Leader’s Notes
The Manchester Trail is a trail around Manchester that will show your girls a different side of
Manchester.
It is your decision whether you want to let your girls go around in sixes, patrols, or the whole
unit. There are busy roads to cross in some places so make sure they are aware of road
safety.
Follow the trail on the map, and when you get to a number in a circle look on the
Manchester Trail board to see what interesting point there is to look for. Most
features are related to art - sculptures, museums, art galleries, the Granada
Studios etc. There is a (very small) picture of each sculpture to help. Larger
pictures are on the later pages of these notes.
If you want a short walk (2 miles / 3km) follow the orange and pink routes. This includes a
short (300 yards / ¼ km) journey on the Metro.
If you want a medium walk (3 miles / 5km) follow the orange and green routes. This includes
two short (½ mile / ¾ km in total) journeys on the Metro.
If you want a long walk (4 miles / 6½ km) follow the orange, green and blue routes. This
includes three short (1 mile / 1½ km in total) journeys on the Metro.
If you get a train ticket to Manchester, ask for the destination “Manchester Central Zone” and
this will be valid for all Metro journeys in the city centre. Otherwise you can buy tickets at
Metro stations. You must have a ticket before you board the Metro. If you do not wish to use
the Metro, use the directions on the following pages to walk to the destination.
There are some places you may want to visit on the way. All are open Tuesday to Saturday
(and Bank Holidays) and are free admission.
• Urbis is a collection of interactive galleries that explore modern and future urban life.
Use the MEN glass “sky glide” to get to the galleries.
• People’s History Museum explores the world changing events led by the working
people of Britain (medium and long routes only).
• The Manchester Art Gallery includes an accoustiguide audio tour.
1
Directions for people not happy using the map
Please ensure you know which colours you are following (there will be at least two colours)
and only use the directions that apply to those colours.
ORANGE ROUTE - everyone
• (1) From Piccadilly Gardens, walk between Debenhams and Starbucks.
• Go past (2) (look up to see this)
• Cross road at pedestrian crossing, then be careful of carpark exit. Turn left, go past (3) on
the left.
• Carry on straight on this road, crossing side streets, until you get to the Shudehill bus and
tram interchange (4).
• Either
o take the tram to Victoria Station (5) (one stop); or
o walk down the road the tram tracks go on until you get to the main road. Cross over
and Victoria Station (5) is in front of you. There are toilets and a small shop here if
you need them, but if not, go straight to Urbis.
• Coming out of the Station turn right to see Urbis (6), which is the big glass building.
• Just past Urbis turn right onto grassy area to see (7).
• Back to the main road, walk through Exchange Square towards Selfridges where you’ll
see (8)
• Walk down the pedestrian street to the right of Selfridges, go across the mini roundabout
into St Ann’s Square where you’ll see (9).
• Walk to the cathedral at the bottom of the square and walk round the right hand side of it,
where you’ll find a small alleyway. Go down here, cross the pedestrian street and go down
the next alleyway (10) directly opposite you.
~~~ If you are doing the green route, carry on reading. If not, go to the pink section on p3 ~~~
GREEN ROUTE (if you are doing pink route, ignore this section)
• Turn right out of the alley towards the main road. Cross over the lights in front of
Sainsbury’s then cross the next lights so you walk down the left hand side of Bridge Street
until you get to (11).
• Visit the People’s History Museum (12) if you wish.
• Double back on yourself for a few yards and take the right turn just after the new glassy
Manchester Civil Justice Centre. Walk down this road till you see (13).
• Cross the main road at the pedestrian lights, turn left and take the second right side road.
Walk down here till you get to (14). Visit the Science Museum if you wish. Carry on along
the road and cross the main road at the zebra crossing.
• Turn left then keep walking till you turn right into a green area just in front of the White
Lion Pub, and see (15) on the left.
• Go through the gateway and turn right at the Roman Soldier Murals. You’ll see four sets of
steps, go up the very left one to (16). Go down again and down the small steps to your
right.
2
GREEN ROUTE CONTINUED
• Walk along the cobbles, past a couple of pubs and restaurants. Go over the canal and
round Albert’s Shed (try counting bridges here (17)) to the traffic lights, keeping to the left
hand pavement.
o [If you want to walk along the canal instead you can, but be aware it is a narrow
path with no fence. Go along the right hand bank of the canal and go up the first
steps you come to, then turn left to the traffic lights.]
• Cross at the lights to Deansgate Station (18).
• Then cross back to Gmex Metro Station (19) and catch a tram to St Peters Square.
o Alternatively walk along the canal, turn left at the lights and keep walking until you
reach St Peters Square. However this route does not have good pedestrian
crossings.
• At St Peters Square you’ll see (21)
PINK ROUTE ONLY (ignore this section if you are doing green route)
• Turn left out of the alley, and make for the main road. Turn right onto the main road then
cross at the lights and zebra crossings into the Square (20).
• Go to the opposite end of the square and walk between the town hall and the library (21)
into St Peters Square
ORANGE ROUTE – everyone
• With your back to the library entrance, turn left and follow the tram tracks. At the lights
cross to the Art Gallery (22) that you can visit if you wish. Otherwise walk down the road to
the right of the art gallery until you walk under a traffic sign for the crossroads.
• Turn left and you will see (23) right in front of you. Walk along this road until you get to a
multi-storey car park and turn right.
PINK and GREEN ROUTE ONLY (ignore this section if you are doing blue route)
• Turn left at the end of this road (cross the side road at the lights) then walk back to
Piccadilly Gardens (24). Congratulations you have finished!
BLUE ROUTE ONLY
• At the end of the road, cross the main road in front of the Britania Hotel. Turn left and take
the first right. Follow this road over the canal, past the Business School to the crossings.
Cross two lots of lights and turn right then take the first left, then left again to (25).
• Keep going till you see (26).
• Take the diagonal path, go down the steps (27).
• Turn left past (28).
• At the end of the road turn left (be careful) then cross the busy crossing to Piccadilly
Station (29). Congratulations you have finished! Here you can either:
o catch a train home, or catch a tram to Piccadilly Gardens, or a free metroshuttlebus
to Piccadilly Gardens, or
o walk back: Turn left and walk along a busy road, cross two tram tracks. Follow the
main road until you arrive at Piccadilly Gardens.
3
2 Tib Street
Pictures of the
Horn
sculptures and
other sights
you’ll see on the
Manchester
Trail
3 New Broom
7 Triangles
8 Tall Windmills
9 Cotton
10 Umbrellas
11 Doves of
peace
13 Granada
14 Reflections
15 Sheep
16 Roman
Bench
18 Life Cycle
20 Fishy Fountain
21 Central
Library
23 Oriental
Arch
25 Vimto
26 Technology
Arch
27 Archimedes
28 Generation
of Possibilities
4