Manchester University

Starts at St James Church, Princess Rd, M14 4TH

1 hours 7 minutes | 2.3miles 3.7km | Easy

ID: 174.1 | Developed by: mary gough | Checked by: Nicky Johnson | www.walkingroutes.org

A leisurely stroll through the University area of Manchester walking through three parks and passing the Whitworth Gallery which houses some of the best art works by Bacon, Blake, Durer, Rembrandt & Turner. Lookout for a takeaway shop mural.

Starts at: St James Church 95a, Princess Rd, Manchester, Lancashire M14 4TH

Ends at: St James Church 95a, Princess Rd, Manchester, Lancashire M14 4TH

Route instructions:

Route Developer: SR

[1] Leaving the church by the front door, turn left, then immediately left again and set off down the Great Western Street. Cross Barnhill Street and Westwood Street and enter the (A) Moss Side Community Park.  Follow the main path across the park and you will reach Broadfield Road (the street sign is visible at the far right end of the houses). Turn left and after a short distance, right on Moss Lane East (you will not be able to see a street name). (A) Moss Side Community Park has a children’s play area and multi-sports area.

[2] You will need to cross Moss Lane East, so take advantage of the pedestrian-controlled traffic light crossing, which you will soon reach. Continue right along Moss Lane East, past Monton Street and the Polish RC church. Cross Lloyd Street North at the traffic lights. Pass the Manchester Academy and enter (B) Whitworth Park. Proceed diagonally to the opposite corner passing the large flower bed (currently empty) in the middle.

(B) Whitworth Park is a large community park located on the Moss Side/Rusholme border in the heart of Manchester University’s campus and opposite the Manchester Royal Infirmary. Due to its location on the city-centre arterial route of Oxford Road, Whitworth Park is used extensively by the residential and large student population. The park is comprised mainly of mature tree lined walks, lawns, woodland and areas of bulb planting. Students, hospital visitors and dog walkers predominantly use the site for relaxation and casual sports.

[3] Continue to the far side of the park. The exit from the park leads onto a cycle path. Many people walk on this path but it is safer to cross it and use the pedestrian path just beyond. Turn left onto Oxford Road. The first building on your left is the (C) Whitworth Art Gallery.

(C) Whitworth Art Gallery houses some of Britain’s best art and design collections including works by Bacon, Blake, Durer, Rembrandt and Turner. It also has toilets and an excellent café. It is open Mon-Sat 10.00-17.00 hrs, Sun 14.00- 17.00 hrs. Admission is free.

[4] Continue on Oxford Road crossing Denmark Road. The hospital (Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust) is on the other side of Oxford Road. You will pass a row of shops with the Royal Eye Hospital opposite. As you reach Dilworth Street, notice the mural of letters, rather like an optician’s eyesight chart, on the side of the wall above the takeaway shop; try to decipher it (the answer is given in the Notes section below).

[5] Cross Dilworth Street. and continue to Devas Street. Turn left and walk towards the (D) Contact Theatre. There is a barrier across the road to control car parking but there is no problem in walking past it.

(D) The Contact Theatre is a multi-disciplinary arts venue in Manchester. Originally a traditional theatre Contact was rebranded in 1999 as a space specialising in producing work and providing opportunities for young people.

[6] In front of the theatre, turn right and then turn left when you can go no further. An office building with an AQA sign is in front of you. Turn right at this building, pass the Mansfield Cooper building. There are four steps here but there is a ramp available. Descend the steps or ramp and turn left and walk forward with the John Rylands University Library on your right and the Stephen Joseph Studio (a church-like building) on your left. Continue forward to Lloyd Street North, noting the large gated entrance to the (E) Manchester Science Park, opposite.

[7] Cross Lloyd Street North at the nearby pedestrian-controlled traffic light crossing. Turn back along Lloyd Street North to enter the gates of the Manchester Science Park. Walk ahead through the grounds to reach Pencroft Way (no street sign) with the Manchester Science Park Greenheys building, opposite. Cross Pencroft Way, turn left and then after a few yards, turn right along a narrow path signposted Manchester Technopark. Continue through the small car parking area to reach a pavement on the left leading to Greenheys Lane. Turn left along Greenheys Lane and follow the road as it bends right, using the two pedestrian refuge areas to cross Charles Halle Road.

[8] Continue along Greenheys Road, then at the lights at Princess Road, turn left passing the Royal Brewery on the left. Cross Moss Lane East at the lights, then turn left along Moss Lane East, then first right along Barnhill Street. Continue along Barnhill Street crossing Raby Street (no street sign) to reach Great Western Street where you turn right to return to (F) St James’s Church.

Notes:

The mural reads “When the rain falls, they talk of Manchester but when the triumphant rain falls, we think of rainbows, it’s the Mancunian way.”

Acknowledgements:

Developed by: mary gough

Checked by: Nicky Johnson

Filed under: Manchester Walking Routes
Tagged: Easy, Manchester, Ramblers, St. James Church, walk, Walking
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