Tiny underrated English city having huge revival – with UK’s best urban attractions and streets overrun with celebrities
A BRIT who has visited all 76 cities in the UK has declared Salford to be one of the most underrated places in the whole of the country.
The tiny cultural powerhouse on the outskirts of Greater Manchester has experienced a huge revival in recent years – where visitors can experience top TV shows and attractions, as well as a strong chance of bumping into a famous face or two on the street.
Travel guide creator Peter Naldrett visited every UK city while researching his new book, , Bright Lights, Big Cities, which will be published on September 12.
In it, he charts exactly what makes each city special, from beloved landmarks to cultural gems and fascinating museums.
And the Sheffield-based writer says that Salford, with its 250,000 residents, more than holds it own as a city break destination against the likes of Manchester, York and Edinburgh.
He told Sun Travel “Despite being part of Greater Manchester, Salford is actually a city in its own right – with its own identity and some of the best urban attractions in the country.
“There’s a lot going on there, especially with MediaCity, where the BBC and ITV are stationed, which means there are plenty of opportunities to see shows that are being recorded.”
Visitors can apply to sit in the audience of popular television shows like Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, The Voice and Countdown.
Or for soap fans, 90-minute tours are available of the Coronation Street sets, which is the world’s largest single TV working production set.
Fans of the long-running soap get to see inside replica sets of Roy’s Rolls and The Rovers Return, with weekend tours starting from £35 per person.
Given the number of big shows being filmed there, celeb-spotting is a popular pastime too.
Peter said: “If you don’t manage to get a tour or a show, it’s still worth a wander around Media City.
“With BBC Breakfast and a host of other programmes filmed here, you never know who you might bump into.”
Other attractions that have earned Salford its moniker as the most underrated city in the north of England include the Lowry Theatre – a theatre, art gallery and creative hub all rolled into one.
There’s also the Imperial War Museum North, which showcases moving tales of bravery alongside the devastating impact of warfare.
Both the Imperial War Museum and the Lowry Theatre are located within Salford Quays, a huge waterfront destination in Salford.
Following the closure of Manchester Docks in the 1980s, Salford Quays underwent a huge revamp.
Over the next two decades, the canal network was transformed into a maze of shops, restaurants and cultural attraction.
Peter added: “Always when I go to Salford, I’m pleasantly surprised about how nice it is on Salford Quays and how many people like to go there to hang out at lunchtime.
Speaking of lunch, there’s only one place to be when it comes to grabbing a bite to eat – Kargo MKT,.
The biggest food hall in Salford has nearly 20 different kitchens serving up food from around thew world, as well-as live music and DJs.
More well-known high-street names are dotted along Salford Quays too, including wagamama, The Botanist, The Alchemist to Turtle Bay and Pizza Express.
How to watch TV shows at MediaCity
Organised holidaymakers heading to Salford will want to try their luck at bagging a free ticket to become an audience member.
For ITV shows and Channel 4 productions, visitors will need to apply for tickets through websites like Applause Store, SRO Audiences and Lost in TV.
Who Wants To Be a Millionaire with Jeremy Clarkson is currently being filmed in MediaCity. Fans of the quiz show should apply for tickets, here.
Fans of the BBC will need to apply for tickets via the Beeb.
All tickets are free, with shoes being randomly allocated.
Music tourists can tap into Salford’s connection to The Smiths with a visit to the famed Salford Lads and Girls Club, which was once voted the most iconic building in the country.
The Smiths were photographed in front of the building for the inner sleeve of their album The Queen is Dead.
Salford Lads and Girls Club is open to the public every Wednesday and Saturday, with visitors able to visit the Smiths Room – a space that’s devoted to the band.
Visitors who are arriving to Salford via train from cities like Birmingham and London will need to change onto a connecting service in Manchester Piccadilly.
Salford is a 90-minute drive from Sheffield, and it’s a two-hour drive from Nottingham.
Who is Peter Naldrett?
PETER Naldrett is a former journalist who works as a geography teacher and an author.
He has already published two books, including On Location, Treasured Islands and Around the Coast in 80 Days.
His adventures around the UK means he knows exactly what makes a city tick like the prominence of water.
Peter believes water plays an important role in the city from seasides to rivers and fountains, so if you’re not enjoying a place, make a beeline for some water.
Bright Lights, Big Cities, which is being published on September 12, 2024, will be his third book.
You can pre-order a copy of his book, here.
As part of our Best of British travel series, Sun Online Travel also visited Hull – an often-ridiculed city in the north of England.
We’ve recently revealed our favourite spots for a September break.