Often living in the shadows of its big sister Manchester, Salford is a city all of its own. Full of joy, wonderful people and a friendly spirit, Salford is often cited for its slightly more affordable living and close proximity to all Manchester has to offer, but the home of John Cooper Clarke, Jason Manford and Joy Division is a treasure trove in and of itself.
With countless bars, pubs and cafes, shops, parks and events, Salfordians are proud of their roots and the city’s history as an industrial hub alongside Manchester, as well as its structures dating back to 1177, and now becoming the media and entertainment epicentre of the North West. With Salford Central train station recently reopening to the public after a careful refurbishment, the gateway to Manchester from the North West is back up and running, but there’s much to explore if you turn left onto Chapel Street rather than going through the motions up Bridge Street to town.
1. Explore Peel Park
Covering a huge expanse of Salford’s famous Crescent, Peel Park was opened in 1846 and was named after Prime Minister Robert Peel, who particularly made a huge impact on the people of Salford through his reforms, which limited the hours that women and children could work in factories. This was in addition to founding the police force and repealing the Corn Laws – ensuring cheap bread for the population.
Peel Park was the first public park in the United Kingdom funded entirely by the people’s subscription. In 1850, Salford opened the Royal Museum and Library, the country’s first free public lending library, now known as the Salford Museum and Art Gallery.
Nowadays, Peel Park forms the surrounds of the University of Salford, offering lovely places to stroll, watching the wildlife and flora the park boasts, as well as a playground, the Salford Tree Trail, and Parkrun events. Peel Park is a wonderful free activity that’ll allow you to explore Salford’s history and have a great day out, supplemented by the surrounding museum and gallery.
📍 Peel Park, The Crescent, Salford, M5 4WU.
2. Sit back and relax at one of Salford’s many beer gardens
Since a recent study showed that Salford is the UK’s beer garden capital, we thought it best to mention some of Salford’s sought-after terraces and beer gardens to soak up the rays and sup on the best bevs around. Soak up the vibes at the newly reopened beer garden at The Black Friar, full of greenery creating an oasis in the city, visit Salford-born brewery and taproom Seven Bro7hers, offering boardgames and shuffleboard indoors if the weather isn’t agreeing with you, or feel like a true Salfordian with a pint at the Old Pint Pot, wandering down to the riverside beer garden out of sight of the hustle and bustle of Chapel Street.
Salford also boasts the very European-feeling Bexley Square, boasting pubs, bars and restaurants, including The New Oxford, a historic pub with the option of outdoor seating, feeling more like an afternoon in Barcelona. Here you can get a proper pint and get immersed in the sport of the day if you fancy, looking out on the tree-lined square and the horse statue that was installed in 2021 – the sculpture recognises Salford as the home to England’s first public library, first public park, and first horse drawn bus service – amongst many other firsts.
Bexley Square was also the site of a major confrontation on October 1 1931. A protest march organized by the Salford Branch of the National Unemployed Workers Movement turned to violent chaos when the estimated 10,000 marchers were confronted by police on foot and on horses in the square. The incident is commemorated by a plaque on the front of the town hall, further cementing the city as a testament to its historically working class population.
3. Enjoy a taste of España at Porta Tapas
Sticking with the theme of Bexley Square, Porta Tapas is another jewel in the crown of Salford that has really come into its own. Offering an array of casual, authentic tapas, Porta has stolen the heart of many a Salfordian, with walk-ins only and affordable prices that entice locals most nights of the week. Enjoy the likes of fried squid Andalucian style with alioli, seared pork with mojo verde, classic patatas bravas and so much more in the lovely restaurant, or out on the square bringing continental vibes.
📍 Porta Tapas, 216 Chapel Street, Salford, M3 6BY.
4. Visit The Kings Arms pub
From the outside, The Kings Arms looks like nothing special, but wander inside and you’ll find a diamond in the rough. The huge pub is home to a resident friendly cat, Charlie, who is likely to greet you on your way in, with an equally friendly bunch of staff ready to serve you. The Salford pub not only has games you could play with mates for hours, but encourages gameplay as much as possible, so you can get stuck into a game of chess, snakes and ladders or a card game once you’re all set up. There’s also comedy, music and events such as ‘paint and sip‘ – although as a rule the pub doesn’t show sport, which we think is refreshing.
The Kings Arms offers an array of your usual tipples, as well as an impressive beer garden out back, but most impressive of all, the pub was featured in Manchester-based cult favourite TV show Fresh Meat between 2011 and 2016, and is owned by none other than Manchester legend Paul Heaton, singer in The Beautiful South and The Housemartins. See if you can spot it the next time you binge Fresh Meat!
📍 The Kings Arms, 11 Bloom St, Salford, M3 6AN.
5. Get involved in Salford’s bustling café culture
Adding to Salford’s almost European transformation, the café culture in the city has taken off over the past few years. Whether you visit Procaffeinated, 92 Degrees or Inner West for your morning coffee jolt and loaf of bread for your lunch, you’ll leave feeling rejuvenated and filled with joy from the friendliness of locals, with the promise to return in the near future.
Experience the beer garden vibes without the need to bring in alcohol, enjoying the rays and the fact you’re only down the road from home. Plus, one of Salford’s many coffee shops makes the perfect start or end to a lovely walk, especially 92 Degrees which is right on the canal at Middlewood Locks.
6. Immerse yourself in MediaCityUK
Of course, primarily MediaCityUK is the media hub of the north, with BBC, ITV and Dock10 studios being housed there, as well as radio studios and entertainment offices occupying the space. Filming of programmes such as The Voice UK and Countdown are available to watch usually free of charge, with registration required, as well as tours of the studios and offices at certain times of the year.
There is so much more to do in the surrounding area too, with We Invented The Weekend festival happening in the summer, Box on the Docks events and the new Central Bay food hall coming this year. There is also of course the wonderful Salford Quays to explore, with watersports galore and lovely walks to enjoy, as well as the Lowry theatre showing the best live performances and the Lowry gallery, exhibiting work from the Salford-born artist himself, alongside many other wonderful exhibitions.
7. Get some fresh air with a Salford canal walk
Salford is well and truly packed with lovely flora and fauna, and one of the best areas for taking it all in is by the canal in Worsley. Known for its wonderful Tudor-style houses on the banks of the Bridgewater Canal, Worsley provides ample opportunity for getting back to nature, whether it’s a walk, a bike ride or even a canal boat ride along the water, keeping you within Salford but out of the city. This part of the canal stretches one way up to Leigh, and the other right to Runcorn, via the famous Castlefield Basin in Manchester, so either way you’ll be seeing nature’s best bits as well as the industrial past of the North West.
8. Get green fingered at RHS Garden Bridgewater
If that wasn’t enough of Worsley, the village also boasts the beautiful RHS Garden Bridgewater, the fifth RHS garden and one of the largest gardening projects undertaken in Europe in recent years. Once visited by Queen Victoria and King Edward VII, Worsley New Hall survived a fire and two World Wars before it was demolished in the 1940s. Today RHS Garden Bridgewater embraces the site’s heritage while also giving it a future – in reviving the gardens of the historic 154 acre Worsley New Hall estate to create RHS Garden Bridgewater, RHS has created a world-class garden that enriches Salford’s communities and their environment.
With a walled garden, Paradise garden, Chinese Streamside garden and more, RHS Garden Bridgewater has something for everyone, and truly makes for a wonderful day out. You can find booking information here.
📍 RHS Garden Bridgewater, Occupation Rd, Worsley, Manchester, M28 2LJ.
9. Catch a game of rugby at AJ Bell Stadium
Whether you’re a sports fan or not, Salford wouldn’t be complete without a game of rugby. Both rugby league team Salford Red Devils and rugby union Sale Sharks play at the AJ Bell Stadium in Eccles, and the sport is deep-rooted into the culture of the city. Tickets will usually only set you back around £20 – £40 depending on the team and seat allocation, but deals can be done for duos and groups if you want to take a mate. Even if you aren’t a die-hard fan, it’s a great day out for the family and a real, authentic Salfordian experience.
📍 AJ Bell Stadium, 1 Stadium Way, Eccles, Manchester, M30 7EY.
10. Go ghost hunting at Ordsall Hall
The oldest building in Salford, throughout history Ordsall Hall has been put to many uses – a family home, working men’s club and church hall. The most important period of its life, though, is undoubtedly as the family seat of the Radclyffe family who resided there for over 300 of those years. Today, it is a welcoming and friendly historic house telling the story of the Hall and some of the people who made it their home.
Explore the magnificent Great Hall and a range of recreated rooms, meet one of the historic residents of the hall, stroll around the manicured gardens, follow the trail around the hall, have a go at a craft activity, or enjoy one of the fantastic events they host each year and experience over 820 years of history. Oh and don’t forget to look out for the two resident ghosts…
With free entry and a tempting café, it’s the perfect place for the whole family to take a step back in time for day out to remember. Ordsall Hall is open 10am – 4pm Monday – Thursday, and 11:30am – 4pm on Sundays (closed on Fridays, Saturdays and bank holidays).
📍 Ordsall Hall, 322 Ordsall Ln, Salford, M5 3AN.
11. Visit Salford Lads Club, the iconic backdrop to THAT photo of The Smiths
We all know the photo, Morrissey and the boys stood casually in front of the door of Salford Lads Club, looking down broodingly into the camera. But what’s the story behind this otherwise pretty average looking Salford building? Now Salford Lads and Girls Club, the red brick xxx provides a wide range of activities for local young people and the community – as it has for 120 years.
Having just celebrated its 120 year birthday, the club is proud to house The Smiths Room, a space where fans can leave pictures or messages to mark their visit. In 2004, as part of the club’s Heritage Lottery Fund ‘From Baden Powell To Morrissey’ project, project manager Leslie Holmes created The Smiths Room and included the first pictures and post it notes from fans. Salford Lads Club is also on Coronation Street, yes, the real one, so you can imagine the kind of publicity that affords the club, too. Everyone is welcome to visit, but do check opening times here.
📍 Salford Lads and Girls Club, Coronation Street, Salford M5 3SA.