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Mrs P. and will be meeting her brother and wife in Manchester for a few hours during the day on Thursday, before they fly back home to Manilla in a couple of days.
While I know Manchester for music and a few beers, where would be enjoyable for us all to look at? Jeff lived there about 40 years ago but things have changed quite significantly since then.
We're looking at being there from mid motto mid/late afternoon with no transport (Mrs P and I are arriving by train and they are in a hotel in the centre, somewhere).
Any recommendations (preferably avoiding shopping) would be appreciated. Touristy stuff would be perfect.
Cheers
Head out to Salford Quays on the tram? Home of the Lowry Theatre and Imperial War Museum North (even if you don't go in, there's some nice architecture around the place).
In town, there's the Museum of Science and Industry just off the south end of Deansgate. John Rylands Library, further north up Deansgate is an impressive Victorian / Gothic building.
Mrs P and I are arriving by train
Ah, welcome to Piccadilly. And then the absolute grot of walking to and then through Piccadilly Gardens...
Ah, welcome to Piccadilly. And then the absolute grot of walking to and then through Piccadilly Gardens...
Oh yes, I have experienced Piccadilly Gardens during the evening/night many a time. In daylight will be a novelty in it's own right 😂
Museam of sciene and industry! Its fantastic
The City Art Gallery always has some good exhibitions on and there’s usually some interesting stuff in Central Library too
Escape room?
MOSI?
I'd be disappointed; it's a shadow of what used to be a great day out with the kids.
The Aerospace hall is gone, the sewer tour has been shut for 10 years. The Steam hall is still there but the rest has faded badly.
It's a crying shame.
John Rylands library on Deansgate. Exquisite (neo)gothic architecture plus exciting modern addition. Beautiful reading rooms to wander. Short walk after you’ve done the first short walk from Piccadilly (using back Piccadilly, not the main road) into the edge of the northern quarter, taken a left down Oldham street, done Affleck’s, then walked across Piccadilly square along to the art gallery, on to St Peter’s square and the city library, and down towards Deansgate.
Whatever you do, take a brolly as it'll be pissing down.
- Jeff lived there about 40 years ago but things have changed quite significantly since then.
Our kid came into the city Centre with me recently, having not been there for 6-7 years. She found large parts of it completely unrecognisable
Do let us know how Jeff finds it. I’m sure it’ll be an eye opener for him
Whatever you do, take a brolly as it'll be pissing down.
This fantastic photo was on The Manc a couple of weeks ago. Could any one image more encapsulate Manchester?
Sad to agree, the Science and Industry Museum is a bit disappointing now, compared to how I remember it when I took my youngest a decade ago.
I'd recommend the Mcr Art Gallery or the Manchester Museum instead, both are great.
Rudy's is a safe bet for fab pizza for lunch, there are three or four in the centre now.
If it’s nice weather I would have a look at Mayfield Park. It shows what can be achieved to provide new urban spaces.
On the same theme Castlefield Viaduct is also worth seeing.
This fantastic photo was on The Manc a couple of weeks ago. Could any one image more encapsulate Manchester?
Needs a row of tents and spiceheads wobbling slightly.
This fantastic photo was on The Manc a couple of weeks ago. Could any one image more encapsulate Manchester?
I looked around Manchester Uni in the mid-90's and it was like that all day. There's us in suits, smart shoes etc being taken from building to building in the freezing cold and sleet / rain. Everything about it screamed NO!
Good call on Castlefield too.
Also the renovation works on the Town Hall are a bit more open to see now. Tram to St Peter's Square (which is nice itself) then walk through to Albert Square.
On the MOSI front, there is good news...
Manchester Science and Industry Museum Power Hall to reopen - BBC News
there’s usually some interesting stuff in Central Library too
John Rylands library on Deansgate.
Good things come in threes...Visit the Portico Library in the heart of Manchester — The Portico Library
Our kid came into the city Centre with me recently, having not been there for 6-7 years. She found large parts of it completely unrecognisable
Do let us know how Jeff finds it. I’m sure it’ll be an eye opener for him
My dad worked in the centre of Manchester from starting as an office boy at 14 until he retired at 60 in 2003 and loved it (actually, there was about 18 months when he worked in Wilmslow, and hated it). I don't think he's really been back since but I'm sure he'd love to, at some point I'll take him in (but probably on a Sunday when it'll be a bit quieter, as he's now fairly frail)
Extensive remodelling started in 1996 but the Arndale centre / tower persists.
Glad to hear MOSI is turning a corner. My dad was proper disappointed last time he went.
Extensive remodelling started in 1996 but the Arndale centre / tower persists.
I have to say, as a shopping centre, the Arndale is not awful. Decent selection of shops, it's all in decent nick and is actually fairly pleasant (for a shopping centre) inside, it still has the smaller market stall type stuff at one end and a great food court, not to mention an amazing, if unexpected, fish counter.
Cheers for all the recommendations, folks. The John Rylands library sounds like something they'd appreciate.
OK, next question - where to eat? We'll be looking for somewhere producing good quality & tasty food, budget not too restricted (Jeff is paying 😂). Probably not pub grub but if it's really good they may be persuaded.
Brollies are already packed!
I'm a bit addicted to Bundobust Brewery on my MCR visits.
[ For my Birthday we did This'n'That AND Bundobust Brewery ... a curry for every meal day ... what a treat ]
Bundobust is a good call.
21 stories if you’re visiting John Rylands as it’s just over towards quay street. On the way through spinningfields there are quite a few things on offer, an Ivy for example.
cloud 23 or the Midland for afternoon tea?
lots of choice at Mackie Mayor, but that’s up on the edge of the northern quarter.
Marble Arch is good on an evening with their cheese platters. Idk if they do daytime food. A bit of a trek out of the city centre though.
Thanks for all the recommendations, folks. In true STW style (mainly because time was more restricted than originally planned) we did something completely different to what was suggested 😣
Met Jeff at Piccadilly, went for a coffee and natter and took a brief wander around the centre before heading back to their hotel (The Edwardian) to meet up with Mina.
Lunch was had at Albert's Schloss as it was just across the road. I'd stoot outside it many times, waiting for the Albert Hall to open but never been inside before. Food was very good.
Didn't really get to see enough of the city to get Jeff's view of the changes, but it turns out he didn't spend much time there anyway as he was living in Sale and working in Altrincham at the time
Thanks again for the suggestions though folks, I'm going to be using them at another time when Mrs P and I go for a wander there.