2 days in Manchester/Salford

[Hen2018]

Does anyone have any recommendations for activities over 2 days next week? One teenager and me.

On previous trips we’ve done Man Utd tour, Football Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry. And Afflecks Palace, for nostalgia’s sake!

We like industrial heritage, computers, art, walking, cycling (we hired the bikes before), football, cinema, gardening and green eco friendly projects but have zero interest in shopping or anything involving talking to people. (ASD). We’re poor sleepers so don’t mind evening/late night walks or events.

We’re booked into IWM North and I really wanted to do a boat trip, but can’t find any that are running at the moment.

We could also do with a recommendation for somewhere for tea. We eat everything except mushrooms, have hearty appetites and a microscopic budget. We’ll be travelling by train.

Thank you!

There are quite a few museums, the police museum, the Manchester museum, the People’s History museum as well as the one of Science & Industry that you visited. If you like gardens there’s the Fletcher Moss botanical garden in Didsbury, bus from city centre.
If you wanted a complete change you could easily get to other places by train. There’s a direct train to Blackpool that takes about an hour, you could easily fill a whole day & evening there.

Heaten Park
Clifton Park
Trafford centre, laxer quest, mini golf, cinema
Bury market via metro link
ordsall hall

RHS Bridgewater garden is lovely. There are direct buses from the city centre.

My favourite cheap eats in Manchester is probably Yagdars (or any of the northern quarter rice & 3 places) but they do all close by about 7.30. Rudy's pizza is also pretty cheap and lush.

It also might be worth seeing what's on at Home and the everyman for film. There's also a classic cinema club if you're into 80's classics.

HOME will have some stuff on & have an outdoor venue called “Homeground” so I’d look at that.

Manchester International Festival is starting soon so there may be some events for that.

The Grayson Perry exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery is lovely 😊

Second vote for Rudy’s pizza

Peel Art Gallery & Museum in Salford is good.

Whereabouts are you staying, to give an idea where to recommend to eat?

Also third the vote for Rudy’s 🤤

Thank you.

For some reason, Grayson Perry seems to be following me around! I’ve already chanced upon his work twice!

We’re staying at the Lowry. It’s a one off, for son’s 18th. And one night!

Jewish museum is pretty central & reopening this week after major renovations.
MOSI has a good temporary exhibition.
Manchester museum, pankhurst museum both easy to get to if appeal.
They do quite a few walking tours... Southern cemetery a friend did and loved the history. There was a cheese and wine one recently I quite fancied but now can't find..here is a link with some different options
www.visitmanchester.com/things-to-see-and-do/tours-and-sightseeing/walking-tours

Worsley one could do yourself on a nice day.
Sale water park (can get tram) for water sports. Or grip adventure in sale for different options (also on tram route)

Haven't seen a boat on canal for while.... www.merseyferries.co.uk/our-cruises/manchester-ship-canal-cruise/

Book early though... Things seem to be booked way in advance at moment.

Junkyyard golf! And northern soul for macaroni cheese toasties

Home sweet home in northern Quarter is great for dessert.

Lots of places on the Quays to eat & in / around Lowry Centre for you. Or tram into Manchester for pretty much everything else. Get off at Deansgate for some good choices.

Chill factor? There are groupon desks available
www.groupon.co.uk/deals/chill-factore-26

Dosa express in Withington is brilliant, have the Dosa meal for £5.99, it's delicious!

I assume you are going to see the Lowry permanent collection?

Go to media city, have a wander round and get lunch - cheaper options would be wagamamas as a chain, or one of the street food stalls
Or just grab a sandwich from booths and some picnic bits !
Then walk across to the quays and go kayaking or paddle boarding at the helly Hansen water sports center
Metro link back to the city center and cheap tea in China town with a wander around - Pho Cue is great

Go to the curry mile in rusholme for some seriously good and cheap food. Walk back into Manchester from there stopping for a drink or two on the way. If you like shisha you could indulge in that too!

Ancoats is good for a walk round - see how
many hip coffee shops you can find !

Manchester People’s History museum and Manchester Jewish Museum also fill an afternoon

Canal boat trip
Also there’s apparently a free walking tour that meets every day at the Alan Turing statue - www.freemanchesterwalkingtours.com/

Portland Basin museum is tiny but good on industrial heritage and has some lovely canal walks right by. Get the tram to Ashton under Lyne. Then get lunch at Lily's (Indian) or Mosaic (Lebanese).

And a big yes to the Grayson Perry exhibition - it was ace, and tickets are free.

@Blueeyedgirl21 - Booths is no more, I'm afraid.

Walk from the Lowry to
Ordsall Hall. Think Victoria warehouse is nearby.

There were no tickets left for GP on our first day and only 2 left for the second - so we’ve had those!

Chorlton water park not far by bus. And lots of lovely independent places to eat in chorlton.

Wow! staying at The Lowry, I’d definitely factor in some chill time in the massive rooms and also the atmosphere of the hotel. There is a Factory Music Exhibition at MOSI starting soon and also Manchester International Festival starting tomorrow. Lots of pop up areas at the mo at Hatch, Home, freight island. Good food around exchange square and the Arndale market, although looks a bit rough and ready has great places for food. Enjoy your trip!

Rhs Bridgewater is gorgeous but the cafe is expensive, and you need to make sure to book the gardens prior if you do visit.

Bridgewater cruises are brilliant too. 2 hours on a barge having afternoon tea.