Manchester is a fascinating European city that offers all the locations, scenery, and spots a street photographer can wish for. Its districts are pleasantly distinct, each offering a one-of-a-kind feel, interesting residents, diverse cooking culture, and beautiful buildings that you can use as either a background or the main subject of your cityscapes.
The post below will acquaint you with a Manchester photo location list that provides enough material to take thousands of captivating images.
1. Northern Quarter
Location: Start at Stevenson Square
If you’re drawn to colorful street art and diverse architecture, then take your favorite camera for street photography and immediately visit the Northern Quarter. You’ll be greeted by red brick houses with a New York-like appeal that are often featured in movies and are a great spot for a Manchester street photo shoot.
If you’ll travel to the back streets, you’ll also discover murals that were painted at the Cities of Hope festival by world-famous street artists. Each mural serves to highlight a specific global issue.
This location offers many bars and pubs that are mostly ignored by tourists, representing the perfect background choice for street photos, particularly later in the day.
When navigating the Northern Quarter, you should visit Tib and Oldham Streets, while also dropping by at the High and Thomas Street Crossroads. Since this part of Manchester is highly popular among street photographers, it’s often the place where you can join a photography workshop.
2. China Town
Location: Start at Nicholas St
Hidden in the downtown area of the city lies Chinatown that hosts one of the biggest Chinese neighborhoods in the country. The first Manchester photo spot you’ll want to see here is the archway on Faulkner street that was presented by the Chinese community way back in the late 80s.
This area also has eye-catching restaurants, retail stores, and ornate gateways that are an ideal fit for street photos.
The crowds consist of a unique mix of English and Chinese locals along with tourists that help create an authentic conglomeration of people. Since China Town is situated in the center of the town, you can get to it by going to the Piccadilly Gardens or St. Peter’s Square Metrolink stations.
3. Victoria Station
Location: Todd Street
Manchester is a home to two train stations: Piccadilly and Victoria. The latter is the smaller location, which means it sees fewer visitors and presents more opportunities for street photographers. It has an impressive glass roof, which you can juxtapose against an active crowd or other subjects that you find interesting.
This station can be found in the northern part of downtown Manchester, near the cathedral, Irwell River, and the Salford border. You can also get here by taking the metro. Remember to make use of Visme Social Media Graphics Templates to ensure your street photos on social media look as eye-catching as possible.
4. St. Peter’s Square
Location: St Peter’s Square City Centre M2 5PD
St Peter’s Square is Manchester’s most photographed spot. These Telephone Boxes, in particular, are located near Manchester Central Library.
Here, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to architecture backdrops as the square is home to Town Hall, the Cenotaph, and the Emily Pankhurst statue. The Square also has a tram stop, which can serve as beautiful background for your street photography.
5. Salford Lads Club
Location: St Ignatius Walk, Salford M5 3RX
If you’re no stranger to the 80s indie rock scene, you’ll instantly recognize the Salford Lads Club that was on the LP sleeve of the Queen is Dead album by The Smiths. Even though it was released back in 1986, it’s still considered a Manchester landmark and a mecca of sorts for Smiths fans.
The club has been opened since 1903 and offers a broad list of activities for younger people. When looking at the club’s exterior, you’ll see a red-brick Victorian structure that will likely be surrounded by tourists and colorful brits.
6. Castlefield
Location: Start at Duke St
Once home to a Roman-age fort and a terminus for the planet’s first industrial canal, Castlefield is now the go-to Manchester photo location if you’re interested in restaurants, pubs, and cultural events. This place gets particularly busy during the summer.
Castlefield offers a broad range of industrial backdrops for you to experiment with. Whether it’s a series of metal bridges, grungy brickwork, or a canal junction, there’s no shortage of interesting street photography subjects. You’ll also find some castle remains along with a legendary red iron stairway. Being an Urban Heritage Park, this area is completely stripped of traffic, making your job as a photographer much easier.
7. Spinningfields
Location: Spinningfields Square
On a sunny day, Spinningfields is probably the most beautiful place Manchester has to offer. This downtown area not only hosts some of the largest enterprises located in the city, but also represents a cultural, shopping, and dining destination for locals and tourists alike.
There’s no better place to capture the busy day-to-day life of Mancunians while also showing off the city’s mesmerizing, modern buildings in the background.
Spinningfields allows street photographers to see the city’s latest architectural achievements right next to classic structures such as the John Ryland’s Library, helping everyone find a backdrop to their liking.
8. Salford Quays
Location: BBC, Media City
This Manchester street photo location is filled with stunning structures and a vast urban landscape next to a large body of water. Subjects for photographers to work with include quaysides, bridges, and various architectural elements.
9. Fletcher Moss Park and Botanical Gardens
Location: M20 2RQ
If you’re looking for a Manchester photo spot with a nature background, this is the place to be. Established in 1917, this vast green area, half botanical garden, and half wildlife sanctuary, serves as a stark antithesis to the chaos of the city center.
Both the park and the gardens offer walking paths for visitors while amazing them with wildlife, flora, and scenery that ranges from little waterfalls and ponds to all kinds of trees and shrubbery.
Activities offered by the Fletcher Moss Park include picnics, tennis, rugby, and football, ensuring street photographers never run out of subjects to capture. Access to this location is completely free.
10. Old Trafford
Location: Sir Matt Busby Way
This place has long been established as a must-see destination for football fans since it hosts one of the most famous clubs in the world – Manchester United. Here you’ll find a statue of 3 iconic players on the opposite side of the North Stand Megastore that is the perfect selfie background for any Man. United supporter. About one million fans came to England to witness a football match last year, and Old Trafford is the most popular location among them.
Regardless of the season, you’ll always see crowds of sport tourists near the stadium, giving you more than enough chances to take photos of emotional faces and genuine excitement.
11. Afflecks
Location: 52 Church St
Afflecks possesses the trademark red-brick style of most houses constructed during the Victorian era. Even though the structure was erected in the 1860s, its most stunning part is the assortment of mosaics created by Mark Kennedy and added to its façade in 2011.
The mosaics highlight the city’s sport- and culture-related achievements, including Coronation Street and the Suffragettes. On the inside, you’ll be greeted by an alternative shopping location, so if you need a constant stream of people for your Manchester street photo shoot, you’ll easily find it here.
12. The University of Manchester
Location: Oxford Rd
The University of Manchester isn’t just a prime educational establishment in the United Kingdom, but also a series of stunning buildings that can become a scenic backdrop for your street pictures.
It’s a terrific place to capture students on campus in-between their studies or tourists that often come here to take Instagram photos.
13. The Old Wellington
Location: Cathedral Gates
Constructed in 1552, this is the oldest structure of its style in Manchester, representing the city’s best pub when it comes to street photography, as it’s always surrounded by a crowd of cheerful visitors.
The building attracts photographers and tourists with its Tudor-style façade. Meanwhile, the large terrace at the front of the pub is a fantastic place for both taking photos and sharing a drink or two with your friends.
