Ancoats has been affectionately described as Manchester’s “Little Italy.” It has some of the best restaurants in the city, including a few Michelin-starred quality ones. This short and easy route takes you through some of the favourite social spots of the town and is mostly step-free.
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Route overview
Starting in Cotton Field Park facing the canal, turn left. Cross over the Cast No Shadow bridge, exit onto Redhill Street and turn left. Turn right onto Murray Street to reach Mana. Leaving Mana, turn left onto Blossom Street towards Cutting Room Square. Leaving Cutting Room Square, continue on Blossom Street, then turn right onto Ring Road which becomes Great Ancoats Street to find The Crown and Kettle on the corner of the Street on your right.
Part 1 of the Ancoats Manchester Walk Route
Cotton Field Park was built to combine sustainability, community, and the urban environment. With a man-made body of water, an urban beach, and little islands, the park has pockets of interest scattered throughout. The urban beach allows for activities such as paddling, picnicking, and rowing boat hire, all perfect for a hot summer’s day. Spend time with some wildlife thanks to the orchard island, Scots pines, wildflowers, bird boxes, and reed beds. Please be mindful of leaving litter behind; there are ample bins around the park to throw things away, and if you see a stray piece of litter, you’d be doing everyone a kindness for picking it up.
Cotton Field Park. Credit: Manchester Evening News
Peep over the pathway’s edge and see if you can read the words “Cast No Shadow” on the water’s surface. You may be an Oasis fan if the phrase sounds familiar to you. The song of the same name is cut out, in reverse, underneath the bridge. Its unusual location needed a unique design to connect three points. A boomerang-shaped structure was the answer.
Cast No Shadow Bridge. Credit: Tootdood
Manchester has carved its reputation as a foodie city. With several Michelin-star restaurants, Mana was Manchester’s first. Each table is strategically placed with a view of the kitchen; this will surely get your mouth watering. You can’t go wrong here if you have some money to blow and a taste for exquisite food.
Mana Interior. Credit: Restaurants of Manchester
The unusually named Cutting Room Square, previously ranked as one of the “coolest” streets by Time Out, rubbing shoulders with other streets in cities such as Auckland, Copenhagen, Boston, and Miami. These streets are “manageable microcosms of the world’s most exciting cities – each one chock-full of independent businesses, creative humans and everything else that makes urban life brilliant”, according to Time Out.
Cutting Room Square. Credit: The Manc
The Crown and Kettle was first established in 1734 and then re-established in 2020. Thus, it is one of Manchester’s oldest pubs and is Grade II-listed. It is said the pub’s site was initially intended to be a court of law. After its first establishment as a pub, it was ruined and damaged by a fire bomb. This led to the pub being closed for nearly 20 years.
The Crown and Kettle. Credit: The Crown and Kettle website
Leaving The Crown and Kettle, turn right onto Oldham Road. Turn right onto Butler Street to find Ancoats Green on your right. Continue onto Rodney Street, cross over the bridge at the canal, and turn right. Follow this towpath for a few metres, turning left onto St. Vincent Street.
Part 2 of the Ancoats Manchester Walk Route
Ancoats Green is one of Manchester’s oldest public green spaces. It served as an escape from the polluted areas, which were often crowded as an industrial hub. Soon, it will undergo another restoration and regeneration, enhancing it with more trees and wildflowers, improved walking and cycling infrastructure, and a few design features that will nod to its industrial past at the entrances.
Plan for Ancoats Green. Credit: Manchester’s Finest
At the end of St. Vincent Street, continue onto Keeper’s Quay along the canal. At the end, turn left to find the New Islington Marina.
Part 3 of the Ancoats Manchester Walk Route
New Islington Marina has a couple of food gems, some restaurants having been described as having Michelin-quality food for a fraction of the price. End your walk here, grabbing some good food and good views over the waters.
New Islington Marina. Credit: Pol-Jean Kassia
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Information gathered from various sources including Wikipedia.