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The Quays, Greater Manchester

Creative Tourist

The Quays is an area that’s gone from busy industrial dock to culture, media and tech hub within the space of 120 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 (we recommend Pier 8 at The Lowry), bars (try The Botanist) 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…

Our top picks

Imperial War Museum North (IWM North)

Imperial War Museum North (IWM North), Imperial War Museum North, The Quays, Trafford Wharf Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M17 1TZ - Visit now

Designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind to represent a globe shattered by conflict, IWM North boldly punctuates the Salford Quays waterfront, and houses a permanent collection, special exhibitions and events that explore the many ways in which conflict shapes society.

Find out more
Imperial War Museum North exterior shot - host of story seekers
Image courtesy of Visit Britain

Unagi Salford Quays

Unagi Salford Quays, Quayside, Unagi, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AH - Visit now

Unagi’s new venue in Salford Quays serves up superb quality sushi and Japanese cuisine.

Find out more
Ian Jones

The Lowry

The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, Salford, Greater Manchester, M50 3AZ - Visit now

With two theatres, galleries and a studio space, The Lowry combines the performing and visual arts to impressive effect and is loved for both its famous LS Lowry Collection and the dizzying array of productions it hosts year on year.

Find out more
The Lowry Theatre and Gallery in Salford Quays Manchester.
Image courtesy of Visit Britain

Pier Eight at The Lowry

Pier Eight at The Lowry, Pier 8, The Lowry, Salford Quays, Salford Quays, Greater Manchester, M50 3AZ - Visit now

Helmed by the talented head chef Oliver Thomas, The Lowry’s in-house fine dining restaurant is all about fresh produce and bold British flavours.

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Coronation Street (Media City)

Coronation Street (Media City), Media City UK, The Studios From Dock 10, Manchester, M50 2EQ - Visit now

Immerse yourself in seven decades of history and drama on the nation’s most famous street, which is new shot at Trafford Wharf in MediaCityUK, where ITV run fully guided tours of the outdoor sets.

Find out more
Visit Manchester, Coronation Street The Tour

Central Bay

Central Bay, Quayside MediaCity, Salford Quays, M50 2EQ - Visit now

A new, waterfront dining and drinking destination at MediaCity is set to be launched as Central Bay – and will become the first of its kind in Salford and one of the biggest in the region.

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Central Bay

The Empty Space at Footlights House

The Empty Space at Footlights House, 48 Kansas Avenue, Media City, Salford, M50 2GL - Visit now

The Empty Space is an intimate black box theatre space. Situated close to the MediaCityUK studios, with free parking and good transport links, the theatre hosts plays, comedy, musicals, performance poetry, recitals and showcases. An ideal venue to present creative work of all kinds and a party or event space.

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The Empty Space at Footlights House
Image courtesy of Footlights Theatre.

The Botanist Media City

The Botanist Media City, Media City, Salford, M50 2HE - Visit now

Featuring high-class herbal-infused cocktails and a variety of world cuisine – including those impressive hanging kebabs – The Botonist commands striking views over The Lowry, Imperial War Museum and the reclaimed industrial landscape of the Quays themselves.

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Ian Jones

General Store MediaCityUK

General Store MediaCityUK, 2 Blue, MediaCityUK, Salford, M50 2AD - Visit now

The two-storey General Store MediaCityUK is a one-stop-shop for retail and dining, showcasing some of the North’s best independent food brands, from Nell’s Pizza to The Great North Pie Company, while providing convenience store essentials.

Find out more
General Store MediaCityUK
General Store MediaCityUK

Ordsall Hall

Ordsall Hall, 322 Ordsall Lane, Salford, Greater Manchester, M5 3AN - Visit now

A stone’s throw away from the Quays, Ordsall Hall is a spectacularly-preserved Tudor mansion and museum – one of only eight such houses in Lancashire – and is supposedly haunted by the broken-hearted White Lady.

Find out more
Ordsall Hall

More The Quays events

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FestivalsManchester
Lightwaves at Salford Quays

An unmissable ten days of luminary adventures. Interact with boundary-breaking new commissions, create your own digital masterpieces and take a selfie with a Dalek. Yep, really.

free entry
See all The Quays events

Where to go in Manchester

Giant Crab SEA LIFE Manchester
Manchester
Tourist Attraction
SEA LIFE Manchester

Perfect for families, dive into the stories of the oceans’ most fascinating residents, including clownfish, stingrays, sharks and sea turtles.

Off the Square
Manchester
Restaurant
Off The Square

Set in the beating heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, Off The Square is state-of-the-art music and events space that plays host to live gigs as well as club nights.

Louis Restaurant
Manchester
Restaurant
Louis Restaurant

A Rat Pack-style restaurant with of live music and upscale Italian-American dining, and strictly no phones.

Manchester
Restaurant
Niwa Yakitori

Charcoal grill yakitori supper club held in a beautiful Tokyo-style backstreet cafe in the North Quarter.

See all places in Manchester

Manchester Visitor Guides

Bars in Manchester

The best new bars in Manchester, plus some old favourites for good measure.

Tasting Menus in The North

Looking for the finest luxury multi-course restaurants in Manchester? Look no further. We've picked out the very best tasting menus in the city - just make sure you have deep pockets.

Photo of the Halle orchestra at Bridgewater
Music Venues in Manchester

Manchester is still a great place to watch new and innovative music – so here’s a guide to where to watch the best live music in the city.

Sunday Roasts in Manchester

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Federal Cafe Bar
Breakfast in Manchester

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Blossom on trees in Manchester
Parks and Gardens in Manchester

There are more green spaces in Manchester than you might think. We've picked out some of the best parks and gardens in and around the city.

Manchester District Guides

A coffee stand at Levenshulme Market
Levenshulme, Manchester

From cultural points of interest to unique watering holes, explore what Levenshulme has to offer in our guide.

Tib Street, Manchester

It’s not often that you find a street you could while away a whole day on: from beautifully made coffee in the morning, through to shopping, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner…
Cheetham Hill, Manchester

Cheetham Hill gets a bad rap as an area, however as you begin to look round you will find it has plenty to do. Let us be your guide.
Chorlton, Manchester

Chorlton is a left-leaning suburb a few miles south of Manchester’s city centre (and only 10-odd minutes away by tram). A sprawling hive of artisan coffee shops, boutique clothing stores,…
The front of Didsbury restaurant Volta.
Didsbury, Manchester

Follow Oxford Road South through the Curry Mile, along Wilmslow Road, past Platt Fields Park and through Withington and you’ll eventually reach Didsbury, an area divided into two main parts….
Castlefield, Manchester

The Roman General Julius Agricola founded ‘Mamucium’ in 79AD; the name means ‘breast shaped hill’, as this was what Agricola discovered in Castlefield, where the original settlement was based.
Beech Road Chorlton, Manchester

A laid-back mix of gift shops, independent outfitters, restaurants, pubs and parks, on a sunny weekend afternoon it’s heaving.
Timekeepers
Spotlight on

Light Festivals in the North

From enchanting lantern parades to epic LED installations, light festivals are a brilliant way celebrate the magic of the winter months.

Take me there

Destination Guides

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in Manchester and the North

Alongside experimental performance, new writing and free arts festivals, we take a look at some of the Christmas shows happening in the North.