Salford Quays

For many years Salford laid dormant, a suburb in decline, an urban wasteland with its glory days behind it and the doldrums of inner city poverty kicking at its door. And sadly, while plenty of money has gone into developing the Quays, there are still streets of boarded up houses and no-go areas that have yet to benefit from it.

The sad twist is that if it weren’t for Salford, Manchester would never have been the success it was. When the Manchester Ship Canal opened in 1894, giving the city access to the sea and a wealth of trade, the Salford Quays was at its heart. Facing a steady decline the docks finally closed in the early 1980s.

But in the last decade money has poured in and the area has been completely revamped. Two of Manchester's finest attractions (and most striking buildings) now stand on the water - the Lowry and the Imperial War Museum North. As well as theatres and galleries, there is the Centenary Walkway, a pleasant stroll and there are also cafes, bars when you've had enough of the sites.