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MRU2007 - Location

Manchester

Manchester is one of the UK's largest metropolitan conurbations, set in the northwest region of England in the ancient county of Lancashire, on the west side of the Pennine Hills. It is a city of the Industrial Revolution. It was born through enterprise, industry and the establishment of the textile mills through which it became prosperous and world famous - the providential coincidence of climate, natural resources and geography, the inventiveness of its people, the early building of transport infrastructures, and a powerful industrial entrepreneurial spirit which typified the region then as it does today.

Manchester is an old town which has been inhabited since Roman times, when General Julius Agricola built a fort just north of the site of present day city, though it was not until the 18th century that this hitherto remote and inconspicuous little town sprang into the forefront of world attention by being the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.

The City of Manchester and innumerable small satellite towns and villages surrounding it saw the rapid growth of factories manufacturing merchandise for cotton weaving and spinning, dyeing, fulling and all aspects of the textile industry. Manchester was nicknamed "Cottonopolis" where 'King Cotton' ruled. It held onto its reputation as the prime source of world textiles until its decline in the 1950s, when cheaper foreign imports sounded the death knell for the region's pre-eminence.

Manchester is a big place. While 2.6 million people live within its actual boundaries, over 7 million others live in the wider region, making it second only to London in Great Britain.


Hotels

Both the Weston Days Hotel and the other listed hotels are situated in the south of Manchester City Centre. The Manchester Conference Centre (co-located with the Weston Days Hotel) is located within the Northern campus of the University of Manchester. This is within a couple of minutes walk from the main railway station and the city centre itself (Map of Sackville Street campus). The main university campus area is approximately 10-15 minutes walk south (Map of the main University campus).

For the other nearby hotels and the conference dinner venue (the Town Hall), then the following City Centre map will be useful.


Travel to and from the hotels and the Manchester Conference Centre

On arriving.The nearest rail station in Manchester Picadilly, on a direct line from Manchester Airport. The trains are at frequent intervals, mostly taking 15 mins (quicker than a taxi at most times of day and much cheaper). A standard open return is currently £6.80. The trains usually run all night although at reduced intervals but you should check close to the time in case of engineering works. The hotels are 5-10 minutes walk from the station.

Upon arriving at Picadilly station follow the exit down the esculators toward the taxi ranks. From this exit turn right and cross over London Road onto Fairfield Street (past the pub [The Bulls head] on the corner), Fairfield Street turns into Whitworth Street.

For those going to the Weston Days Hotel follow Whitworth Street and turn left down Sackville Street (just after the main Sackville Street University Building). Follow Sackville Street under the railway overpass. The entrance to the Weston Days Hotel is situated on the right-hand side of Sackville Street.

For the other hotels on Portland Street, you should continue along Whitworth Strret until taking a right turn into Princess Street, and then a left turn onto Portland Street, close to the location of the hotels.


Getting to the Welcome reception, lectures, conference dinner and Jodrell Bank Observatory

The welcome reception will be held in the Renold Building (Building 5 on the Map of Sackville Street campus), close to the Weston Days Hotel/Manchester Conference Centre.

The lectures will be held in the Manchester Conference Centre, visible on the same map.

The public lecture will be held in the Renold Building

The conference dinner is being held in the Great Hall in the main Town Hall building close to the city centre about 15 minutes walk from the Conference Centre. It is a blue triangle labelled 'Town Hall' at the top of Princess Street on the City Centre map.

Travel to Jodrell Bank Observatory will be by coach and will be arranged by the organising team, departing after the morning coffee break.


Travel information in and around Manchester

Manchester city centre is just a few minutes walk to North of the hotels.

Regular bus routes within Manchester and the surrounding areas leave from Piccadilly Bus station, which is a few minutes walk from the accommodation. (Further travel information on Buses, trams and trains within the Greater Manchester area can be found at http://www.gmpte.com/, or via telephone 0161-228-7811 (8am - 8pm).Information and tickets are also available from GMPTE Travel-shops at the bus station)

Taxis. If you need to use a taxis, for example getting back to halls after a heavy night!, any black hackney cab can be hailed at the road side or picked up at a taxi rank. Do not attempt to hail a minicab. Mini-cabs will not normally pick you up and if they do they, and you, are not covered by any insurance. Minicab have to be pre-booked via telephone call (phone numbers of a few mini-cabs firms - Taxifone: 0161-236-2322,Village Private Hire: 0161-237-3383, Radio Cars: 0161-236-8033)

Rail connections to and from Manchester airport, as well as the rest of the UK, can be caught from Manchester Piccadilly train station which is a couple minutes walk from North campus and the accommodation.

Piccadilly station is open 24 hours a day for travel, although many of the shops and facilities at the station close late in the evening. Tickets and information regarding train times etc can be obtained at the station.

  • Train timetables can be found here or via telephoning 08457 48 49 50 (from within the UK)
  • Train times can also be found in Deutsch, English, Francaise & Italiano here.
  • Train times and advance tickets can also be purchased on-line at Virgin trains.


    Shops

    The hotels are a few minutes walk south of Manchester city centre where there is a wealth of high street stores and shopping to suit all. The majority of high street stores are located in and around Market street, King street, St Anne's Square and the Arndale centre. Many of the larger shops are open until 8pm six nights a week.

    For more local amenities there is a 'Spar' (small convenience store) situated on Granby Row within the Sackville street campus. Additionally the Student Union Shop based in the Barnes Wallis Building, is open during the day, Monday to Friday. Within Piccadilly Rail station there are also several stores including a small sainsburys supermarket that is open into early evening.

    Situated on the corner of Whitworth street and Chorlton street (2 minutes walk away) there is a good deli which can provide almost any food requirement.

    The nearest chemist is a Boots on Oxford Street.


    Banks & cash-points

    The nearest bank (Natwest) to the Conference Centre is situated on Sackville street next to the Spar. At the same location there is a cash-point. The next nearest cash-point is located on the corner of Whitworth Street and Princess Street. Additionally there are also several cash-points situated within Piccadilly rail station and a Bureau de Change (on Platform 14).


    Alternatively within the main university campus there are branches of several banks.

    Manchester, like all large cities does have some levels of crime. As such it is advisable to cautious when using cashpoints, especially at night.


    Bars & places to eat

    Weston Days Hotel itself has a bar situated within the building, which would make an ideal meeting place for people before leaving for evening entertainment or meals.

    Within South Manchester and the city centre there is a plethora of bars, pubs and places to eat and far too many to list here. Within just a few minutes walk of either Weston or chandos there are several tens of bars and pubs.

    Canal street.
    Two minutes walk towards the city centre from Weston Days Hotel (crossing straight over Whitworth Street) running between Sackville St and Minshull St is Canal Street. This area, known as the 'Gay village', contains a vast number of fashionable bars (e.g. Gaia, 46 Sackville St or Taurus, 1 Canal St) and and pubs. Almost all of these serve good food.

    China town
    China town is situated in the area between Portland Road and Moseley Street, about 5 minutes walking distance towards the city centre. Within these few streets, centred on Charlotte Street, tens of Chinese and oriental restaurants covering all price brackets are located.

    Oxford Street/Oxford Road/University/Rusholme
    Oxford Road runs through centre of the main university campus, turning into Oxford Street as it enters the city centre, eventually turning into Wilmslow road south of the University.

    Within the University area itself there are several bar and pubs, notably the Kro-bar on the corner of dover street and Oxford road (opposite the Greenwood rooms) and Jabez Clegg (approximately 15m further down Dover Street)

    Between the University and city centre there many pubs & bars as well as numerous take away restaurants. For example, midway between Weston Days Hotel and Oxford Road is The Lass O Gowrie, on Charles Street, which is well worth a visit and only a couple of minutes from Weston Hall.

    Further south of the University, following Oxford Road as it turns into Wilmslow Road (past the Hospital on your left-hand side and Whitworth park on your right hand side) you will enter Rusholme. Rusholme is famed for it extremely high density of Asian and Indian restaurants. Along this approximately 3/4 mile stretch of Wilmslow road, between Moss lane East and Dickenson Road, almost every building houses an Indian restaurant. The price in each these restaurants varies, although most are relatively cheap and of good quality. In general, it is often best to take a walk down this road and just select which ever restaurant you like the look of!

    Rusholme is approximately 10-15 minutes walk from the University. Or you can easily get on one of the many buses travelling south through the university (just ask for Rusholme). Returning there are many buses, into the early hours, running towards the city centre down Wilmslow and Oxford road. These buses generally run into Piccadilly Bus station but you can alight at near to the BBC studios or Oxford road station on Oxford road, which is only a few minutes walk from Weston Days Hotel. Alternatively a Black Hackney cab will carry up to 5 people and cost ~5-8 pounds.

    Deansgate/Millennium quarter
    Many bars and restaurants are located along Deansgate and in the area known as the Millennium quarter situated near to the cathedral. On one side of Exchange square is the Printworks which houses a host bars restaurants and a large cinema.


    Cinemas, theatres etc

    The nearest cinema is the Cornerhouse complex (art house cinema) is about 5 minutes walk away next to Oxford Road Railway station on the corner of Whitworth Street and Oxford Street. Alternatively there is a large multiplex cinema within the Printworks. There are numerous theatres, musemums and galleries within the centre of Manchester. Much more information about various visitor attractions can be found at here.


    Tourist Information

    Tourist information office can be found at the Manchester City Town Hall in St Peters Square, next to the Library (both are marked on the map of the city centre). This is open Monday - Saturday 10am - 5:30pm & Sunday 10:30am - 4:30pm.

    A large interactive map showing many of Manchesters visitor attractions can be found here.

    Tourist information about many attractions and facilities in and around Manchester can be also found at:

  • http://www.manchester.gov.uk/visitorcentre/
  • http://www.manchester.com/
  • http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/tourist/


    Weather

    In October the average daytime temperatures in Manchester is around 14 degrees Celsius falling to around 7 degrees Celsius at night. Like the rest of northwest England, Manchester has a generous yearly dose of clouds and drizzle, although the weather is rarely severe. So it would be definitely wise to bring a coat and/or an umbrella!.


    Useful Maps

  • Map of Manchester city centre and the University, All university buildings are coloured in purple.
  • Interactive map showing many of Manchesters visitor attractions.
  • Map of Sackville street campus, showing precise location of the Conference Centre.
  • Map of the main University campus
  • Locations of Taxi ranks within the centre of Manchester
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    Last updated Fri Feb 16 11:57:20 2007