Must See Sights and Landmarks in Clayton-le-Woods Area

"Although there has been a parish church building on this site since the late Anglo Saxon or Early Norman period, the cathedral we see today looks nothing like the building that would have stood there all those years ago. The cathedral has been modified over the years after structural damage caused by the Civil War, damage caused by a German bomb during the Manchester Blitz in the second World War and further damage caused by the IRA bomb of 1996. In the thirteenth century a stone parish church was constructed in the parish that was to become Manchester, serving people in a 60 mile radius."

"Dating back to 1215, Manchester Cathedral offers a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the city. The official name is actually “The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George” and is one amazing sight that needs to be seen in the city. It’s well worth a wander around to see the gorgeous architecture, especially as it has been so well preserved."

"Manchester Cathedral is located on Victoria Street, in between the National Museum of Football and Victoria Station. Although the origins of the cathedral are not clear, the construction is believed to have started around 700 AD. At the time though, it was just a church."

"Ordsall Hall is a large former manor house in the historic parish of Ordsall, Lancashire, England, now part of the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester. Ordsall Hall is situated 1 km east of Lowry Outlet Shopping. Photo: Nev1, CC BY-SA 3.0."

"Ordsall Hall, 322 Ordsall Lane, Salford, Greater Manchester, M5 3AN - Visit now. A beautifully preserved Tudor mansion and museum with resident ghost and expansive lawns."

"Created by artist Gordon Young, and designed in collaboration with Why Not Associates, the Comedy Carpet is a celebration of comedy on an extraordinary scale. Referring to the work of more than 1,000 comedians and comedy writers, the carpet gives visual form to jokes, songs and catchphrases dating from the early days of variety to the present. Sited in front of Blackpool Tower, the 2,200m2 work of art contains over 160,000 granite letters embedded into concrete."

"Before he founded the Scout Movement, Robert Baden-Powell set up the Salford Lads’ Club in Ordsall in 1903. The idea behind clubs like these was to keep young boys in deprived areas out of trouble, and channel their energy into constructive pursuits and sport. The list of former members here is illustrious and includes the actor Albert Finney, the Busby Babe Eddie Colman and guitarist Graham Nash of the Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash."

"You may recognise The Salford Lads’ Club from the famous cover of The Smiths’ hugely popular 1986 album The Queen is Dead, with a bouffant-haired Morrissey and co stood outside its doors. Now you’re in Manchester, you’d be silly not to venture out to this same spot for a Smiths selfie with your fellow travellers. A popular venue for Manc-music fans; head inside to learn more about the band and to buy exclusive merchandise."

"Located a 20 minute walk away from the Peel Park campus, Salford Lads' Club was established in 1903 as a purpose built club for boys. The club was famously featured on the cover for the The Smiths album 'The Queen is Dead'."

"Trafford Town Hall stands in a large site at the junction of Talbot Road and Warwick Road, directly opposite the Old Trafford Cricket Ground. Work on the building, designed by architects Bradshaw Gass & Hope of Bolton, began on 21 August 1931.[84]. The town hall officially came into use as Stretford Town Hall on the granting of Stretford's charter, on 16 September 1933."

"The oldest and longest of Blackpool’s three piers, the North Pier is from 1863 and juts out for half a kilometre. It is the only pier of the three to have English Heritage listed status, and like its neighbours to the south the North Pier has survived storms, fires and crashes with boats over the last 160 years. The pier was intended to have a genteel ambience, charging visitors for entry until the 2000s and boasting some beautiful Victorian details like a wrought iron canopy in the Carousel bar at the pier-head."

"North Pier is the oldest and longest of Blackpool’s three World famous piers offers a mix of traditional family fun, top live entertainment and the best venue for parties!. The success of Blackpool’s first pier, North Pier prompted the formation of the South Pier now known as Central Pier, Opened on 30 May 1868, today it is jam-packed with rides, stalls, entertainment and of course the Big Wheel."

"The oldest and longest of Blackpool’s three piers, North Pier was completed in 1863 to the designs of Eugenius Birch. Cast iron screw piles and columns support iron girders and a 1,070ft long wooden deck jutting out into the Irish Sea. Attractions include bars, theatre, carousel and shops."

"Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, 84 Plymouth Grove, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M13 9LW - Visit now. Elizabeth Gaskell’s House has been lovingly restored; you can now sit at her desk, see where Charlotte Brontë hid behind the curtains, and have tea in the downstairs café."

"Facilities are children’s play area, a visitors centre with toilets, a pond, a conservation area with a dipping platform, angling. Once the ash tip for east Manchester’s power station, it was greened up in the 1980s and since recent investment, is a key green space within the Medlock River Valley. Clayton Vale is a Local Nature Reserve and is a great place for families to enjoy woodland and riverside walks, cycling, picnicking, or pond dipping."

"Boasting one of the largest outdoor terrace areas in Manchester for outdoor drinking, The Shambles denotes the area bordered by historic medieval pubs The Old Wellington and Sinclair’s Oyster Bar. The black and white timber pubs were famously moved here and rebuilt brick-by-brick in 1999 next to Manchester Cathedral as part of the redevelopment of the city centre. The pubs are historic landmarks beloved of tourists to the city and are particularly busy on match days."

"Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve is a place brimming in an abundance of the many wildlife that you can find in this area. A nature reserve consisted of wetlands and tillable land, this is certainly the best place to be closer to nature with the thriving population of different birds and water voles. From spot marsh harriers, barn owls, sparrowhawks and peregrine falcons, as well as, lapwings, redshank, dunlin and oystercatchers you would certainly feel amazed exploring the place and the wildlife known in the area."

"Nestling alongside the River Alt, Lunt Village is home to this peaceful haven of wildlife and tranquility. You’ll find an assortment of inhabitants at this bird-watching site; from water birds to barn owls, geese and kestrels, as you make your way around signposted paths at this wonderful wetland nature reserve. Further details here"

"A post shared by Miš Lov (@mish_lov) on Jul 16, 2018 at 8:07am PDT. Lunt Meadows is a little-explored, quiet wetland reserve perfect for kids, walkers, and twitchers. There’s even a chance to explore an active archegonial site, woodlands, and go for a stroll along the banks of the River Alt."

"If you want to get away from the loud entertainment, this local nature reserve is the perfect place for you. The Marton Mere Local Nature Reserve is a big lake which is surrounded by grasslands, scrubs, and pockets of woodland. It is the best place to wine down and be engulfed in the sights and sounds of nature."

"Lurking as it does behind Deansgate Station, it’s easy to miss this quirky platform for emerging artists but it's worth seeking out. The primary emphasis at Castlefield Gallery is niche projects that have international relevance, exploring topics such as the role of art in society through collaborations with local organisations like Madlab. A registered charity, it also has a members’ scheme."

"Castlefield Gallery established by artists in 1984, nestled in the heart of Manchester’s Knott Mill area. It is Manchester’s first public contemporary visual art gallery dedicated to the advancement of contemporary visual art and artists. They are focused on developing visual artists’ practices and careers whilst creating opportunities for the public to engage with the art of their time."

"Located in Manchester’s city centre, Castlefield Gallery is an art gallery and agency showcasing new and contemporary fine art while also running a scheme for career development for contemporary artists."