The great thing about Salford is how accessible everything is by foot! If you’re looking for some walks you can do between your studies, here are some of my favourites. 

1. Manchester to MediaCity

MediaCityUK is home to one of our campuses so here’s how to get there from Manchester City Centre.

  • Starting opposite Palace Theatre, walk down the canal past spots like Rain Bar and Deansgate Locks
  • Keep walking down the canal until you reach Castefield 
  • Then head towards the bridge, walk over it, and turn left to continue walking along the path
  • Carry on walking straight ahead, crossing over a few bridges 
  • When you can see Old Trafford & Victoria Warehouse you want to come off the bridge and turn left 
  • Cross the road by the Quays, and walk over the tramlines to walk alongside the water 
  • Cross over the final bridge and you’ll arrive in MediaCity 

This route takes a little over an hour but make sure to walk it with friends and during the day to stay safe! 

You can watch this route on our Instagram page here!

Image of MediaCity in the summer

2. Peel Park Campus to Manchester

This next route takes you from our Peel Park campus right into the city centre, which is around a 20-30 minute walk.

  • Start by the Salford sign outside Maxwell Building and walk straight down the road passing The Old Pint Pot on the way
  • Other landmarks you’ll pass as you walk down Chapel Street include Bexley Square & Procaffeinated cafe
  • There are two turns you can make depending on which area of Manchester you are aiming for. The first takes you to Spinningfields by turning right when you reach Salford Central train station. 
  • Walk past the Tesco Express, over the bridge, and you’ll be in Spinningfields
  • Here there are plenty of bars, restaurants & cafes to explore!
  • However, if you’d rather end up in Deansgate, when you get to Salford Central you want to carry on walking straight down Chapel Street, going under the bridge until you get to the Black Lion pub
  • Turn right onto Blackfriars Street, cross the bridge, and you’ll be in Deansgate

This is a really simple walk, essentially being just one straight road! 

image: photograph of the front of maxwell building

3. Around the Quays

Salford Quays provides some stunning views and nice scenery for a stroll. Here’s a route you can try.

  • Starting at our MediaCity campus, take a left and walk past all the bars and restaurants 
  • At the road cross over and head straight down the path along the water
  • There are plenty of benches around tho sit and admire the views 
  • Continue walking down the path and you’ll reach an independent cafe serving smoothies and snacks 
  • At the end of the path take a right and follow it all the way back up passing the red bridge again 
  • This will take you back into MediaCity

This is a short route that would be perfect to take in between lectures on a sunny day! There’s a full video guide to this walk on our Instagram.

4. Parks

Salford has so many scenic parks for you to explore, maybe even taking a picnic to make a day of it!

My personal favourite is Kersal Wetlands. This is perfect for runners, cyclists & dog walkers with so many routes to explore. It’s also home to so many fascinating birds, wildlife and nature. 

Other parks include Buile Hill Park, Peel Park & Clifton Country Park. 

Peel Park on a sunny day

Those are some of my favourite walking routes around Salford. These can be a great way for you to get to know the area a little better and if you bring along your new flatmates too it could be a great bonding experience!