Manchester/Castlefield-Petersfield

By train

By tram

• St. John's Gardens

  address: Byrom Street
  The site of the former St. John's Church has become central Manchester's most beautiful park. Come here in the summer to see the flowers and bring some bread for the hundreds of birds that make St. John's their home.

• Museum of Science and Industry

  phone: +44 161 832-2244
  address: Liverpool Road, M3 4FP
  This is a great museum for those interested in technology and industrial heritage: sited at one end of the world's first passenger railway line. The working cotton weaving machines are particularly worth experiencing. Catch one of their regular demonstrations of their operation. There is also the opportunity to explore the city's former sewers (now fully cleaned!) to get an idea of the living (and dying) conditions of Manchester's cotton workers. Most impressive of all is the huge collection of working engines in the Power Hall, powered by steam, gas, water, you name it. Across the road is the Air and Space Hall, containing real examples of Britain's aeronautical history. The museum also hosts the first steam train (and with it, the first ever vehicle to run faster than a horse), as well as the first programmable computer with a cathode ray tube memory.

• Roman Fort

  address: off Liverpool Road
  Not much survives of Manchester's four Roman settlements, but what is left can be seen in the gardens of Castlefield running from Liverpool Road down to Castle Street. The North Gate of the fourth fort on Duke Street, along with a section of the fort's West Wall, its gatehouse, granaries, and other ancillary buildings from the vicus have been reconstructed and are open to the public.

• Manchester Central

  phone: +44 161 834-2700
  address: Windmill Street
  Manchester Central (formerly "G-MEX") was once Manchester Central railway station and it carries the air of many of the grand stations in London with its enormous arched steel frame and giant railway clock. These days it is home to Manchester's largest exhibitions and fairs. Attached is the much newer and thoroughly unimpressive International Conference Centre.

• Bridgewater Hall

  phone: +44 161 950-0000
  address: Lower Mosley Street
  Manchester's main classical music venue is a stunning musically-inspired building dating from 1996. It is home to the world-famous Hallé orchestra and boasts an enormous 5500-pipe organ across the whole of one wall. The building is also home to a cafe and restaurant.

• The Merchant's Bridge

  address: near Catalan Square
  Look up and marvel at the massive Victorian structure which carries the metrolink trams and trains over the canals.

• Sit back and relax with a cool pint at one of the many pubs in Castlefield.

• AMC Great Northern

  address: 253 Deansgate, Unit 2 The Great Northern, M3 4EN
  16 screen cinema multiplex. Shows the usual Hollywood movies.

• Dukes 92Famous for its huge cheese and pate boards. Plus, they serve a selection of pizzas late into the night.

• Alberts ShedRecently built restaurant which offers mid-priced modern Italian cuisine.

• ChoiceAn award winning restaurant housed within a converted red brick warehouse. It serves a menu of modern British food, along with a good selection of wines.

• Deansgate Hot Food BarFor breakfast, nothing beats this. Situated next to Deansgate station, it's a cheap and friendly authentic greasy spoon.

• Akbars

  phone: +44 161 834-8444
  address: 73-83 Liverpool Road, Castlefield, M3 4NQ
  Slightly upmarket Indian restaurant. Not cheap, but very good value.

• The Twisted Med

  phone: +44 161 839-7099
  address: Arch 8, Catalan Square, M3 4RU
  Greek, Spanish and Italian-influenced Mediterranean cuisine set in a beautiful high end location of the city centre.

• Dimitri's

  phone: +44 161 839-3319
  address: Campfield Arcade, Deansgate, M3 4FN
  A taverna with live acts as well as underground seating in a plush environment. Food and drink is competitively priced but well worth the money for the spectacular quality and authenticity of the food and dining experience as a whole.

• Britons Protection

  address: 50 Bridgewater St
  Behind the stage door entrance of the Bridgewater Hall. It is here where many a poor mug "took The King's Shilling" and found himself press-ganged into the army. Largest selection of whisky in the city.

• ChoiceAlthough primarily a restaurant, Choice has a good selection of wines and is an ideal choice if you want to escape the crowds.

• Dukes 92By far the most popular venue in Castlefield, Dukes 92 has an unusual, but successful, mix of antique furniture, modern deep leather sofas, and minimalist décor. Although relatively quiet in winter, it is hugely popular on hot summer days due to its large patio area overlooking lock number 92 of the Rochdale Canal. An outside bar has recently been installed in an attempt to reduce what can be a lengthy wait for refreshment.

• The Knott BarA quirky, modern take on the traditional boozer. Housed within a railway arch it is popular amongst real ale fans, but also serves a good selection of bottled and drought ciders and lagers. It has a great jukebox and a sheltered balcony overlooking Deansgate and Beetham Tower.

• The OxAway from the Castlefield basin on Liverpool Road you will find The Ox. Popular with the stars from Coronation Street due to its close proximity to the set, this lively gastro pub has the distinction of being the only pub in the country to be named after a potato - the Ox Noble.

• White LionA traditional boozer of little note, although it does feature on its walls an interesting aerial photograph of pre-developed Castlefield. Soundtrack of soul and funk with congenial staff set it apart from the others.

Stoosh

• The Comedy Store

Budget

• YHA Manchester

  address: Potato Wharf, Castlefield, M3 4NB
  Boasting views across the canal, this no frills hostel is centrally located with easy access to Castlefield and the city centre. It offers a game room, TV, cafe and restaurant, guest kitchen, laundry, internet access, and parking facilities.

• Holiday Inn Express Manchester

  address: Oxford Road Manchester
  City centre location. Modern, comfortable bedrooms.

Mid-range

• Castlefield Hotel

  address: Liverpool Rd
  Castlefield's hidden gem. Mid-priced three star hotel with the best leisure facilities in the city centre, including an 18m heated pool, sauna, gym and steam rooms. The hotel offers free WiFi and has parking available for an extra charge.

• The Ox

  address: Liverpool Road
  A friendly welcome and a small number of reasonably priced rooms.

Splurge

Suicine

• Hilton Manchester Deansgate

  address: Beetham Tower
  The recently opened five star Hilton housed within the Beetham Tower offers amazing views over Castlefield, Manchester and beyond.

• The Midland Hotel

  address: Peter St, Manchester, M60 2DS
  Manchester's only grand old hotel, The Midland is a red brick hotel off St Peter's Square in the heart of the city. Luxurious as it is impressive, this is the hotel in which Rolls met Royce.

• The Palace Hotel

  phone: +44 161 288-1111
  address: Oxford Street