UK Museums: The Lowry, Manchester
The Lowry
The Lowry located in the redeveloped Salford Quays district of Manchester close to The Lowry Outlet Mall, The Imperial War Museum North and MediaCityUK, is the main attraction in this lively, fun district of the city.
History & Design
The Lowry was designed by architect Michael Wilford and opened in 2000 by Queen Elizabeth II with funds from The Lottery Fund.
The initial design competition for the project was won by architects James Stirling and Michael Wilford, though Stirling passed away in 1992 long before construction began.
The project also included the Millennium Bridge (Salford Quays Footbridge or Salford Quays Lift Bridge) over the canal leading to the Imperial War Museum North. The Lowry offers a restaurant, cafe and bar with al fresco seating with fine views of the waterside location and a shop.
The structure rests upon 803 concrete piles sunk into the bedrock. A total of 48,000 tons of concrete and about 2,500 tons of steel were used in construction, and there is more than 5,200 square meters of glass.
Facilities
As well as housing two theatres (the Lyric and the Quays) and a studio workshop, the Lowry holds a permanent collection of the works of local artist L S Lowry.
The Lowry is named after Laurence Stephen Lowry (1887-1976), an artist who lived and worked in Salford. His art mostly depicted scenes of industrial Northwest England in places such as Salford, Manchester and nearby Stockport.
The Lowry has the largest public collection of works by him, including about 400 works in oils, watercolours, and pastels, many of which are on permanent display. The gallery also has displays about Lowry, the artist and man. There is an Archive Room with lots of manuscripts, diaries and other documents, that can be opened for researchers. The space also presents temporary exhibitions of contemporary art.
Altogether, The Lowry has a total of 22,000 square feet of gallery space including the permanent exhibition on L.S. Lowry and his work.
The Lyric Theatre is the largest auditorium in the Lowry Centre. Featuring the largest stage in the UK outside of London, the Lyric can seat audiences of up to 1,730 people.
The Quays Theatre holds audiences of 440, and the small Studio Auditorium, with views over the waterside, holds just 150 people.
The three stages put on a wide range of performances including contemporary and classical dramas, opera, ballet and other forms of dance, musicals, children's shows, comedy, and a wide range of music concerts and performances that includes pop, jazz, folk, and classical.
The complex is also home to the Tower Coffee Shop serving light lunches, snacks, sandwiches, pies, etc as well as a wide range of cakes and pastries and other desserts along with coffees, teas, soft drinks, and alcohol.
Also inside the Lowry is the Pier Eight restaurant, a full service restaurant offering 2 and 3 course options, including vegan and vegetarian choices.
Special meal and performance deals are popular. Rounding out the eating and drinking choices at The Lowry is the Pier Eight Bar with views out over the quay side, serving a full range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks as well as snacks.
Other notable attractions within the cities of Manchester and Salford include the Canal Street Gay Village, King Street, Chinatown, the Arndale Center, Urbis, the Royal Exchange Theatre, and Manchester Cathedral.
Not far away from The Lowry are both Old Trafford Cricket Ground and Manchester United's huge but aging Old Trafford Stadium.
Access - Getting Here
The Lowry (thelowry.com)
Pier 8
Salford Quays
M50 3AZ
Box Office: 0843 208 6000
Open 11 am to 5 pm Tuesday to Friday and 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Closed Mondays except on Bank Holidays. The Lowry opens for performances in the evenings.
The nearest Metrolink stations to the area are MediaCityUK or Harbour City - take a tram from Piccadilly Station on the Eccles Line.
The #9 bus links Salford Crescent rail station and Salford Shopping City with MediaCityUK and The Lowry at Salford Quays.
Nearby Places To Stay
Hotel Football next to Old Trafford Stadium is a recommended place to stay in this part of Manchester. Other popular hotels near Salford Quays include the Holiday Inn Hotel MediaCity and the Holiday Inn Express Manchester - Salford Quays.
See here for a listing of accommodation in Manchester to suit all budgets.
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Hotels
Manchester's hotels are congregated around Piccadilly Station, Deansgate and Oxford Road. Accommodation options in Manchester are many and varied, from budget backpackers to lap-of-luxury boutique hospitality establishments - and everything in between. The following is a list of recommended accommodation options for a stay in Manchester that you'll remember for its good value, hospitality and convenience.
Standout names for luxury accommodation in Manchester include the Edwardian Midland Hotel and Kimpton Clocktower (formerly The Palace until 2016). The Manchester Hilton is housed in the city's tallest skyscraper the Beetham Tower.
Other recommended places to stay in Manchester include the five star Lowry Hotel, the four star, city center Holiday Inn Manchester, the Holiday Inn Hotel Media City and the Hilton Manchester Deansgate.
The Dakota Manchester, with its restrained, stiff-upper-lip exterior, is the ultimate in understated loungy comfort. The sophisticated decor is of subtle wooden and metallic tints and shades, and the rooms and premises are as spacious as an English country home. The artistic good taste of this establishment is matched by the warm professional service. The dining is superb, room service is prompt and attentive, and the hotel is accessible for guests with all needs. Centrally located, next to the Rochdale Canal, a 3-minute walk from Piccadilly train station, and a 10-minute walk to Cotton Field Park. Gets consistently top marks for cleanliness, comfort, and great staff - plus free, reliable Wi-Fi.
The Cow Hollow Hotel in Manchester's Northern Quarter is a fascinatingly decorated boutique hotel that offers superb value for money. The staff here get consistently rave reviews for their impeccable hospitality, and the rooms are some of the best equipped you'll find anywhere, with king-size Hypnos beds, the finest cotton bedding, and smart TVs with complimentary Netflix access. The continental breakfast is as generous and delicious as it is healthy, and morning tea and coffee is delivered to your room. Enjoy the rich, artful decor with its rough-edged suaveness and an altogether luxuriously idiosyncratic vibe that will substantially contribute to your best holiday memories. Cocktail lovers will be delighted with the bar. Just 500 meters from Piccadilly Station.
The Staycity Aparthotels Manchester Piccadilly is clean, comfortable, stylish minimalism in as good a location as you could hope for. And very affordable! This centrally positioned, spic-and-span accommodation offers a clean and quiet apartment stay with kitchen facilities (oven, plates and glasses, etc.), bathroom/toilet, bedroom and kitchen/dining room. Bright and hygienic, with comfortable beds, and good staff service. Located in an area of numerous restaurants, and a short walk from Piccadilly Station. Secure carpark. One of Manchester's best on a budget.
See here for a listing of accommodation in Manchester to suit all budgets.
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