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City in Greater Manchester, England
Photo: Parrot of Doom, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Salford is a city in Greater Manchester in northwest England, with a population of 130,000 in 2021. It's separated from the City of Manchester by a loop of the River Irwell. Its biggest attraction is the Quays, but this area is described on a separate page.
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Until 1829 the Roman Catholics in England were forbidden to build churches, and faced many other restrictions, so the city's large Irish population was ill-served. The RC Cathedral of St John the Evangelist was completed in 1848 in neo-Gothic but not consecrated until the builders were finally paid in 1890. It's not "oriented"ː "west" where you enter is actually south. It's a light, airy space under a soaring groined vault ceiling.
Rotating exhibitions, permanent collection includes a mock-up Victorian street. Pay & display car parking.
In a mock-Tudorbethan building that used to be a nurses' home, this archive and resource documents the seldom-told lives of the cities' working classes, including the Suffragette movement which had its northern powerbase here.
Timber-framed 16th-century mansion with 17th-century brick wings added, and much altered in the 18th century. There's a hoaky legend that Guy Fawkes planned the gunpowder plot here then escaped through a hidden tunnel.
Extensive garden opened in 2021 within the grounds of the former Worsley New Hall. Discounts for car free visitors.
This colliery was a latecomer, extracting the coal beneath Chat Moss from 1912 to 1970. It became a museum, with its impressive tall headgear and winding engine, and a collection of colliery locomotives.
"The Ammies" play soccer in League Two, the fourth tier. Their Moor Lane stadium (capacity 5100, and sponsored as "Peninsula Stadium") is two miles north of the centre, take the bus up Bury New Road. But if you came here to make a point of not watching Man United you're in the wrong place, as the club is owned by United's renowned "Class of 92" players.
formerly City or AJ Bell Stadium
This 20,000 capacity stadium is at junction 11 of M60, four miles west of the centre. Salford Red Devils were relegated in 2025 so they play rugby league (13-a-side) in the Championship, the second tier, while the women's team play here in their top tier. The RL playing season is Feb-Sep. Sale Sharks play rugby union (15-a-side) in the Premiership, England's top tier, with a season Sep-April. In 2025 the stadium hosted games in the Women's Rugby Union World Cup.
Budget hotel, generally value for money but ask to see the room first: some are in good condition, others are dingy. Great location, quarter-mile walk to Castlefield, downside is street noise.
Budget hotel, free parking.
Great quality for what you're paying: room comfort and cleanliness, service, food and location all score well.
Good value budget hotel. Breakfast £10 pp.
Decent mid-range hotel, part of Accor chain, rooms and decor are kinda tired but good location for motorists. John Gilbert pub & grill is next door.
Slick business hotel in a great location, but £18 pp for breakfast? Don't abbreviate the name to just "The Lowry", as that refers to the Lowry Gallery two miles away.
By train
Trains from towns across northern England stop at Salford Central, and many also stop at Salford Crescent, on their way to Manchester Victoria.
By tram
Metrolink trams (orange and blue lines) take 20 min from Manchester Piccadilly via St Peters Square, Deansgate and Cornbrook to Salford Quays and Media City, with the blue line continuing to Eccles.
By bus
National Express Bus NX060 runs hourly from Liverpool to Salford (55 min), continuing via central Manchester to Leeds (another 90 min).
By car
Find your way onto M60, Manchester's orbital motorway, and exit at Jct 12 onto M602 the spur motorway into Salford.
Walk is generally the best option, though it's a couple of miles between central Salford and the Quays. Bus services have been cut back in favour of the tram, so areas that aren't on a tram route are cut adrift.
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Manchester, Greater Manchester · International · MAN
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