Salford Quays and MediaCity: a local's overview

Salford Quays is the redeveloped waterside area west of central Manchester. MediaCity, home of the BBC and ITV, sits inside it. It is worth an afternoon, and if you are working with the media sector, worth staying near.

Getting there

Tram from St Peter’s Square or Piccadilly Gardens on the Eccles or MediaCity lines. 15 to 20 minutes.

Walking from central Manchester is 45 minutes down the canal via Castlefield. Genuinely enjoyable if the weather is good.

Driving is easy: parking at MediaCity is cheap and abundant compared to the city centre. If you are staying somewhere with a car, it is the easy trip.

What to see

The Lowry is the arts centre and gallery. LS Lowry paintings on rotation, a proper theatre programme, and a decent café. Free to enter the galleries. Give it 90 minutes.

Imperial War Museum North is architecturally impressive (Daniel Libeskind building) and the exhibitions are done well. Free. Two hours if you are engaged.

MediaCity itself is worth walking through. BBC Sport, BBC Breakfast, Coronation Street sets (tour bookable separately). The plaza is well designed and the water views work.

The Quays waterside walk is a full loop. 5.5km around the water. Good for a run, a slow walk, or a Sunday morning stretch.

Where to eat

Grand Pacific for a proper lunch with a view. Pan-Asian, waterside terrace. Bookable.

Dockyard is the chain-friendly pub. Fine for a pint, good for kids.

The Dockyard Salford Quays for standard food and a wide beer selection.

Wagamama, Nando’s, and Pizza Express all at MediaCity. Fine if you want a fast, safe lunch between museum visits.

MediaCityUK Lowry Outlet food court for a cheaper meal. The Turkish place at the back is better than it looks.

Where to drink

Dockyard for a waterside beer.

Craft Union for a slightly more central Salford Quays pub.

MediaCity Bars are transient (opening and closing all the time) but there is usually something decent.

For a proper night, tram back into central and go from there. Salford Quays winds down by 10pm.

Where to run or walk

The loop around the docks is our recommendation. 5.5km with no cars, water views, a bit of MediaCity architecture, and Trafford Wharf on the other side. Do it at sunrise or sunset for the best views.

What to skip

The Trafford Centre. Ten minutes’ drive from Salford Quays but it is a mall. Unless you are shopping specifically, no.

The stadium tour buses advertising Old Trafford tours from MediaCity. Just tram in.

Where to stay for MediaCity work

If you are here for BBC or ITV meetings, staying in central Manchester and tramming in (15 minutes) is easy. Some clients prefer a Salford Quays base for morning starts.

Our Rolls Crescent in Hulme is 15 minutes’ drive to MediaCity with free parking, and gives you a full house with a garden.

Central stays (Charlotte House Chinatown flats) give you a five-minute walk to Piccadilly, then tram to MediaCity in 20 minutes. Better if you are combining media work with city-centre meetings.

The verdict

Salford Quays is not a substitute for central Manchester. It is a proper half-day trip and a solid workday base for MediaCity clients. Do the two museums, do the loop, eat proper food, tram back in for dinner.