More from the Lowry Outlet Mall

After visiting the Lowry Centre, it was back to earth with a bump as I needed to meet up with the rest of the family in the Outlet Mall.  Quite an impressive place (if you like that kind of thing) but it's clear that there were several empty spaces remaining to be filled.  I love the euphemism involved with such announcements: Exciting New Retailer Coming Soon sounds so much better than Boring Old Retailer Went Bankrupt...

Everything had a "Sale" on, including a rather large kitchen and household goods store.  A bit like a warehouse, with all the charm which that entails.  At least the escalators were rather more aesthetically pleasing!

My final view of the Mall, which seems to sum it up for me.  Several people wandering aimlessly about, buying "stuff" which they don't need and eating fast food which is bad for them.  The bin just about says it all.

Salford Quays and The Lowry Centre

Exactly like the last time I visited, the Manchester weather closed in as soon as we'd reached Salford Quays.  Typical.  This didn't worry Izzi, however, as her prime interest was a retail experience in the Outlet Mall rather than admiring the architecture.  Again, typical!  No problem, as this gave me an hour or so to wander round taking pictures.

I was determined to go into the Lowry Centre as I'd heard the interior was well worth a look.  The exterior wasn't bad either...

I never got to the Lowry exhibition itself as I was overwhelmed by the foyer and theatre.  The whole place is made up of either polished steel or solid blocks of vivid colour: primarily red and orange, but also yellow, blue and purple.  It was one of those places where the main question is "where do I start?".  Well, the following selection of pictures is in no particular order, but I hope will give some flavour of the place.

As you can probably tell, I was totally bowled over by the place.  It was pleasantly empty too, which is more than could be said for the Outlet Mall...

To Salford Quays by Tram

There's something about travelling by tram which is both very old-fashioned and ultra-modern at the same time.  The Manchester tram network is pretty amazing, and we decided to make the short journey from Castlefields to Salford Quays using it.

By the way, that disgusting steel & glass monstrosity with the grid on top is the Manchester Hilton Hotel.  You can see it for miles around - unfortunately...

The trams were clean, quiet and very speedy.  Mind you, we were travelling on a sunny Sunday afternoon - who knows what they'd be like during a rainy rush-hour in November...

Salford Quays

Life has been a bit hectic at home recently, which is why I haven't done much in the way of photography.  This wasn't helped by the fact that my super-duper new fisheye lens didn't work properly, so had to be sent back to be repaired - twice.  I finally got it back about a week ago, so when I found I had to collect my daughter from Manchester at the weekend, I decided to give it it burn in Salford Quays.

Unusually for Manchester the sun was shining - for a short while anyway.  After the overcrowded, grimy back streets of Rusholme, Salford Quays felt very different indeed.

True to form the sun went behind a cloud, and then the whole sky went grey.  Even in the dull light, though, the area was pretty impressive.  I didn't go into the Lowry Centre itself, as my daughter was intent on finding something to eat in the "Lowry Outlet Mall", pictured above right.

We'll be going back to Manchester in July for graduation day, and I fully intend to jump on a tram and visit Salford Quays again.  Assuming it's not raining, of course...