The metropolis' new sky park is the crowning glory for a city in full bloom – read the story behind it and why now's the time to visit

“Plants flutter as trains zoom past connecting people and places” reads a yellow sign in a planter overflowing with pink, blue and purple flowers. Peering through criss-crossed steel behind it, I can see canal boats moored below, red brick railway arches and the Science and Industry Museum, a seven-acre site that is home to the world’s oldest-surviving passenger railway station. Nearby, the Roman fort of Mamucium basks in glorious sunshine.

I am 56ft above the historic neighbourhood of Castlefield in central Manchester, standing on Castlefield Viaduct: a new “sky park” that sits atop the Grade II-listed structure of the same name. Built in 1892 by Heenan and Froude, the engineers who worked on Blackpool Tower, the steel structure was permanently closed in 1969 and had been left untouched and undeveloped – until now. 

Over the past five months the National Trust has overseen the introduction of more than 3,000 plants, and trees on the site, many inspired by the city’s heritage – such as cottongrass, the county flower of Greater Manchester – as well as the construction of a seating area. A section has been left untouched to show how nature has reclaimed it. 

Though the project has taken inspiration from similar initiatives around the world, including the Promenade Plantée in Paris, it has been most widely likened to New York’s spectacular High Line, which runs along a former New York Central Railroad spur on the west side of Manhattan – another abandoned structure that has been turned into a pocket of nature. These sites have become huge tourist draws in their respective cities, and it is hoped the viaduct will do the same for Manchester. 

For the next year, up to 100 visitors a day will be able to stroll on the first part of the structure, with further sections to be opened if the new attraction is a success. As well as joining guided walks of the viaduct itself, they will also be able to book on to various city tours, including a food-based walk by Scranchester Tours (which investigates the Roman version of ketchup) and the “Take a detour with a tree tour”, run by City of Trees.

In one of the viaduct’s four garden’s, created by charitable body the Castlefield Forum, is a Corten-steel sculpture featuring quotes that distil what is special about the area. The inscription ends: “Castlefield is authentic and it doesn’t stand still. It showcases what has gone before whilst opening its arms to the future.”

The same could very well be said of Manchester, a city in a constant state of evolution. Already attracting nearly 120 million visitors each year, it is an increasingly tourist-friendly metropolis – and not just for those with a fondness for the Beautiful Game. In addition to endless museums and galleries (the Whitworth recently underwent a £15 million redevelopment and houses the largest collection of “outsider art” in the UK), it is the city’s architecture and history that currently lures visitors from around the world – think Victorian baths, an industrial-age canal network and the incredibly charming old Northern Quarter. But Manchester isn’t about to rest on its laurels.

To the eastern end of the centre, another new green space, Mayfield Park (mayfieldmanchester.co.uk), is due to open this autumn, right next to the already-popular Escape to Freight Island, an urban market and food court. The first new public park created in Manchester’s city centre for more than 100 years, Mayfield will contain 140 new mature trees, more than 120,000 plants and shrubs, and a play area with a slide that twists and turns over the River Medlock.

There are also new concert venues springing up all over the city – good news for the thousands of visitors who come to experience Manchester’s world-famous music scene. The city’s oldest music venue, Band on the Wall (bandonthewall.org), has just undergone an expansion, while the Grade II-listed New Century Hall (newcenturymcr.com), with its “disco ceiling”, will re-open in September with a new food and drink space. For more intimate gigs, a new piano and cabaret bar, Sonata (sonatamcr.com), has recently opened just off St Ann’s Square.

Food-wise, Manchester is constantly upping its game and new culinary additions include the chic Japanese fine-dining restaurant Kitten (kittenrestaurant.com) in Deansgate Square, and the Liverpool-born Maray (maray.co.uk), which serves zingy Middle Eastern inspired dishes just off Albert Square. There is also a new pastry kitchen and café from Manchester favourite Pollen (pollenbakery.com), in the canal-side Kampus neighbourhood.

And now, among all this, you can punctuate your city break with a stroll through a beautiful, peaceful sky garden, too. A city in full bloom, indeed.

Castlefield Viaduct opens today. To find out more and book a visit, go to nationaltrust.org.uk/castlefield-viaduct.

It’s all about industrial chic at this central hotel, with stripped-back plaster, exposed brick and a lobby floor made entirely from discarded pieces of marble. In the restaurant, chef Iain Thomas creates excellent seasonal small plates and desserts. And what of the name? Chosen as it felt “unpretentious and welcoming”, apparently.

Double rooms from £99 per night, breakfast from £4 per person extra (0161 236 8999; thealanhotel.com).

In the new Piccadilly East neighbourhood, around a 10-minute walk or short Metrolink ride from Piccadilly railway station, Leonardo Hotel has been nicknamed “the Jenga building” for its white jutting tower blocks draped in foliage. There’s greenery inside too, from a living wall in reception to cascading leaves in its wellness room, and more geometry in the minimalist bedrooms’ artwork.

Double rooms from £79 per night, breakfast £14 per person extra (0161 527 9300; jurysinns.com).

Allow extra time to relax in this upmarket aparthotel’s 18-metre pool, whirlpool tub and steam room. Next door to sister property CitySuites, and just a five-minute walk from Exchange Square’s shops, CitySuites II opened in January and five penthouse “SuperSuites” were added in July. Muted grey apartments have kitchens with Nespresso machines.

Studio apartments from £120 per night, breakfast £14 per person extra (0161 302 0202; citysuites.com).

Gaze over the city’s rooftops from floor-to-ceiling windows, then step out (almost) right onto bustling St Peter’s Square at the Wilde Aparthotel, one of three Staycity aparthotels in Manchester. Inspired by Oscar Wilde, the hotel’s monochrome apartments are full of his books – which guests are encouraged to leaf through. There are kitchenettes featuring Smeg appliances, and a small fitness room, too.

Studio apartments from £90, breakfast £15 per person extra (0161 398 0160; staycity.com).

Kro Hospitality, owner of the popular Manchester boutique hotel Velvet, is poised to open the similarly luxurious Forty-Seven in October. Housed in a Grade II-listed former shipping warehouse on central Peter Street, its 32 luxurious bedrooms and suites are awash with bold, playful décor, and there will be an Indian fine-dining restaurant, Asha’s, within the hotel.

Double rooms from £149 per night, including breakfast (0161 553 0047; fortysevenmanchester.co.uk).

Explore hotels that have been tried, tested and rated by our experts

Explore hotels that have been tried, tested and rated by our experts

Explore hotels that have been tried, tested and rated by our experts

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