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Tourist Information

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Short guide to areas and some possible places to visit within Manchester

Within the city

The conference itself and hotel accommodation is situated within the city centre making it within a short walking distance of all that the city has to offer. The city centre itself is commonly split into a number of distinct sections and quarters - each with their own character, atmosphere and appeal. Map of the city centre and districts

  • Deansgate, King Street & St Ann's Square

    If interested in shopping, and in particular designer shops, this is the area to visit! Also see the Royal exchange and the Royal exchange theatre situated on St Ann's Square.

  • Exchange Square & New Cathedral Street

    This is Manchester's newest shopping, attraction and entertainment heart. Exchange Square itself is a stylish, new, sandstone amphitheatre, which is surrounded by designer stores, including Harvey Nichols and Selfridges. As well as two of Manchester's oldest pubs and a large 24 hr entertainment complex (The printworks).

    Close-by is Urbis an exhibition centre focusing on city life. Urbis' exhibition programme explores the culture and dynamism of cities around the world, covering photography, design, architecture, music, contemporary art and much more. Plus Manchester Cathedral which also has attached a fascinating visitor centre.

  • Chinatown

    Centred around the beautiful Imperial Chinese Arch, Chinatown is a collection of densely packed shops, businesses and restaurants. This area offers authentic cuisine at great value. However don't be fooled by the name, Chinatown actually offers a wide range of food from all over the far east with various restaurants specialising in Japanese, Vietnamese, Cantonese and Thai food.

    Chinatown is just few hundred metres from the conference location and is a great place to eat out at night.

  • Petersfield, Deansgate locks

    Once the site of the infamous Peterloo Massacre Petersfield is now the site of Manchester's state of the art exhibition and convention district.

    This are also hosts numerous stylish bars alongside Deansgate locks as well as The Bridgewater Hall which is home to the Halle anmd BBC Philharmonic orchestras and host numerous concerts.

    For further information events on at The Bridgewater Hall and Ticket bookings please see The Bridgewater Hall's website

  • Spinningfields

    This area of Manchester is one of the most recently redeveloped in the city. In particular, just off Deansgate is situated the Victorian Gothic splendour of John Rylands Library. This magnificent building, which is one of the finest examples of modern Gothic architecture in Europe, has recently re-opened to the public following a 16.8 million pound redevelopment. The library itself boosts one of the UK's greatest collections of historic books, manuscripts and archives.

    Closeby The Opera House Theatre offers live entertainment and the People's History Museum is the national centre for the collection, conservation, interpretation and study of material relating to the history of working people in Britain.

  • Northern Quarter

    The Northern Quarter is a vibrant and quirky part of the city centre, situated just north of Piccadilly Gardens. The area contains many bars, restaurants, record shops and independent retail outlets contained within its streets and within the arcade at Affleck's Palace (just off Tib Street).

  • Castlefield

    Castlefield is the UK's first Urban Heritage Park. It is is situated close to the site of a Roman fort, of which a replica remains. Castlefield is now better known for its public events arena, its regenerated wharves and waterways and great bars and restaurants. The area is also home to the Museum of Science and Industry.

  • The Gay Village

    The Gay Village is situated just a stones throw north of the conference venue and separates the conference from the city centre. This area is camp, flamboyant and straight-friendly containing a cluster of bars, clubs, cafes and restaurants. Expect an exuberant and energetic welcome and a unique atmosphere.

Slightly further


Directory of links to some attractions:

For general links to events and places to visit in Manchester see: What to See and Do in Manchester

. Below are links to a few attractions within and close to Manchester city centre. This list is far from exhaustive and is only intended to give a flavour of what is available! For Further information can be found at the Manchester tourist information website at www.visitmanchester.com. Also see http://www.prideofmanchester.com/ for a large list of online guides to everthing to do within the City (including everything from restaurants and bars to Art and Architecture).


Further 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/

    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 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.


    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