[1] Leave the University Sackville Street Building by the entrance on Granby Row and turn right out of the building. Cross Sackvill Street and continue along Granby Row to the junction with the main road. Here turn right along Princess Street and at the junction with traffic lights cross ahead over Whitworth Street and continue along Princess Street until you reach the canal bridge.
[2] Here, take a sharp right to turn behind the canal bridge wall onto the Rochdale Canal tow path. It is buggy friendly. Caution: the water at the locks is particularly deep. In icy weather the path could be slippery. The path has street lighting. Keeping the canal on your right continue along, looking out for the boat mooring rings & the increase in plants & trees.
(A) The canals were the first real commercial transport for Manchester until the railway were built, now they are used for leisure. At the lock you will notice metal foot grips these help when pushing the lock gates open.
[3] Continue under Oxford Street, where there is a stair exit if needed. Take some bread with you as there are often ducks waiting to be fed. Cross the canal via the silver bridge and turn right, keeping the canal on your right, then pass under a low bridge with musical instruments on it.
As you come under the bridge notice the big building on your right which was once a cotton mill but is now flats.
You are now in the Bridgewater Basin, with a fountain in the middle.
[4] Leave the water via the ramp onto Lower Mosley Street with Manchester's (B) Bridgewater Music Hall on your left, to emerge opposite the G-Mex centre (this was one of the city's railway stations). Turn right toward Oxford Street and ahead you will see the beautifully built Midland Hotel.
Notice the brick and wrought iron work of this building, which was built by the midland railway.
Pass the hotel and cross Oxford Street at the lights (with care, very busy road) into St Peter’s Square, towards the white round building which is the city library (and also contains a theatre).
[5] Keep the library on your left then walk toward a small memorial garden with trees around it.
Look to your left and you will see a statue by John Cassedy, 1907 (depicting mankind’s dependence on one another), and a small play area with lovely wrought iron circles showing insects, animals & flowers of Britain. Note the two buildings which form the Town Hall. The first was built in 1934, the other in1870.
[6] As you get to the top of the square you will see a statue of a female with pigeons and a flat topped railway truck. Leave the square at the lights, at the top right corner of the square and cross over Princess Street into Mosley Street keeping the art gallery on your right.
(C) Manchester Art Gallery open daily 10am- 5pm, except Monday. There are activities for children especially at holiday times.
Turn right after the gallery into Nicholas Street. Notice the oak tree painted on the Seven Oak pub wall.
Continue along the street over several little roads, looking out for a junk boat and waves on a large brick wall on the left. A little further on is a covered resting place, if needed.
[7] At the end of Nicolas Street, cross over Portland Street and turn right toward Abingdon Street.
Before turning into it, look back across Portland Street and notice the little houses and pubs. This area was the wintering quarters for the circus (hence the pub names).
Continue along Abingdon Street (it is a quiet street but take care the pavements are very small) until you reach the canal. Turn right here and then first left onto Princess Street to cross at the lights.
[8] Continue ahead along Princess Street then turn left into Granby Row to retrace your steps to the University.