Culture Guides
Destination Guides
The Quays is an area that’s gone from busy industrial dock to 21st century cultural hub in just over 100 years. Opened by Queen Victoria in 1894, the Salford Docks (as they were then known) became the busiest in the UK, serving the ships that came up the Manchester Ship Canal, a waterway built in order to escape the hefty charges levied by Liverpool’s dock and rail companies. Today, The Quays is home to MediaCityUK (the largest media hub in Europe) and studios purpose-built for the BBC’s move up North in 2011.
Two major cultural institutions – Imperial War Museum North and The Lowry – also straddle the Ship Canal, connected by a pedestrian bridge. The Lowry boasts two theatre, galleries, a studio space, restaurant and shop; IWM North’s fragmented design represents a globe shattered by war (inside, it’s completely devoid of right angles) and houses a beautifully-presented permanent collection and series of changing exhibitions that consider the many ways conflict shapes society. Restaurants, bars and even high-end supermarkets (the family-run Booths) complete the offer in the area.
With good transport links to the city centre, The Quays is the sort of place where you could happily lose half a day; or some of your sanity, if you choose to complete the ‘dock to dock’ course of the Great Manchester Swim.
The Lowry Autumn Season 2017
The Lowry’s Contemporary season pays scant regard to the traditional genre boundaries of dance, theatre and visual art.
Lowry at Home: Salford 1966 – Unseen photographs by Clive Arrowsmith at The Lowry
What can we tell of a man from his kitchen sink or old-fashioned cooker? A great deal it would seem judging by a new exhibition of rare, previously unseen photographs at The Lowry…
Wyndham Lewis: Life, Art, War at IWM North
IWM North turns its attention to one of the most controversial figures in British art.
Andante at The Lowry
Igor and Moreno are internationally renowned dance artists who create mesmerising shows celebrating human life.
Alexander Whitley – 8 Minutes at The Lowry
ancers perform in front of a magnificent visual installation in this acclaimed, cosmos-inspired dance piece at The Lowry.
Transformer 2 at Victoria Warehouse
Event series Transformer returns to Victoria Warehouse for its second one-day festival outing – featuring Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Liars, Ben Frost and Omar Souleyman across two stages, plus cinema, digital funfair, record stalls and food trucks.
You’ve Changed at The Lowry
It’s fourteen years since Kate O’Donnell transitioned and a lot has changed – but have you?
Room on the Broom at The Lowry
Join the adventures of the Witch and her cat in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
Candoco Dance Company: Double Bill at the Lowry
Candoco’s ability to mix serious art with self-deprecation marks them out as one of the best dance troupes around.
Superposition at The Lowry
Superposition will take you down a rabbit hole of physics: from the quantum world of the tiny to the expanses of the universe – via a lap dancing club.
Manchester District Guides
Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester
Burton Road is the heart of West Didsbury, a beautifully maintained leafy hubbub of shops,…
Beech Road Chorlton, Manchester
It may not quite have the reputation of Benefits Street, but Beech Road in Chorlton…
Didsbury, Manchester
Follow Oxford Road South through the Curry Mile, along Wilmslow Road, past Platt Fields Park…
Chorlton, Manchester
This left-leaning suburb a few miles south of Manchester’s city centre (and only ten minutes…
Cheetham Hill, Manchester
As an area, Cheetham Hill gets a pretty bad rep. The foreboding architecture of Strangeways…
Manchester Visitor Guides
Japanese restaurants in Manchester
Fancy some Japanese food? We’ve uncovered the five best restaurants in Manchester.
Lunch in Manchester
We’ve put together a roundup of our favourite lunches in Manchester.
Theatres in Manchester
If you’re looking for theatre in Manchester, these are our top places to explore.
Barbers in Manchester
Visiting Manchester and realised you badly need a haircut? Don’t worry, here’s our guide to the city’s best barbers.
Parks and Gardens in Manchester
Our pick of the five best parks and gardens in and around Manchester.
Outside Eating in Manchester
Risk the weather – here are the best places for outdoor dining in Manchester.
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