[1] From exiting the venue, turn right down Princess Street. Turn left down Portland Street using the lights at the junction with Princess Street. Cross Oxford Street towards the McDonalds, using the crossing lights. Proceed forward onto Chepstow Street, crossing over at the bend. Cross carefully, as this is a busy road with no central island to use.
[2] Proceed towards The Pevril of The Peak pub, turning right at Lepstow House car park, through some black gates and down a narrow alleyway. This leads to the magnificent canal square behind Bridgewater Hall. Walk up the steps to The Touchstone.
(A)The Pevril of the Peak is named after the stagecoach that once made the run to London. Thanks to landlady Nancy Swanick, this Grade II listed building fought off attempts to knock it down to make way for a new road…they had to go around it!
Turn right onto Lower Mosley Street, crossing immediately at the lights to the front of The Central Manchester Convention Complex/ G-Mex. Take care when crossing the tram lines.
[3] Proceed over the large paved area that forms the front of The Convention Complex, along Windmill Street. Cross Watson Street to pass the pedestrianised front of The Northern Warehouse Company. Proceed forward, towards Dwell under the arch, onto Deansgate. Turn immediately left up the steps to enter a pleasant pedestrian walkway. There are some toilets located here. Turn right and proceed down the walkway.
[4] At the end, go down the steps and turn right onto Great Bridgewater Street. Cross Deansgate using the lights. Turn right then immediately left onto Tonman Street, then immediately right onto Longworth Street. Turn left onto Camp Street and walk the short distance to the end. Turn right onto, and cross, Byrom Street, to enter the tranquillity and delight of St. John‘s Gardens.
[5] Proceed through the park, crossing Lower Byrom Street. Proceed onto Great John Street, to turn right onto Little John Street and continue to the road’s end. At Quay Street, turn left and cross via the lights at the fork in the road. Immediately after crossing Irwell Bridge, turn right through a small seating area, down the steps (that are not obvious from the road), to follow the banks of The River Irwell for a short distance.
[6] Go up the steps, onto Stanley Street, walking behind The Mark Addy pub.
(B)The New Bailey Landing stage (now a pub), has been in use since the18th Century. Here started the horse drawn packet boats to Warrington & Runcorn, using the old river prior to the opening of The Ship Canal in 1894. Albert Bridge (1844) replaced the earlier New Bailey Bridge, named after a nearby prison. Mark Addy was a Victorian publican and champion oarsman. He was awarded the Albert Medal for lifesaving, for the rescue of over 50 people from the then highly polluted Irwell.
At Bridge Street West, turn right and cross back over the road bridge (Albert Bridge). Immediately after the bridge, turn right onto Left Bank, taking the second left onto Hardman Boulevard (not signed).
Spinningfields is widely believed to be an area that is fast becoming the ‘Canary Wharf’ of the north. It’s home to a mix of large businesses, retail and residential complexes. Many of the buildings have been designed by renowned architect Baron Norman Foster, himself originally from Stockport.
[7] Cross New Gartside Street, proceeding forward to Hardman Square. Head diagonally over Hardman Square to Byrom Street, turning right at The Opera House. Go left onto Quay Street. At the junction with Deansgate, cross over using the lights and turn left down Deansgate. Turn right onto Jackson Row and walk all the way to the end. Cross and turn left at Southmill Street, then immediately right at Alberts Square, keeping right.
[8] Cross Mount Street at the pedestrian lights, turn right, then immediately left onto the pedestrianised Library Walk, which divides Manchester Town Hall and Central Library.
(C) Manchester Town Hall was completed by architect Alfred Waterhouse in 1877 and is a fine example of Victorian gothic revival. As filming is forbidden in the Palace of Westminster, it is frequently used as a ‘body double’ in British dramas.
On entering St. Peter’s Square, turn left and proceed under the covered walkways, past the columns of the council buildings and The Information Centre, then right onto Princess Street. Proceed down Princess Street, to return to the centre, crossing the junction by the traffic lights.