- Start at Piccadilly Gardens
For the first part of the tour, get a Tram to MediaCityUK.
The journey takes about 20 minutes.
Do not spend more than 1½ hours on this part of the tour.
Tram tickets must be purchased before your journey. They are available from ticket machines, Transport for Manchester shops or online using the getmethere App (My TfGM).
You need an Adult 1 day off-peak travelcard for Zones 1 and 2. These costs £3.50.
Get on a MediaCityUK tram.
- Media City
MediaCity is a 200 acre (81 ha) mixed use development on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal. The first phase was completed in 2011. It is a joint venture between Peel Holdings and Legal & General Capital. Over 140,000 m2 of space has been completed so far.
National broadcasters such as the BBC and ITV have studios here. It is also home to the University of Salford.
| MediaCity has also attracted other media tenants, but what other uses are here? Which football club stadium can you see from here? |
- Piccadilly Gardens to Fountain Street
When you have finished at MediaCityUK get a tram back to Piccadilly.
At Piccadilly walk to the NW corner in the direction of the Arndale Shopping Centre and Market Street.
Next to Primark turn left into Fountain Street.
Walk all the way along Fountain Street.
| What impression of Manchester does Piccadilly Gardens create? What is the predominant use on Fountain Street? |
Cross Booth Street where Fountain Street becomes Cooper Street.
When you reach Princess Street turn right.
- Manchester Town Hall to Deansgate
You are now at the back of Manchester Town Hall.
Walk along Princess Street until it opens out into Albert Square on the left.
The Town Hall is being refurbished but this is what it looked like before the work started.
It is one of the finest examples of neo-Gothic architecture in the UK. Completed in 1877, it is an important Grade 1 Listed Building.
Turn left into Albert Square then walk along until a narrow alley way on the right.
This is Brazennose Street. Turn right into Brazennose Street. (with your back to the Town Hall)
Brazzenose Street opens into Lincoln Square.
Walk straight through Lincoln Square.
| There is a sculpture where Brazzenose Street meets Deansgate. Who is it of? |
Deansgate is an important commercial street in central Manchester. It runs North-South in a straight line through the western part of the City Centre
Turn left onto Deansgate and walk until the junction with Lloyd Street and Hardman Street.
Turn right and cross the road into Hardman Street.
- Spinningfields
You are now in the Spinningfields district. This is a 430,000 m2 mixed use development of some 20 buildings that was developed by Allied London Properties in the early 2000s. It is located between Deansgate and the River Irwell
Continue straight on past the Ivy Restaurant.
Cross Gartside Street and along Hardman Blvd
Cross the Left Bank and under the link connecting two of the buildings.
Walk onto the footbridge over the River Irwell.
Turn around then re-trace your steps back towards the Ivy Restaurant.
At the Ivy turn left.
At Crown Square turn right, walking past Comptoir Libanais.
This is, The Avenue. It is marketed as a high-end retail destination in Spinningfields
Keep walking straight on up the steps.
| Just beyond the steps, slightly off to the left is a brick building. What is it? What type of tenants are in The Avenue? Does it work as a premier retail location? |
Continue walking until you again reach Deansgate.
Turn left onto Deansgate.
| What is the Gothic building immediately ahead of you? Deansgate was traditionally a prominent commercial location. How does it appear to be performing now? |
Continue along Deansgate until the junction with St Mary’s Gate.
Turn right into St Mary’s Gate and walk until it joins Market Street.
Cross the junction with Cross Street and walk straight ahead under the Arndale Centre
Stay on Market Street until you return to Piccadilly.
END OF TOUR
School of the Built Environment Oxford Brookes 