Salford

Salford grew up along the Manchester Ship Canal, and it's that stretch of water, widened into the basins of Salford Quays, that still shapes the place today. Where cargo ships once docked, the water is now used for paddleboarding and sailing, and the old industrial waterfront has become a base for broadcasting and city living, with glass-fronted buildings looking out over the basins.

Most visitors stay right by the water at Salford Quays, where hotels like the AC Hotel Manchester Salford Quays by Marriott, Copthorne Hotel Manchester Salford Quays, Holiday Inn Express Manchester Salford Quays and Holiday Inn Manchester Media City UK put you within reach of the studios, restaurants and waterside walks. The Ibis budget Manchester Salford Quays and Campanile Manchester offer simpler options nearby, while the Holiday Inn Manchester West suits those wanting to be a little further out. For longer stays or more space, This Charming House offers a self-catering base.

The water itself is the main draw for anyone active: the Helly Hansen Watersports Centre runs sailing and paddling sessions right on the quay, while Oxygen Activeplay at MediaCity gives families an indoor alternative. Away from the basins, Peel Park offers green space along the River Irwell, and history runs deeper at Ordsall Hall, a timber-framed manor that predates the docks by centuries. Salford Museum and Art Gallery adds another layer, tracing the city's story from its Victorian streets to its industrial waterfront.

MediaCity UK, built on reclaimed dockland, has turned the quays into a destination in their own right, with its studios and public spaces drawing people down to the water even when they're not there for the attractions. Wandering the basins in the evening, with the water catching the lights of the buildings around it, gives a sense of how thoroughly the area has been remade.