create both a tranquil and cosmopolitan setting in which to live and work. A small part of the re-development was bringing the Rochdale Canal back to its former glory after becoming unnavigable in the 1960s.

Piccadilly Basin prides itself on being one of the most environmentally friendly areas in Britain - it’s home to the first office with a ‘living roof’, designed to encourage the breeding of rare black redstart birds. The five storey BDP Architects, Engineers and Designers office houses a landing pad for the birds, of which there are only an estimated 100 breeding pairs in the UK.

Visitors and residents alike can now enjoy the best of urban life, with a marina, riverside walkways and an abundance of wildlife giving this inner-city area a very European atmosphere. Being so close to the heart of Manchester means Piccadilly Basin also offers easy access to a wealth of bars, restaurants and shops. If you would prefer to avoid the hustle and bustle of the main city, the many stylish on-site amenities mean you never have to venture far from the Basin. The Malmaison Hotel Bar is a sleek hangout offering sophisticated cocktails and an extensive wine list, making it the perfect setting for chilling out after dinner or a long day of shopping and sight seeing. The Moonlight Bar, situated in a renovated industrial warehouse, is also a must-see for night owls. Overlooking the Basin, it offers stylish al fresco dining complimented by some of the best views of the Rochdale Canal.

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