Manchester/South

South Manchester covers the south of Manchester as far south as the M60. It lies within The Historic County Boundaries of Lancashire. It contains amongst others, the following neighbourhoods:


 * Didsbury Historically, this was the home of many of the wealth merchants who traded in the city and is an area with strong Jewish links. It was further developed as railways grew with much more housing built in the 1930s. It is one of the most up-market and expensive residential districts within Manchester. here you will find a mixed academic cosmopolitan community with a smattering of media stars. It offers a wide selection of bars, cafes and restaurants and looks and feels more like an English village than a suburban district 4 miles south of the city centre. Didsbury is often a destination of choice for many people, from elsewhere in the city and beyond, for a meal or drink, in one of the many such bars and restaurants, some of which spill out onto the streets in the summer months.
 * Hulme is at the heart of Manchester's counterculture, the area had suffered badly from inept town planning throughout the 1970s until early 1990s. Regeneration of old housing has improved the appearance of the district. It is one of the birthplaces of the European dance scene and home to a multicultural population of artists, punks, anarchists, environmental activists and party people.
 * Moss Side Just to the west of Rusholme, is home to a large African and West Indian community a lively and yet tough area is worth a visit for its Caribbean cuisine and pubs.
 * Whalley Range Referred to as "Leafy Whalley Range" is one of Manchester's first and finest suburbs started in the early 1830s, built by local banker and businessman Samuel Brooks as "a desirable estate for gentlemen and their families". Here you will find grand Victorian houses on beautiful tree-lined roads that border Alexandra Park and Upper Chorlton Road.
 * Chorlton-cum-Hardy Known as Chorlton, this is a suburb of Manchester with good facilities and a residential area of choice for the city's arts, theatre, and music people. It offers a wide range of continental-style café bars and eateries and some trendy shopping around Beech Road. The continental-style café bars and eateries and some trendy shopping outlets have also taken over large stretches of the main shopping streets, Wilbraham Road and Barlow Moor Road.
 * Withington Is a diverse district housing a mixture of "professionals" and "students" and close to the University of Manchester and the Manchester Metropolitan University.
 * Rusholme A multicultural community, home to the largest concentration of South Asian restaurants in Manchester known as the "Curry Mile" (along Wilmslow Road). Here you find cuisine from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, North Africa and the Middle East.

By air
Manchester Airport is on the southern edge of Manchester and offers Domestic, European and Intercontinental flights. Direct trains from the airport serve Piccadilly in the city centre and some stop at local station en route, including East Didsbury. The trams, buses and taxis can also be take from the airport to locations in South Manchester.

By train
The train line from the city centre to the airport passes through south Manchester. So, for example, the quickest way to get from the airport to Didsbury Village is to get the train to East Didsbury and then walk or catch the bus along Wilmslow Road.

In general, the train service in South Manchester offers inferior coverage and frequency, in comparison to the bus service. However, if it is going where you want it will probably be much quicker.

Most train services in South Manchester go to Manchester Piccadilly station, which offers connections to much of Britain.

By tram
Manchester's Metrolink tram system runs through much of South Manchester, and is normally the best way to get between Didsbury, Chorlton, and Trafford. "Withington" tram stop is not in the centre of Withington, but is well located for Hough End Leisure Centre.

See

 * Levenshulme, a neighbourhood stretching along Stockport Road, has a bustling, close-knit community feel and is popular with families. The new Lev Inspire centre, built inside a refurbished church, has become a hub of community activities. The area has also seen a resurgence of new, independent businesses opening up alongside established ones such as Levenshulme Antiques Village housed in the historic former police station building. The annual Levenshulme Festival brings hundreds of free music, art, food and sport events to the neighbourhood each year.
 * Levenshulme, a neighbourhood stretching along Stockport Road, has a bustling, close-knit community feel and is popular with families. The new Lev Inspire centre, built inside a refurbished church, has become a hub of community activities. The area has also seen a resurgence of new, independent businesses opening up alongside established ones such as Levenshulme Antiques Village housed in the historic former police station building. The annual Levenshulme Festival brings hundreds of free music, art, food and sport events to the neighbourhood each year.
 * Levenshulme, a neighbourhood stretching along Stockport Road, has a bustling, close-knit community feel and is popular with families. The new Lev Inspire centre, built inside a refurbished church, has become a hub of community activities. The area has also seen a resurgence of new, independent businesses opening up alongside established ones such as Levenshulme Antiques Village housed in the historic former police station building. The annual Levenshulme Festival brings hundreds of free music, art, food and sport events to the neighbourhood each year.

Drink
Wilbraham Road, Barlow Moor Road and Beech Road are all peppered with bars catering to both local and hipster alike. All are easily accessible from the Chorlton Metrolink stop.

Sleep

 * See also Manchester Airport for hotels convenient for South Manchester, eg those at M56 junction 6 with Wilmslow Rd.