CityLife

Salford Quays

THE Lake District and the Cotswolds have a rival as a tourist honeytrap - Salford Quays.

With its landmark entrance of two towering old blue dockland cranes, it is chasing the weekend holidaymaker.

Billed as "The Quays - Greater Manchester's Waterfront", the location is being promoted as an irresistible mix of "shopping, leisure, sport and history."

Alan MacGregor, spokesman for the Quays Partnership, an organisation set up to market the area, said: "We have a fantastic product that has the potential to attract thousands of visitors.

"But although we're only three miles from the centre of Manchester many people who visit the city are unaware of our existence.

"We will be targeting group travel organisers, tour operators and short-break specialists to raise the profile of the Quays, at home and abroad, to let people know just what they're missing.

Simplified

"To people who are not familiar with the area the three famous names of Salford Quays, Trafford Wharf and Old Trafford have no geographic resonance so it made sense to choose one name that simplified the destination by encompassing everything."

On the destinations must-see list is The Lowry arts centre which houses the world's largest collection of LS Lowry works and two theatres.

Also featured is the Imperial War Museum North, the Lowry designer outlet, Manchester United's Old Trafford ground and Lancashire Cricket Club.

To cater for the hundreds of visitors that the partnership is hoping to attract, there are major hotels including the Golden Tulip, Copthorn and Old Trafford Lodge, which overlooks the cricket ground.

In the past 15 years, the former docks have been transformed from a wasteland into new homes, pubs and sports facilities.