Manchester city centre is the central business district of Manchester, England, within the boundaries of the River Irwell, Great Ancoats Street and Whitworth Street.[1][2]
Manchester city centre evolved from the civilian vicus of the Roman fort of Mamucium, on a sandstone bluff near the confluence of the rivers Medlock and Irwell.[3] This became the township of Manchester during the Middle Ages, and was the site of the Peterloo Massacre of 1819.[4] Manchester was granted city status in 1853, after the Industrial Revolution, from which the city centre emerged as the global centre of the cotton trade which encouraged its “splendidly imposing commercial architecture” during the Victorian era,[5] such as the Royal Exchange, the Corn Exchange, the Free Trade Hall, and the Great Northern Warehouse.[4] After the decline of the cotton trade and the Manchester Blitz, the city centre suffered economic decline during the mid-20th century,[6] but the CIS Tower ranked as the tallest building in the UK when completed in 1962.[7]
The city centre acts as the transport interchange for Greater Manchester and over 7 million people live within an hour’s drive of it.
Manchester city centre loosely falls into 11 different areas, each with a name well known to locals and taxi drivers alike, making it easy to ask directions whilst taking the very short walk from one to another.
Each district offers a very different experience to Manchester’s nightlife and it’s possible to have a great night out in the city without even leaving one street.
On the other hand, because Manchester has a very small city centre, it is possible to be more adventurous and take in a few ‘quarters’ in one weekend.
In fact, Manchester city centre is so small, it’s possible to walk around each of its furthest points (Castlefield, Piccadilly and the Manchester Arena) in less than an hour and a half. After a brilliant night out give Lynx Taxis a call.
