City Orientation Walk

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1 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 1 - City Orientation Walk Manchester is the seventh most populated city in England, with 460,000 people registered for It is an important cultural, industrial and historic center. Centuries back, the city had one of the biggest textile productions in the world. Guide Location: England» Manchester # of Attractions: 11 Tour Duration: 2 hour(s) Travel Distance: 3.8 km Please note: This walk is also featured in the ios app "Manchester Map and Walks" on itunes App Store and the Android app "Manchester Map and Walks" on Google Play. The apps provide GPS navigation to guide you from one tour stop to the next, so you will never be lost. The apps offer additional walking tours in Manchester. Check them out! GPSmyCity offers self-guided walking tours in over 1,000 city around the world. Please visit gpsmycity.com for more walking tour offers. List of attractions included in this self-guided walking tour: A) Manchester City Council B) Manchester Central Library C) Beetham Tower D) Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester E) Manchester Opera House F) People's History Museum G) John Rylands Library H) Royal Exchange Theatre I) New Cathedral Street J) Manchester Cathedral K) National Football Museum Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 1 -

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3 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 3 - A) Manchester City Council (must see) Manchester City Council is one of the largest local authorities in England. The council s headquarters are based within Manchester s historic town hall and an adjacent extension, situated on either side of Lloyd Street, opposite Albert Square. Manchester Town Hall was built in 1877, at the height of Manchester s industrial expansion. One of the UK s finest examples of neogothic architecture, the building was designed by architect Alfred Waterhouse. The history of this industrial Northern city is intrinsic to the design and creation of the building. Waterhouse used hard wearing Spinkwell stone to create a building that could survive the heavy air pollution found in Victorian Manchester. In addition, Waterhouse s design was chosen due to its clear contrast to the neoclassical architecture found in Liverpool, Manchester s local rival in the industrial age. The frontage of the town hall and bell tower form one of the city s most recognisable images, and is covered with ornate sculptures depicting the history of the city. The extension building was completed in the 1930s to cater for a growing city s need for a larger council office. The town hall with its iconic bell tower have been described as resembling a miniature version of London s Palace of Westminster, and has even been used as a substitute in film and TV, including recent productions State of Play and The Iron Lady. Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 3 -

4 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 4 - Address: Town Hall Albert Square, Manchester, M60 2LA, United Kingdom Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Julius B) Manchester Central Library (must see) Manchester Central Library can be found just south of Manchester Town Hall, close to Albert Square, in Manchester s civic centre. One of the city s most striking buildings, the neoclassical, pillared style of the circular, domed structure leads many to believe it dates back to the Georgian era. In fact, the building was constructed in the 1930s, eschewing the popular art deco style of the time for a bolder, Roman influenced architectural statement. The library was opened to great fanfare by King George V in At the time of its opening, it was the largest free public library in the United Kingdom. The large glass dome that covers the top of the building casts natural light into the Great Hall, a vast public reading room on the upper floor. Beneath the Great Hall, the library holds over one million books in temperature controlled vaults. A centerpiece of the city s literary heritage, the library has been frequented by many Mancunian artists, from A Clockwork Orange author Anthony Burgess to Smiths singer Morrissey. The library is currently undergoing major renovation work, and is unfortunately closed until The closest public library currently open to the public is John Rylands Library on Deansgate. Address: Peter Street, Manchester, United Kingdom Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and G-Man C) Beetham Tower (must see) Beetham Tower is currently the tallest building in Manchester, and one of the city s most dynamic modern buildings. Completed in 2006, the tower is over 550 feet tall, and is the tallest building in the UK outside of London. In addition, it is the tallest building in the UK that is entirely residential. The lower 22 floors are taken up by a luxury Hilton Hotel. Above this point, the building cantilevers, creating a visible step as the floors above become wider. On the 23rd floor, the hotel s Sky Bar allows customers to view the city through the venue s glass floor. The upper floors are divided into luxury apartments. Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 4 -

5 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 5 - The building s architect, Ian Simpson, owns the penthouse suite, which covers the top two floors and contains an indoor garden. From the higher floors, Mount Snowdon in Wales is visible on a clear day. Other notable residents of the tower include Gary & Phil Neville, the sibling footballers that previously played together for England & Manchester United. One of the slenderest skyscrapers ever constructed, the building is 10 times higher than it is wide, a design feature forced by the high cost of land at its Deansgate location. The building has become a symbol of modern Manchester, and a sister project is on the cards, to be constructed on the south bank of the Thames in London. Address: Deansgate, Manchester, United Kingdom Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and padsbrother D) Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester (must see) The Museum of Science and Industry is located on Liverpool Road, in Manchester s Castlefield district, south west of the city centre. The museum covers a seven acre site and houses displays on various aspects of the scientific and technological advances of the last two centuries. The history of transportation in Manchester and the UK is heavily featured within the museum. Combined with the nearby Public Transport Museum, these exhibits make Manchester a big draw for transport enthusiasts. The museum boasts an impressive collection of aviation and space travel exhibits, housed in the Air and Space Hall. These include a Morphis simulator and several restored early 20th century aeroplanes produced by local manufacturer, the Avro Company. The museum, which also houses a functioning steam train and several restored locomotives, is currently undergoing a major renovation, due to be completed this year. The museum is free to visit, although there may be a small admission charge for special exhibitions. The museum is accessible for wheelchair users, and the museum site has a number of amenities, including parking, a café and a gift shop. Operation hours: Monday - Sunday: 10 am - 5 pm Address: Liverpool Road, Manchester, United Kingdom Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Childzy Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 5 -

6 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 6 - E) Manchester Opera House (must see) The Manchester Opera House is found on Quay Street in Manchester city centre, close to grand civic buildings like the Magistrates Court and Manchester Town Hall. The building was opened in 1912 and currently hosts musicals, touring theatre productions and ballet recitals. Despite its name, it does not host operatic performances the main venue for opera in Greater Manchester is The Lowry, in nearby Salford. Nevertheless, Manchester Opera House has gained a reputation as one of the city s many great concert halls. Together with its sister theatre, the Palace Theatre to the south on Oxford Street, it forms the backbone of Manchester s theatrical traditions. The Opera House hosted the European premiere of West Side Story in 1958, and has contributed to the city s reputation for hosting theatrical firsts. The capacity theatre hosted the world premiere of Ghost The Musical in 2011, and also debuted a musical tribute to a group of local legends the Take That musical, Never Forget. The Opera House, with its imposing neo classical pillared frontage, is a large, sprawling venue with seven bars surrounding the auditorium itself. The theatre also hosts an annual Christmas pantomime which draws in festive theatre goers from around the North West region. Address: Quay Street, Manchester, United Kingdom Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Mike Peel F) People's History Museum (must see) The People s History Museum is a museum space devoted to the working people of Britain, with particular focus on local history. A range of occasional exhibits focus on different aspects of local working life with a recent exhibition displaying artwork and animations inspired by the city s famous cotton industry. The museum has one of the finest collections of political paraphernalia in the UK, from its beginnings as a Trade Union and Labour Party museum in the 1970s. The museum houses 1500 political posters, dating from the 18th and 19th centuries and featuring rare propaganda posters originating from the Spanish Civil War. The People s History Museum is located on Left Bank, adjacent to the River Irwell, which divides the cities of Salford and Manchester. Geographically, the museum is actually on the East bank of the river, in the Spinningfields Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 6 -

7 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 7 - area of Manchester. The museum is fully wheelchair accessible, and offers support for visitors with sensory impairment. The museum site features a shop and café bar, and offers a range of family friendly amenities, including a picnic area, baby changing facilities and hands on activities for all ages. Operation hours: Monday - Sunday: 10 am - 5 pm. On the second Thursday of the month, the museum is open from 10.00am to 8.00pm. It is closed on 24, 25, 26 December and 1 January. Address: Left Bank, Spinningfields, M3 3ER Manchester, United Kingdom Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Bernard Randall G) John Rylands Library (must see) The John Rylands Library is housed within a Victorian gothic building, located on Deansgate in Manchester City Centre. Opened to the public in 1900, the building was designed by Basil Champneys, at the request of John Rylands widow. Rylands was Manchester s foremost textile manufacturer, and became the city s first multi-millionaire. The philanthropy of businessmen like Rylands greatly aided the development of the city at the turn of the 20th century. Since its creation, the library has been extended and enlarged seven times, and is now operated by the University of Manchester. The most valuable special collections found in the university library have been moved to John Rylands Library, to allow the public greater access to them. The most notable of these artifacts is the earliest discovered manuscript of a New Testament text. The library also contains the personal effects of public figures like Elizabeth Gaskell and John Dalton. The stunning, ornate gothic interior of the building has made it a popular tourist attraction in its own right, and the university offers regular tours, allowing visitors to peek behind the scenes of this famous building. Address: 150 Deansgate, Manchester, United Kingdom Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Keith Williamson Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 7 -

8 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 8 - H) Royal Exchange Theatre (must see) Located on New Cathedral Street in Manchester s bustling city centre, the Royal Exchange building houses a theatre and shopping arcade. Whilst the building has stood on this site since the late 18th century, it has only been used as a theatre since the 1970s. Built in the Georgian era and upgraded in Victorian times, the Royal Exchange building formed the heart of Manchester s commercial district, and was the venue for the trading of textiles manufactured in the city s famous cotton mills. By 1931, the main hall was the largest trading room in the country. The building s heyday as a trading centre was brought to an abrupt end by the Blitz, when the trading hall was badly damaged. The building was left empty after World War 2. Facing possible demolition, the Royal Exchange was saved and converted into a theatre and shopping centre. The Royal Exchange Theatre was opened in 1976 by Sir Laurence Olivier. The main theatre space is designed in the round, meaning that the stage and performers are completely surrounded by the audience. It is the largest theatre in the round in the UK, and hosts up to 350 productions each year. The bulk of the theatre s schedule is built around stage classics from Shakespeare and Chekhov, although touring foreign theatre groups and musicians play there regularly. The theatre has a box office, contained within the Exchange building. Address: St Anns Square, Manchester, United Kingdom Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Lmno I) New Cathedral Street New Cathedral Street is a modern, pedestrianised shopping street in the heart of Manchester s city centre, close to Deansgate and halfway between Manchester s two main train stations, Victoria and Piccadilly. While the street is a relatively modern addition, it has been built around two of Manchester s most famous landmarks the Royal Exchange theatre and arcade in the centre of the street, and St. Ann s Church at the street s southern end. As the name suggests, New Cathedral Street leads towards Manchester Cathedral, at the north end of the street. New Cathedral Street was built following major regeneration works in the downtown area, carried out after the infamous 1996 IRA bombing of Manchester s city centre. New Cathedral Street is Manchester s premier shopping destination, home to a number of boutique department stores, Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 8 -

9 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 9 - many of which are flagship stores for the North of England. The emergence of the street as a shopping hotspot has boosted Manchester s reputation as a fashionable destination to visit. Established brands like Selfridge's and Marks & Spencer have their Manchester stores here, whilst a host of designer names and outlets have taken up residence. These include Harvey Nichols, Ted Baker, Hugo Boss, Burberry and Lacoste, to name but a few. Address: New Cathedral Street, Manchester, United Kingdom Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Pit-yacker J) Manchester Cathedral (must see) Manchester Cathedral has undergone extensive restoration works, both in the Victorian era and in recent years, following damage from the 1996 IRA bombing of the city centre. The cathedral has existed in some form on the site since medieval times, and holds artifacts that date back to Manchester s existence as a Saxon settlement. The main body of this gothic cathedral was originally constructed in the late 15th century, overseen by church warden James Stanley. The cathedral is Grade I listed and is the seat of the Bishop of Manchester. In accordance with British tradition, the presence of a cathedral is the reason that Manchester has been awarded city status. The cathedral welcomes visitors to attend their services or to view the building s interior. Admission to the cathedral is free, although donations are welcome. The cathedral is mostly wheelchair accessible, however parts of the Regiment Chapel and Quire are only accessible on foot. The cathedral runs a range of special events, and can be booked for weddings and other special events. Address: Victoria Street, Manchester, United Kingdom Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and And-Rew Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 9 -

10 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 10 - K) National Football Museum (must see) The National Football Museum is a museum at the Urbis building in Manchester city centre, founded to preserve, conserve and interpret important collections of football memorabilia. The museum was originally in Deepdale, Preston, Lancashire, but moved to Manchester in The museum is based in the Urbis building and is laid out over 4 floors. Address: Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Todd St, City Centre, Manchester M4 3BG, UK Image Courtesy of Flickr and David in Lisburn. Sight description based on wikipedia Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 10 -