Afternoon in Manchester - what would you do in four hours?

[ShaLaLaLaLaLaLash]

Just that really, me and young adult DCs, four hours to kill. Staying at the Lowry so relatively close to there. Manchester has changed a lot in the 20 odd years since I worked there. Not sure DC have ever been. I’ve looked at Time Out recs but would love personal recommendations.

No, I was wrong, assumed "The Lowry" was the one at Salford Quays, though of course that's not a hotel Round the corner sounds about right.

I would do the Coronation Street tour if the times align or the People's History Museum.

The People's History Museum is close to the Lowry Hotel and is free and a bit different so I'd start there. It's also quite small so won't take very long.

I'd go up Bridge Street to Deansgate / St Ann's Square for the proper Victorian Manchester buildings and then onto the City Art Gallery.. They have a room with paintings of Manchester and Salford by Lowry and Adolphe Valette.

Unfortunately the Town Hall is covered up but the central library is a beautiful building, as is the Midland Hotel. Afternoon Tea at the Midland is lovely.

Other people might be better help with food. We tend to go to a little cafe near the library called Hampton and Vouis that has good vegan options or to Spinningfields off Deansgate. It has much more modern buildings and fairly generic restaurants but you can take the lift at 20 Stories for great views of Manchester. You can get coffee or cocktails there if you want, but you don't have to. You can just have a quick look. Alternatively at the bottom end of Deansgate is the Hilton Hotel which has a high level cocktail bar with great views of the new tower blocks that have recently been built that are nicknamed Manchattan.

Spinningfields is also not far from your hotel, being mindful that you only have 4 hours.

Depending on how much time you have, Castlefield Viaduct is near Spinningfields and is Manchester's new but small answer to NYC's High Line.

Alternatives would be the Science and Industry Museum at the bottom of Deansgate or you could head to the University district and have a look in the Whitworth Art Gallery and the newly done up Manchester Museum. The Whitworth has a lovely glass cafe surrounded by trees.

I'd avoid Piccadilly. It is grotty at the best of times and is currently a building site!

No one has mentioned it yet, but the Royal Exchange Theatre is lovely to look inside. There’s a cafe, loos and it’s so peaceful. Beautiful building. It’s in the centre of the shopping action at St Ann’s Square so by Zara, Selfridges, M and S. Nice for a break from the hustle. That’s a definite “round the corner” situation. As for the Lowry Hotel to Museum of Science and Industry… wouldn’t want to walk it with a nail in me clog.

Museum of science and industry then walk along castlefield viaduct. Walk to the Northern Quarter have a mooch around, Afflecks isn't as good as it used to be but it's still worth exploring.

If it is a really nice day get the Bury tram to Heaton Park.

FYI Haigh Hall is in Wigan and Hollingworth Lake is in Rochdale, neither are good options for a four hour stay.

With your age DCs I'd do Freight Island for lunch as it's quite fun and then something like darts at flight club or boom battle bar. What do your DCs like and how old?

Thanks for all the suggestions, I think we might go to the People’s History museum and maybe The Lowry or the City Art Gallery.

We’ve got fours max, we’re there for an evening event. History/politics is good for all of us. We’re not bothered about trying to shop in this time slot.

We need to eat too in that four hours but could always have a tea&cake stop in a museum and eat at the hotel if we are short of time.

DC would hate boom battle bar/darts, not their thing at all, but thank you.

If you’ve only got four hours I wouldn’t include the Lowry, it’s a tram ride out of town and back again, Manchester art gallery on Whitworth street is a better option :)