May 2009

Take a gentle stroll around the Roman ruins of Castlefield. The visitors centre on Liverpool Road is a good place to start and provides maps and information about what the area has to offer. Wander around the ruins and then take a walk along the canal. You can always stop off for a beverage at the canalside Dukes 92 bar and grill or head to the Knott Bar for a huge and nourishing Sunday lunch.

Scene it
The Cornerhouse on Oxford Road is a trendy hangout encompassing three floors of contemporary art galleries, three screens showing the best of independent cinema, a bar, café and a bookshop. Until June 8th it will house a free exhibition featuring realistic oil works by Joe Simpson who likes to create paintings of ‘staged fictitious scenes where time has been stopped or extended inviting the viewer to inject their own emotions, motivations and narrative context into the scene’. Whatever that means. www.cornerhouse.org

Shhhhhhhhhhh
The John Rylands Library is an absolute gem of Manchester. The Grade 1 listed building (built in the 1890s) is a neo-gothic joy to behold and is home to some of England’s greatest manuscripts and archives. It even includes a piece of the New Testament from 125 AD. Gaze at the huge leather-bound books in mild confusion (there’s a lot of Latin) and round off your visit with a coffee in the café. Located on Deansgate, it’s a perfect stop-off after hitting the shops. For opening times visit www.library.manchester.ac.uk.