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Indoor market
Afflecks
Indoor market of independent stalls and boutiques, in the building that once housed the Affleck & Brown department store.
A mini guide to
Northern Quarter & Cathedral
Independent shops, bars and music venues, with the cathedral and the football museum a short walk west
Photos
1 / 10Welcome to the area
Independent shops, bars and music venues, with the cathedral and the football museum a short walk west
The Northern Quarter lies between Piccadilly Gardens, Victoria station and Ancoats, centred on Oldham Street. Its name dates from the 1990s regeneration of the area, and most of its buildings were put up before the Second World War. Independent shops, cafés, bars and live music venues now fill them, and street art is easy to find.
A short walk west, Cathedral Gardens beside Victoria station is shared by Manchester Cathedral, Chetham's Library and the National Football Museum. Exchange Square, the Corn Exchange and the Printworks sit just beyond, so the area works as a first stop between the stations and the shops of Market Street.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Craft centre
Manchester Craft and Design Centre
Centre on Oak Street with about 20 craft and design studios, a free exhibitions programme and a café.
Directions Website Report a problem with Manchester Craft and Design Centre
Square
Stevenson Square
Square named after landowner William Stevenson, used for public speeches in Victorian times and now a spot for street art.
Music venue
Band on the Wall
Live music venue on Swan Street in the Northern Quarter, with its programme listed on its website.
Music venue
Night & Day Café
Café bar and live music venue on Oldham Street, opened in 1991 in a former chip shop.
Street
Oldham Street
Main street of the Northern Quarter, running up from Piccadilly Gardens.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Northern Quarter & Cathedral and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Start at Piccadilly Gardens
The Quarter begins at the top of Oldham Street, a short walk from the Piccadilly Gardens tram and bus interchange.
2
Check what's on
Band on the Wall and Night & Day Café both list their gigs and events on their own websites, so look before you go.
3
Add the cathedral side
Manchester Cathedral, Chetham's Library and the National Football Museum are all around Cathedral Gardens, about ten minutes' walk west of Oldham Street.
4
Look up
Many streets have murals, and the Big Horn sculpture is on the Afflecks building. Stevenson Square also hosts changing street art.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Explore this guide
Everything for Northern Quarter & Cathedral
Manchester
More areas to explore
16 sights · 26 places to eat
Spinningfields & Deansgate
The Victorian civic heart and the glass offices of Spinningfields
Open the mini guide →
13 sights · 17 places to eat
Castlefield & the Canals
Roman fort, canal basin and railway firsts, in the city's urban heritage park
Open the mini guide →
13 sights · 18 places to eat
Piccadilly, Chinatown & the Village
Chinatown's arch, the canalside Gay Village and the gallery on Mosley Street
Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Northern Quarter & Cathedral (area photo): Anthony Parkes, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Afflecks: Olea, CC BY 4.0, source
- Manchester Craft and Design Centre: Olea, CC BY 4.0, source
- Stevenson Square: Dillys Dad, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Band on the Wall: Jake from Manchester, UK, CC BY 2.0, source
- Night & Day Café: Phil King, CC BY 2.0, source
- Oldham Street: Michael Ashton, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Big Horn: Michael Peel, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Smithfield Market Hall: Matthew Black from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Greater Manchester Police Museum: Rept0n1x, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Angel Meadow Park: David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Manchester Cathedral: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Chetham's Library: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- National Football Museum: Smabs Sputzer from Stockport, UK, CC BY 2.0, source
- Cathedral Gardens: Pit-yacker at English Wikipedia (Original text: en:User:Pit-yacker), CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- The Printworks: Pit-yacker at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Corn Exchange: Alex Lozupone, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Spinningfields & Deansgate: Anthony O'Neil, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Castlefield & the Canals: Ridiculopathy, CC0, source
- Piccadilly, Chinatown & the Village: Jorge Franganillo, CC BY 4.0, source
- Ancoats & New Islington: DS Pugh, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Salford Quays & MediaCity: Rosser1954, CC BY 4.0, source
- Oxford Road & Rusholme: DrPhoenix, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Chorlton & Didsbury: Wikidwitch, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Altrincham & Sale: Parrot of Doom, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring Manchester