This 3km walk starts at  Manchester Piccadilly rail station and takes you down Whitworth Street. As you turn into Oxford Road take a short diversion through the historic area of Little Ireland to see a statue of John Dalton. Back on Oxford Road walk through Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Manchester and finish at the Whitworth Art Gallery. Walk out of the main exit from Piccadilly mainline rail station (A) you will see a pedestrian bridge on your left a short distance down Station Approach.  Pedestrian bridge with Crown Court in distance Walk over the bridge and down the ramp. At the bottom of the ramp walk across the tram tracks then turn left down Aytoun Street (B). In a short distance Aytoun Street bends left, don't follow it but turn right to walk down Whitworth Street (C) by the side of Kampus. You walk in front of large brick building on your left, the Sackville Street Building, and opposite this Sackville Gardens. This park has a statue of Alan Turin

  John Rylands Library on Deansgate is part of the University of Manchester and free to enter.  This Neo Gothic building, opened in 1900, is a highlight of the walk  Spinningfields a walk from Deansgate to Manchester Victoria  It stands out amongst the modern architecture of Spinningfields. The entrance is through a modern extension on the side of the building but this leads to an amazing Neo Gothic corridor. Entrance corridor to John Rylands Library On the ground floor you find the historic entrance hall and main staircas e. Entrance Hall and Staircase The Historic Reading Room has a series of alcoves (see photo top) and statues including both John and Enriqueta Rylands.  Enriqueta Rylands commissioned the library following the death of her husband. Statue of Enriqueta Rylands

This a substantial circular walk around Manchester with optional circular walks and a detour into the centre.  It's based on three walks totaling 5.5km that take you between the main stations of Manchester Victoria, Manchester Piccadilly and Deansgate Castlefield. You can start anywhere on the circuit. Time your day to be in the restaurant areas of Spinningfields, Canal Street or the Corn Exchange when you're hungry.  Leg 1 Manchester Victoria to Manchester Piccadilly  Rail Station includes the Corn Exchange and Medieval Quarter 1.5km add on the circular leg around the  Northern Quarter   at Piccadilly Gardens 2km Leg 2 Piccadilly Rail Station to Deansgate Castlefield Metrolink   includes Canal Street Gay Village 2km add on the circular leg to  New Islington at Piccadilly Metrolink 2km  add on the circular leg around  Castlefield  a t Deansgate  1.5km Leg 3 Deansgate to Manchester Victoria  includes Spinningfields 2km add on  Manchester Victoria to the People's History Mu

St Peter's Square has a remarkable collection of buildings in a small area.  Manchester Central Library The iconic domed building on St Peter's Square is Manchester Central Library designed by Emanuel Vincent Harris and built in the 1930's. The building is so distinctive that it doesn't need to have a sign on the outside. The inside is equally impressive.  As you enter, walk up the marble staircase to your left past the statue of The Reader (see top photo). This marble statue was donated to the library by the chairman of the Manchester Ship Canal Company  At the top of the stairs is the historic reading room lit by a glass oculus. Historic reading room in the dome of Manchester Central Library Back on the ground floor at the back of the library you will find the Archive and Special Collections Search Room. Archive area. Manchester Central Library Back outside the library and to the left as you exit is Manchester Town Hall Extension, also designed by E. Vincent Harris.  

  This short 1.5km was starts at Manchester Victoria station, takes you past Manchester Cathedral and over the River Irwell. This side of the river is a rapidly developing area of Salford. The walk finishes at the People's History Museum.  It's not a long walk but you can use it to link the Spinningfields walk , which starts at Deansgate Castlefield and finishes at Manchester Victoria, with the Emmeline Pankhurst walk  which starts at the  People's History Museum  with a finish either at St Peter's Square or the Pankhurst Centre in the University area. Turn right as you walk out of Victoria Station (A) and follow the road as it bends  left in front of Stoller Hall. At the bottom of Hunts Bank with the river in front of you, turn left onto Victoria Street and head in the direction of the now visible Manchester Cathedral  This building has a history dating back to 1421 Manchester Cathedral on Cathedral Walk As you walk along Victoria Street you see a statue of Gandhi on t

  Developments in textile manufacture in the North West of England were key drivers of the Industrial Revolution. Cotton arriving in the port of Liverpool was transported to Manchester for distribution to the towns of the North West. This walk starts at the Science and Industry Museum, the site the world's first passenger railway station linking Manchester to Liverpool. After walking to St Peter's Square it takes you down George Street to see the site of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, unfortunately destroyed in WW2 but marked with a plaque. This is where John Dalton developed his atomic theory.  The walk takes you to the first example of municipal housing in Manchester. The flats of Victoria Square were built in 1889 followed by the model housing of Anita Street. These replaced the back to back terraces of the slum clearances. The back to back terraces were built around the massive industrial  complex of Ancoats which developed following the construction of

This walk starts at Deansgate Castlefield Metrolink station, takes you past the Science and Industry Museum and through Spinningfields. It then crosses Deansgate, continues through St Ann's Square and finishes at Victoria train and Metrolink station. It's just over 2 km and is a great walk to do on a rainy evening Starting at Deansgate Castlefield Metrolink station (A) you will see Beetham Tower, a tall skyscraper which overlooks the station. With the tower to your back, walk to the exit and down the steps on the opposite side to the tower. These lead to the road below. The exit signs from the station are for Deansgate Castlefield. At the bottom of the steps turn right on Whitworth Street West and then right on Deansgate. There are two sets of steps that exit the station on this side and either will take you to Whitworth Street West. One set brings you very quickly to Deansgate which is an immediate right. Walk along Deansgate and cross over at a set of traffic lights to turn l