Manchester/The Quays

The Quays covers the four areas of Salford Quays, Trafford Wharf, Old Trafford and Trafford Centre to the west of Manchester city centre.

Understand
Manchester is 40 miles inland, but became a major seaport at the beginning of the 20th century when the Manchester Ship Canal enabled ocean-going vessels to sail beyond the Mersey to reach Manchester docks. The canal remains in use but is too small for present-day container ships, so the docks declined and became derelict, and the whole city west end was a polluted brownfield eyesore. A bold regeneration scheme was launched in 1986, which converted the area into a buzzing modern district with major attractions and striking architecture. It must rank as the most successful such regeneration in the UK to date, a testament to what can be achieved with vision, entrepreneurial dynamism, and lots of investment (subtle hint there to the UK government). "The Quays" span the River Irwell: the north bank is in the separate City of Salford and its attractions are the Lowry gallery, theatre and retail centre, and Media City with the BBC studios. The south bank is in Trafford in the City of Manchester, with the ITV studios, Imperial War Museum North, Manchester United and Lancashire county cricket ground.

In the 21st century a large retail and leisure complex has grown up at Trafford Centre, which is anything but central at the western edge of the city next to the M60. This is a separate development two miles from the Quays, but there's lots to do there, and in 2020 new transport links connected it better to the Quays, so it's described on this page.

See Salford for other parts of that city, which takes in a triangle of land stretching out to country villages.

By tram


Metrolink trams (orange and light blue lines) take 20 min from Manchester Piccadilly via St Peter's Square, Deansgate and Cornbrook to Salford Quays and MediaCityUK, with the blue line continuing to Eccles. The Quays and Eccles are in Fare Zone 2 so a single journey from the city centre is £2.80; trams run every 10 min 6 AM-midnight.

Eastbound, these lines continue through Piccadilly to Ashton-under-Lyne. Change at one of the central stops for trams to Old Trafford, Stretford and Altrincham; to East Didsbury; to Wythenshawe and Manchester Airport; and via Victoria to Bury and to Chadderton, Oldham and Rochdale.

A new tram line opened in April 2020 from the city centre to the Imperial War Museum North, Old Trafford and the Trafford Centre.

By bus
Buses to this area have mostly been axed in favour of the tram. Those that still run go south of the city centre, handy for the University Quarter but not for Piccadilly or Victoria.

By train
Trains are convenient for central Salford and for Trafford Park, but the stations are a mile or so from Old Trafford and the Quays. The special matchday trains direct to Man United stadium were axed in 2018.

By car
Find your way onto the M60 orbital motorway. Exit at junction 9 for Old Trafford, junction 10 for Trafford Centre, and junction 11 for the M602 spur into Salford Quays.

See

 * Modern architecture: The area is full of boldly-designed buildings, including the Lift Bridge spanning the River Irwell between The Lowry on Salford Quays and the Imperial War Museum North on Trafford Wharf.

Do

 * Go to the theatre at The Lowry, details above.
 * Watch football at
 * Watch cricket at
 * BBC has tours daily from 10:30AM-3PM, book online. Tours take 90 min, adult £13, child £9. There's also a CBBC tour for children.
 * ITV has the Coronation Street tour, Sa Su 10AM-4PM but only when the set isn't in use for recording. Adult £32, online booking essential.
 * BBC has tours daily from 10:30AM-3PM, book online. Tours take 90 min, adult £13, child £9. There's also a CBBC tour for children.
 * ITV has the Coronation Street tour, Sa Su 10AM-4PM but only when the set isn't in use for recording. Adult £32, online booking essential.


 * is a large leisure and retail park by junction 10 of M60, five miles west of the city centre. Attractions include:


 * Trafford Centre has four budget hotels and lots of eating places.

Buy

 * Lowry Outlet Mall is next to The Lowry theatre and gallery.
 * Trafford Centre: see above for this large leisure and retail park.

Eat

 * A dozen chain outlets around the Quays and Media City, including Cafe Rouge, Pizza Express, Nando's and Prezzo.
 * The Lowry and Imperial War Museum North both have good cafes with views.
 * At the match: you are permitted to bring your own food, but not alcohol, including any large amounts concealed within your bloodstream. Snacks are available within the stadium. Man Utd's "Red Cafe" is open daily 9AM-4PM not on home matchdays, when it's reserved for corporate schmoozing.
 * The traditional post-match meal is a fearsome curry somewhere along Rusholme's "curry mile", which is in the University quarter a mile or so east.

Drink

 * Lots more on the Quays, eg Cafe Rouge, Craftbrew, The Botanist, and Dockyard.
 * At the match: Alcohol is not permitted in the football or cricket grounds, and will be confiscated by stewards. Plenty of bars and cafes in the nearby streets.
 * At the match: Alcohol is not permitted in the football or cricket grounds, and will be confiscated by stewards. Plenty of bars and cafes in the nearby streets.

Sleep

 * See also Salford and Castlefield pages for other nearby accommodation.


 * There's another Holiday Inn in Media City. Other budget choices are the Ibis, the Marriott and Travelodge all along Trafford Road, and the Premier Inn on Ontario Basin with another in Media City.
 * Hilton Garden Inn is built into the cricket ground, and the best rooms have a view of the pitch.
 * Trafford Centre at junction 10 of the M60 has no less than three Premier Inns and a Holiday Inn Express.
 * Hilton Garden Inn is built into the cricket ground, and the best rooms have a view of the pitch.
 * Trafford Centre at junction 10 of the M60 has no less than three Premier Inns and a Holiday Inn Express.
 * Trafford Centre at junction 10 of the M60 has no less than three Premier Inns and a Holiday Inn Express.