The modern- Salford Quays travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises spa and resorts

The Quays covers the three areas of Salford Quays, Trafford Wharf and Old Trafford around the Manchester Ship Canal. These former docks have been completely redeveloped. The area is now a pleasant part of Manchester, well worth a stroll around the quays and with much to see and do. At The Quays there is a wealth of world-class entertainment, leisure and cultural facilities on offer including The Lowry, Imperial War Museum North, Orsall Hall and The Lowry Outlet Mall. You can even take a trip on the famous Mersey Ferry. If you plan on making a weekend of it, there are great hotels such as the Copthorne Hotel, the Golden Tulip and the Old Trafford Lordge to choose from.

You can cross the footbridge to the Trafford or Stretford side of the Manchester Ship Canal and visit the equally striking Imperial War Museum North, and experience how “War changes lives”. There’s a fantastic view from the Air Shard viewing platform towards Manchester city centre. A dramatic curving white steel footbridge which crosses the Bridgewater Canal at Castlefield Basin, Merchants Bridge was designed by Whitby Bird Limited and the steelwork contractor was Watson Steel. The graceful’s Lowry Footbrige connects the Traffort side of the canal to the Salford side. With the War Museum and The Lowry at each end this is a place to devote a whole day to when visiting Manchester.

In 1894 the Manchester Ship Canal was opened, allowing ocean-going vessels to reach docks close to the centre of Manchester. There were four smaller docks at Pomona Docks, a mile from Manchester city centre, with larger docks built half a mile west at Salford. The largest dock, No 9, opened in 1905, was constructed on the site of Manchester Racecourse. It had been constructed in just 6 years, involved some 16000 men, and was considered a major construction project, covering some 55 km. Its completion resulted in expansion of industry and commerce in the entire area.

Open Water sessions are run at Salford Water sport Center (Salford Quays) on Thursday evenings throughout the summer from 3rd May to 6th Sept. Swimmers are able to swim for up to 1 hour at any time between 6.30pm and 8.30pm. The last entry to the water is at 7.45pm. The swim times are staggered to prevent queuing and to reduce the number of people who have to stand and wait for a swim. Salford plans to establish a media zone, with the BBC as principal tenant., with the plans forming a key part of the corporation’s out of London strategy to broaden the regional diversity of its output.