North Central Manchester covers the area in central Manchester north of Picadilly Gardens and east of Quay St and Peter St. It covers the locals of the Millennium Quarter, Deansgate, Albert square, and St. Ann's Square as well as the newly developed business district of Spinningfields.
After the devastation of the 1996 IRA bombing, the area around Exchange Square has been completely redesigned and rebuilt as the Millennium Quarter. The square itself is a juxtaposition of Manchester's industrial heritage with the height of modern art and architecture. The ultra-modern Urbis centre stands side-by-side with the medieval Cathedral and the renovated Triangle shopping centre, once Manchester's corn exchange.
Deansgate is like the spine of Manchester, a mile-long perfectly-straight road that joins the site of Roman Mancunium in Castlefield to the site of Medieval Manchester at the Cathedral, connecting all the districts of the city centre together. About half way along Deansgate is the beginnings of Manchester's new business district, Spinningfields, which offers new eating places ,of which some are by the riverside. There is a pleasant grassed area by the law courts.
St. Ann's Square is the centre of Manchester's main shopping district. It is usually packed with shoppers and usually the odd one or two street entertainers. The Council holds many events in the square, including specialist markets and musical events.
Albert Square
