12 min readGreater Manchester’s iconic tram network commenced operation on April 6 1992 as a single line running from Bury to Victoria Station. Fast forward 25 year and there are now 93 stations across seven lines. That’s a lot of Greater Manchester to explore, so to mark the occasion we’ve compiled a list of 25 things to do and see outside of the city centre that you can travel to using the network.
Altrincham
A solid day out for visitors and residents alike, not only does Altrincham boast one of the UK’s most revered markets (Observer Food Monthly Awards ‘Best Market’ 2015 and runner-up 2016), it’s also home to fantastic restaurants such as Sugo Pasta Kitchen, Porta and Bistrot Pierre. After lunch you can a hire bike from the station and easily cycle to the wonderful Dunham Massey or even Tatton Park if you’re up for more of a challenge.
Ashton-under-Lyne
Offering award-winning Indian food served up without a fuss, the excellent Lily’s Vegetarian Cuisine is reason enough to jump on the tram to Ashton. It’s a great place to fuel up before heading over to Portland Basin for beautiful canalside walks that reveal a glimpse back in time to industrial-era Greater Manchester. A stop at Central Art Gallery on the way to the Basin is highly recommended too.
Burton Road
Foodies rejoice! We think the Burton Road Metrolink stop offers access to what might just be the highest concentration of quality, independent restaurants, bars and delis in Greater Manchester. In no particular order this includes: Greens, Lime Tree, Volta, Cocoa Cabana, Taste of Honey, Rose Garden, Thyme Out, Proove Pizza , Folk, Mary & Archie and Saison. And that’s just scratching the surface…
Bury
There’s so much to love about Bury. It’s world-famous market, black pudding and the fantastic Fusilier Museum for starters. However, our favourite thing about Bury is the East Lancashire Railway – arguably one of the best days out in Greater Manchester. Vintage steam trains, quaint villages and great pubs; what’s not to like! Look out for Rail Ale Trail tours of the best pubs and breweries on the line or special themed days such as the 1940s Weekend or Day Out with Thomas. When the day is done, stop in at The Clarence for fancy pub food and beer brewed in the onsite brewery then grab a bottle from the excellent Kwoff wine shop before hopping back on the Metrolink to town.
Clayton Hall
Grade II listed Clayton Hall is the very definition of a hidden gem. Situated within Clayton Park it is surrounded by a moat and accessed by a listed stone bridge. The hall was built in the 15th Century on a site of a 12th Century house built for the Clayton family and it was later owned by Sir Humphrey Chetham founder of Chethams School and Library who died at the hall in 1653. The hall has various open days listed on its website.
Chorlton
There’s a big independent foodie scene in Chorlton, centred on the Unicorn organic wholefood grocery and workers’ cooperative and the Barbakan Deli as well as in restaurants including Yakisoba, The Lead Station and The Parlour. One-off bars and pubs worth checking out include Electrik, Oddest and the Horse & Jockey – the latter complete with its own micro-brewery and deli. Like Didsbury (below), Chorlton also offers up easy escapes into nature in the form of Chorlton Water Park and Chorlton Ees Nature Reserve with its woodland and meadow trails.
Cornbrook
We’ll openly admit that there doesn’t appear to be much of interest at Cornbrook; that’s until you realise that it’s the closest stop to visit the excellent Insitu, a treasure trove of salvaged fittings and reclaimed period features. Operated out of an old pub and also selling antiques, it’s a well-loved hidden gem for anyone working on a special project or those simply interested in browsing items that reveal Manchester’s rich variety of architectural styles.
Didsbury Village
The delights of Didsbury Village are well documented: Hispi bistro; The Cheese Hamlet; EJ Morten book shop on cobbled Warburton Street to name just a few highlights. A couple of minutes from the heart of Didsbury is the delightful Fletcher Moss botanical gardens where visitors can sign up for foraging walks, play tennis or just enjoy the pretty little café. Don’t miss the stunning rock garden with waterfalls and ponds surrounded by ferns, giant rhubarb and ornamental trees and shrubs including palms, redwoods and cypresses. Fletcher Moss also opens up into Stenner Woods for walks along the meandering River Mersey.
Droyslden
A short walk from the tram stop is Fairfield Moravian settlement; a unique model village built by the Moravian Church in 1785. The late Georgian architecture, simple yet elegant, is the work of the renowned architect Benjamin Henry la Trobe, who also worked on the Capitol building in Washington DC, USA. The settlement is a living community retaining all its original charm, symmetry and tranquillity.
Etihad Campus
Built to host the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the former City of Manchester Stadium is now home to Manchester City Football Club and has been directly connected to the city by Metrolink since East Manchester line to Ashton-under-Lyne was completed in 2013. Besides attending a match, fans can visit the Club to take part in the excellent stadium tours which include a chance to take a look in the player dressing room and try your hand at a hosting a post-match press conference.
Exchange Quay
Two minutes from Exchange Quay is Ordsall Hall, Salford's Grade I listed Tudor manor house which dates back more than 750 years. Since then, it has been home to medieval gentry, Tudor nobility, Catholics loyal to the crown, butchers, farmers, an Earl, an artist, priests, scout troops, mill workers, cows and several ghosts! Best known perhaps for the myth that Guy Fawkes’ Gunpowder Plot was planned at the hall, it now houses regularly changing contemporary exhibitions and excellent history events and activities.
Heaton Park
An obvious go-to for sunny days, Manchester’s largest outdoor space (600 acres), Heaton Park, has a boating lake, farm centre, apiary, woodlands, observatory, vintage trams and hosts regular events, from concerts to firework displays. Heaton Park Metrolink stop provides direct access to the west side of the park.
MediaCityUK
Alighting the tram at MediaCityUK for the first time is a pretty special experience. Surrounded by the glass and steel of the BBC’s sprawling complex and images of the countless TV programmes made at the site, iconic architecture jumps out in all directions across the water: the Lowry art centre; Imperial War Museum North; and a futuristic, gold-plated pod that will open as The Alchemist bar and restaurant in summer 2017. Tours of the BBC itself are on offer most days and there are tonnes of water-based activities that can be undertaken from Salford Watersports Centre.
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MediaCityUKNew Islington
We’re cheating a bit by including New Islington in a list that is supposed to be focused on areas outside of the city centre, but as the jumping off point for some of Manchester’s most interesting neighbourhoods we thought it well worth including. Our top pick at New Islington is Hope Mill Theatre, one of Manchester’s most exciting new theatre spaces situated in a Grade II listed former cotton mill. Equidistant from the stop, but in the opposite direction, is the infamous Pollen Bakery where hundreds of people queue for all manner of breads and pastries. Of course, New Islington is also the perfect starting point for exploring the UK’s hippest neighbourhood, Ancoats, which can be found to the west of the stop.
Newhey
Ellenroad Mill was constructed in the late 1880’s and powered by two of the world's largest working steam mill engines. After a large fire in 1916 the mill was rebuilt and survived until 1985 when it was demolished, however the engines house and 220-foot high chimney were saved and they now form the main draw of Ellenroad Engine House, open every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday with ‘steaming days’ on the first Sunday of every month.
Old Trafford
Alighting the tram at Old Trafford Metrolink stadium may confuse some people. The doors will open to reveal an iconic and international revered stadium, but not the one most people will expect. This is the ‘Other Old Trafford’, home to Lancashire Country Cricket Club and a major events venue. The Old Trafford that most people might think of is a short walk away, offering tours throughout the day seven days a week (except match days and some pre-match days). It’s also where fans will find the Manchester United Megastore which is, for many, a tourist attraction in itself, and Hotel Football – a great place to stop for food and drink.
Oldham Central
At time of writing the fantastic Gallery Oldham had been nominated for the VisitEngland award for ‘Family Friendly Small Attraction of the Year’ and it’s easy to see why when you look at the programme of activities aimed at little ones as well as more serious exhibitions. Down the road, the 19th century Oldham Coliseum theatre is equally diverse in its programming and is set for an ambitious £25 million redesign in the coming years. Whilst in town make some time to check out the newly restored Grade-II listed Old Town Hall, now given a new lease of life as a leisure hub.
Prestwich
An area with a strong identity focused on its villagey high street and a large Jewish population that’s part of a compelling cultural mix, Prestwich offers good eating and drinking and music fans will enjoy browsing at Endless Music, north Manchester's only surviving vinyl record store. The area is bounded to the east by Heaton Park and to the west there’s the vast Prestwich Forest Park, which incorporates Philips Park Local Nature Reserve, Prestwich Clough, Mere Clough, Waterdale Meadow and Drinkwater Park. Amidst the woodlands, reservoirs and grasslands of this wildlife oasis you can still make out remnants of the area's industrial past as highlighted by the Irwell Sculpture Trail, Irwell Valley Way and National Cycle Route 6.
Queens Road
Telling the story of public road transport in Greater Manchester from its beginnings in 1824 to the present day, the Museum of Transport – based in one of Greater Manchester’s earliest bus garages and adjoining Manchester’s first electric tram depot – is a must-visit for anyone who wants to know more about the history and heritage of what is now Transport for Greater Manchester. The Irish World Heritage Centre is also located near this stop.
Rochdale Town Centre
Make a beeline for the Rochdale Pioneers Museum, birthplace of the co-operative movement then pop into the awarding-winning The Baum pub next door. Or make your way to the excellent Touchstones Museum and Art Gallery passing what is arguably the UK’s most splendid civic building, Rochdale Town Hall. Standing proudly in front of the hall is a newly erected statue of local hero Gracie Fields, the starting point for a new tourist trail featuring eight purple plaques at key sites associated with the actress and singer.
Rochdale Railway Station
The unusual Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum makes an interesting reason to jump of at Rochdale Railway Station. The museum offers visitors the opportunity to explore the fascinating history of firefighting within Greater Manchester. It includes many varied exhibits, including fire appliances in period settings, such as a Victorian street, fire station and 1940 Blitz scene. The museum is open every Friday and on the first Sunday of each month.
Sale
Situated on the banks of the Bridgewater Canal, there are lots of great reasons to visit Sale. There’s the wonderful Waterside Arts Centre which offers an eclectic and varied programme of theatre, exhibitions and participatory workshops; great pubs such as Kings Ransom; restaurants such as Mustard; indy wine shop Cork of the North; and the lovely, little-known Walkden Gardens. A short walk away is Sale Water Park – which also has its own Metrolink stop – for those who like to get out on the water.
Velopark
Home of British cycling, the National Cycling Centre is located at this stop. The so-called ‘medal factory’ for our great Olympian cyclists offers taster sessions where budding Jason Kenny’s and Laura Trott’s can get on the track and see what it’s like to ride around a banked velodrome. Also within the vicinity is the BMX Arena and spaces for playing a number of other sports including Badminton, Basketball and Futsal. Afterwards we recommend popping over to Tony’s Stadium Chippy – regularly voted as one of the best fish and chip shops in the North West.
Whitefield
Slattery is an award winning confectioners and chocolatiers situated in Whitefield. This family company has almost 200 years combined knowledge and expertise in creating hand-made chocolates, tortes, tarts, pastries, and intricate wedding cakes. Located in an imposing, three storey Victorian building which includes a wedding cake showroom and a shop where you can watch the chocolatiers and cake decorators at work, creating the latest bespoke creation.
Wythenshawe Park
This beautiful park is set in 109 hectares of open parkland in South Manchester, with historic and ornamental woodlands, herbaceous borders, formal bedding, open grassland and beautiful wildflower meadows. Wythenshawe Park is steeped in history and there are three Grade II Listed Buildings located within the park: North Lodge, the Statue of Oliver Cromwell and Wythenshawe Hall.
