Manchester At Sunset: Old Trafford

I booked a hotel room in Salford Quays, the neighbourhood where the BBC studios and Old Trafford, the Man United stadium, are located. It has one of the best night views you'll see in Manchester, and I couldn't think of a better place to stay. It's just a few minutes away from the city centre by bus or tram. I also went back there for nostalgia's sake. 

When I worked in Salford Quays, I used to walk around the canal on my lunch break, and it was one of the happiest moments of my life in Manchester.

I arrived in Manchester around 12pm and couldn't check into my hotel until 3pm, so I walked around the city centre to see what had changed since I left. 

I was pleasantly surprised to see so many Japanese and Korean restaurants. In the mid 2010s, you could barely find any Japanese restaurants, and now there is a sushi bar or a Korean barbecue on every corner. I stopped by a sushi stand to grab something to eat before hopping on bus 50 to Salford Quays. 

The tram or bus to MediacityUK is the quickest and easiest way to travel from Manchester city centre. It was still too early to check in at the hotel, and since I was starving, I sat by the canal to enjoy my meal. I sat by the tram station close to the BBC studios; it's a beautiful space where people can sit to relax and enjoy a meal. There is also an outdoor cinema in the summer, which is free, so you can stop by at any time during a showing to watch a film. 

I highly recommend late sessions as the view is breathtaking. On the other side of the tram station is the Blue Peter park, which has beautiful cherry blossoms in spring, and if you're in the mood for shopping or want to grab a bite. The Lowry Outlet is just a few minutes' walk away. It used to be a bustling shopping centre, but many stores have closed down. There is still a cinema, a few clothing stores and restaurants left. 

After finally checking into my hotel, I took a shower, ate a snack I picked up at an Asian supermarket and took a nap. I was up since 3am for the trip and needed to rest before heading out again. The plan was to go for a walk from Salford Quays to Man United stadium at sunset to make a vlog for my YouTube channel. I ended up sleeping for only half an hour and watched Sins of Kujo, a new Japanese drama with Yuya Yagira, until it was time to go out. If you love crime dramas, I highly recommend it. It was so good, I binge-watched it during my trip. Unlike the last time I went to Manchester, I explored the city and had so much fun walking around.

I checked the weather app to make sure I would get there on time to see the sunset in Salford Quays. I left my hotel at 6:30 pm as I was planning to take the longest route and walk slowly. I also had to take into account the many stops I'd make along the way to record or re-record a video. I started off at the side of the canal nearest to my hotel. I walked along and crossed a couple of bridges. 

One of the best decisions I've made in recent years was to become a content creator. As an introvert, it wasn't easy to hold a camera in public when I started this journey, but I'm more confident now, even though it somehow seems to trigger some people. 

I've had a few altercations with strangers, completely unprovoked, where I've been insulted, and some people stepped in to help me, so I didn't let it get to me. I retraced the exact steps I used to take when I worked in Salford Quays a few years ago. I always went on a walk on my lunch break, and that's the reason I'm so familiar with the area, even though I lived on the other side of Manchester. 

The stadium is visible from the canal, and when it gets darker, the red lights at the top read Manchester United. I have been a fan of Man United since I was a teenager, and it's one of the reasons I chose to live in this city. The team isn't what it used to be, but it's still Man United, and it was quite an experience to watch the sunset from a place that meant so much to me long before moving to England.

I spent the following day focusing on the reason that brought me back to Manchester. I was free to explore again in the late afternoon, so I went back to my hotel to freshen up. I went out again in the evening to grab a bite and watch the new Mario movie at The Lowry Outlet, then headed back to Manchester city centre to capture the Sunset. 

During this trip, I came to realise that my life was so tense that I actually didn't take the time to watch the sunset or sunrise in Manchester. This experience happened only because I changed the direction of my YouTube channel to focus on sunsets or sunrise during my trips, and I'm so grateful for it.

A day out in Manchester city centre can be fun if well planned, as there are a lot of activities to do around the city. You can visit Manchester Cathedral, the Football Museum or The Illusion Museum. From there, you can go shopping or grab lunch in Arndale, which has a lot of restaurants, including a street food market. 

That's where I got the sushi on my first day. Deansgate is also a good place to go for fine dining options. It would also be worth it to pop into the John Ryland Library with its Harry Potter vibe, and we can't talk about Manchester Life without mentioning Spinningfields.

It became one of my favourite spots in Manchester when I went to college a few years ago, and before moving out of Manchester, I went there for bottomless pancakes. Big banks and companies are based in Spinningfields, as well as good restaurants and bars; it's definitely the place to go for live music and a more relaxed vibe. 

One of my hobbies in Manchester was cafe hopping. I gave it up after moving to London, and on the last day of my trip, I went back to one of my favourite cafes, Pappa Roti, for their delicious buns. The waitress was overwhelmed as she was working alone. So the service wasn't as good as I remembered it, but I can't recommend their Biscoff and pistachio buns enough. 

I went for a walk in Ancoats after breakfast and walked all the way to the Etihad Stadium, home to Man City, but I can't talk about Man United and Man City in the same post. If you want to know more about my trips, check out my vlogs on my YouTube channel; the links are all over my blog.