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Salford’s top must-see attractions from RHS Bridgewater to The Lowry

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Today marks World Tourism Day, an annual celebration of travel, both domestic and international.

Salford is not short of iconic and breathtaking tourist attractions and attracts millions of visitors in its own right each year. The city has a vastly diverse landscape, from the countryside and open fields of Worsley to the bustle of industry and opportunity in Media City.

According to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, tourism contributed £9bn to the city region’s economy in 2019 sustaining more than 101,000 jobs.

With Salford offering some of the best tourism attractions in the region, it is worth knowing about the hottest spots to visit in 2022.

5. RHS Bridgewater – Worsley

Credit: RHS press offices

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s biggest gardening charity and aims to “enrich everyone’s life through plants and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.”

Formerly Worsley New Hall, RHS converted this 156-acre estate into one of the biggest gardening projects in Europe. Around £19 million was invested into this project by Salford City Council, making it the leading flagship of Salford’s impressive collection of stunning green spaces.

Go for a one-off visit or attend for one of Bridgewater’s many events. The ‘Festival of Flavours’ is a three-day event, from September 30 to the October 2, with food from all around the world, tips on how to grow the tastiest ingredients and live cooking demonstrations from popular chefs including Nisha Katona, Lerato Umah-Shaylor and Kathy Slack. Read more here.

 

4. Salford Museum and Art Gallery – Peel Park

Salford Museum and Art Gallery
cc-by-sa/2.0 – © David Dixon – geograph.org.uk/p/3889484

The building’s rich history dates back to 1790, when it was originally a mansion called ‘Lark Hill’. Following this, it opened to the public in 1850, when the first collections were put on display for the masses. The museum was valued in a 2021 report by ‘Marketing Manchester’ as the 16th most popular tourist attraction in Greater Manchester with 109,000 annual visits.

Located on the south side of Peel Park on the University of Salford campus, the museum is a detailed and ever-changing archive of local history and emblematic exhibits.

Visit on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday and experience a dramatic recreation of a typical northern Victorian street honouring the history of the 1700s Lark Hill mansion house. Bring your kids or a partner for a fulfilling experience for all ages, whether history obsessed or just curious. Read more here.

3. Ordsall Hall – Ordsall

Image Featuring Ordsall Hall

An authentic Tudor manor house just a stone’s throw from the modern architecture of Salford Quays, Ordsall Hall offers a range of experiences for Salford residents and international punters alike.

Stunning gardens showcase popular gardening elements through time while the 820-year-old building is the oldest building in Salford, formerly home to the notorious Radclyffe family for 300 years.

If that is not enough, the hall is used as a wedding venue and for school visits. This summer, an open-air theatre programme was launched, featuring some of the most popular shows in the area. Read more here.

2. Media City UK – The Quays 

Image credit – Neil Howard

One of the jewels in Salford’s crown and one of the top destinations in Greater Manchester, Media City offers a range of activities and sights including the extremely popular BBC studios tour. The 200-acre site is also home to the ITV studios and the Coronation Street studio. It is also in close proximity to Manchester United’s ground Old Trafford, which lies just across the water in Stretford.

After the first-phase was completed in 2010, just 12 years ago, Media City ignited a proverbial tourist spending boom with ‘The Business Desk’ reporting a £20m tourist spending increase in 2011. This figure has increased every year since. The 2021 ‘Marketing Manchester’ report ranked the BBC studio tour as the 23rd most popular tourist attraction in Greater Manchester with 29,000 annual visits, the seventh most popular paid attraction in the region. Read more here.

From October 21, Media City will be home to a one-of-a-kind tribute exhibition to the Salford-born street artist, Banksy.

1. The Lowry – The Quays  

The Lowry Building. (Credit: Eden Latimer)

The number one ranked most popular tourist attraction in Greater Manchester in the ‘Marketing Manchester’ report with 863,000 annual visits. The Lowry is home to three theatres seating a total audience of 2,300.

You can watch a range of different plays, exhibitions, musicals and shows from ‘The Tiger who came to Tea’ for the kids to the Laurence Stephen Lowry art exhibit which features over 400 pieces of original work. You can read more here.

The theatre is also located opposite the Lowry shopping centre which holds numerous food and shopping outlets which will keep you busy for a full day out.

Find exact locations for all attractions mentioned here:

 

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