MediaCityUK, BBC Studios, Salford Quays, Imperial War Museum North, Trafford
Population: 246 000 (Salford town 73 000)
Part of Greater Manchester
Tallest building: North Tower (80m, 25 floors, built 1966)
Year visited: 2017
Salford is a suburb of Manchester and midsized city with 246 000 inhabitants. It borders central Manchester just West of River Irwell. Here you find the MediaCityUK with modern highrises, Salford Quays (a nice port), the futuristic Imperial War Museum by Daniel Liebeskind (in Trafford opposite) and the BBC studios, where 2300 BBC staff are employed. There are lots of dull modernist apartment highrises from 1950s-70s in Salford. It has an own central station. The Cathedral of St John the Evangelist and the University of Salford with its many buildings are also within the borders.
MediaCityUK is a recently developed area with modern highrises, facing the Salford Quays of Manchester Ship Canal. It was developed by Peel Media, the first phase one was completed in 2013. Here you find the BBC Studios, parts of the University of Salford, Granada Studios apartment blocks and hotels. The architecture is significant. The Lowry is an art gallery building at Pier 8, facing the water with its futuristic round shapes. The Quay House is the building where BBC broadcast several important programs, such as BBC Breakfast. At BBC:s the Studios on Broadway, you find some of Europe's largest studios. In the Bridge House Blue Peter and other programs are broadcasted. The ITV Granada Studios, where the popular Coronation Street show is created, was moved here from central Manchester in 2013 (the old building will host the new "the Factory" venue). A futuristic swing footbridge designed by Wilkinson Eyre (probably inspired by Calatrava), and the lift bridge Millennium Bridge (by Carlos Fernandez Casado), lead to the other side of the water, the suburb of Trafford (pop. 233 000). Here you the famous Old Trafford, Manchester United's home stadium (that is the 2nd largest football stadium in the UK), the Dubaish shopping mall Trafford Centre with 280 stores (largest in Manchester) and:
Imperial War Museum North, a striking futuristic deconstructivist structure, designed by Daniel Liebeskind (architect of NY:s new WTC). It is topped by a55m high pinnacle and opened in 2002. Here you find Iraqi and Soviet tanks, a Trabant, several aircraft engines, weapons, uniforms and wreckage from the New York's now destroyed WTC:s Twin Towers on 9/11! The wreckage was just one year old when the museum opened. Unfortunately the observation deck of the museum was closed for renovation during my visit, that would able great photo opportunities of Manchester and Salford's skyline. The entrance is free.
It took only about 30 minutes by tram to reach MediaCityUK from central Manchester, the first attraction I visited upon arrival was the IWM North.
