The Northern Quarter, Manchester

On our last day in Manchester, we visited two areas of the city, the Northern Quarter and Ancoats, before taking the train back home.

The Northern Quarter was defined and named in the 1900s as part of the regeneration and getrification of Manchester. Prior to this, the area was a maze of disused warehouses and home to the Manchester 'rag trade', which in recent years, has all but moved. Other trade establishments included the Smithfield Wholesale Fish Market and the Fish and Poultry Market.

Today, it's the cool place to be and it's popular for its numerous independent bars and cafes, as well as its mix of music, record and clothes shops. Nightlife includes music venues but it's also well known for its bar scene. Public art is plentiful.

We started at Stephenson Square

which has been recently pedestrianised.

Certainly quite colourful

Lots of independent cafes around here

and a lot of Grade II listed buildings

Can't remember last time I saw so many record shops

We left the square and walked down Oldham Street because we wanted to visit Affleck's - I've decided to do a separate post on this

and so much street art

Street signs were updated as part of the regeneration of the area

We walked down Thomas Street

One of the bars

Christmas advert being painted over

We arrived at esea contemporary, formerly the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art and the Chinese Arts Centre, showcasing work that comes out of China and South East Asia. Unfortunately they were closed as they were in the process of preparing for a new exhibition

Love the gate.

We then had a look at what remained of the Wholesale Fish Market which is a car park now

There you go - love is in the hair

This Art Deco building has the most gorgeous stained glass windows. Unfortunately you can't see them in this photograph

Nordic Muse sells knick-knacks

Shop is a cafe

Love the frogs

We left the side streets and joined Great Ancoats Street which runs between the two districts.

Adding a modern extension to an old building sometimes really works.