Manchester Street Photography Spots - Top Ten
Manchester is a city full of incredible street photography spots; combining its industrial roots, modern upheaval, and a constant stream of interesting characters waiting to be snapped!
Here is my list of Manchester’s top ten street photography spots, in order of nearest from Victoria Station, with a map at the end.
The Printworks
Reflections of The Printworks - Dave Carl Lawrence
The Printworks and the junction of Corporation St and Withy Grove is one of the first areas many visitors come to when leaving Victoria Station - a perfect introduction to Manchester.
This area has the red brick buildings of old, sitting side by side with ultra sleek modern architecture, big digital billboards and trams whizzing by.
A real mixture of old and new in one spot.
The footfall here is heavy all day, with people both rushing to their next destination and relaxing outside The Corn Exchange.
Tip: Check out the Cathedral Gardens behind the National Football Museum to find skateboarders and more people sat around.
2. Northern Quarter Graffiti Backdrops
Northern Quarter Graffiti, Tib Street - Dave Carl Lawrence
The Northern Quarter is littered with amateur and professional graffiti - adding colour and interest to your street photography.
There are two places in particular that are well known and are guaranteed to have something interesting at any given time. The above image is on the corner of Tib St and Thomas St, and the other popular area is on Stevenson Square around the corner.
These works are collectively known as Out House - a street art project that allows local artists to decorate the once ugly and now unused toilet blocks, and others walls in this area.
Quite often these pieces of art are related to current world events, so it really places your shot at a moment in time. Out House projects are replaced every three months, so they are great to return to every now and then to have a different backdrop to your street photography.
3. St Ann’s Passage
St Ann’s Passage - Dave Carl Lawrence
I love quirky little passageways like these - dramatic and thought provoking. You tend to wait a little longer for a good subject but these places are great without them too if you don’t fancy sticking around.
If you've got a taste for passageways after this shot, there's another one really close to this one called Dalton Entry which I also recommend.
I’m sure there’s more around the city, if you know of any let me know in the comments at the bottom of this article.
4. Back Street China Town
Back Street China Town - Dave Carl Lawrence
Manchester is full of back streets and alleyways dotted around the centre like this one. Reminiscent of New York with narrow connecting streets and steel staircases dripping down tall red buildings.
I'd recommend avoiding this particular street mid afternoon, as the sun sits directly overhead. The shadows are better here in the morning and late afternoon.
This one is a firm favourite among photographers and leads us nicely onto the next spot on this list.
5. Chinatown Arch
Chinatown Arch - Dave Carl Lawrence
A classic shot in any city that has one, the Chinatown Arch.
It’s always nice to step into Chinatown and feel like you’ve been transported into a different city - a quick change of pace.
This street runs parallel to the previous spot in this list, but the lighting conditions aren’t as troublesome as you’re facing away from the sun in mid afternoon.
The people here range from locals shopping, having a cigarette on their work break, to tourists standing around taking phone pictures.
6. St Peter’s Square Arches
Arches at St Peter’s Square - Dave Carl Lawrence
Possibly the most popular shot on this list, it seems everyone has a picture of these archways next to the Central Library.
The changing natural light throughout the day can be used to your advantage, aswell as the artifical lights in the evening that create a very different look.
7. St Peters Square Tram Lines
St Peter’s Square Tram Stop - Dave Carl Lawrence
When I first started photographing Manchester, this shot appeared time and time again on Instagram while searching around. It’s an iconic shot.
The way the tram lines cross over each other and act as leading lines in the foreground is a thing of beauty. I often wonder how many non photographers step over these every day without noticing the pleasing pattern they make.
Tip: Follow the tram lines onto Lower Mosley Street, where many people take similar shots with oncoming trams closer to the Tower Of Light and distant high rises.
8. Deansgate Steps
Deansgate Steps - Dave Carl Lawrence
This classic shot at Deansgate tram stop is taken from a few different angles by local photographers.
Usually, the common goal is trying to isolate the steps against a brighter sky behind it - giving a minimal contrasty look, that leaves the viewer wondering how high these steps really are.
9. Deansgate Footbridge
Deansgate Footbridge - Dave Carl Lawrence
I’m not sure if there’s a story behind the design of this footbridge connecting Deansgate train station to the tram stop, but it’s certainly unique with its big steel arch that gives an interesting perspective to the towers of Deansgate Square in the distance.
The symmetry and leading lines are great and it’s possible to get some red skies at sunset if you are lucky.
10. Castlefield Railway Viaducts
Castlefield Viaducts - Dave Carl Lawrence
These Victorian iron bridge structures make great subjects. Intimidating as they loom over you, you'll enjoy trying to find the right composition here.
The shadows move constantly as the sun travels across the sky, so take that into consideration when finding the right lighting.
Footfall around here isn’t as high as the other places, so if you're wanting some people in your frame, be prepared to wait for the right shot.
This area of Castlefield offers a lot of great shots, and a very relaxed, industrial feel compared to the rest of the city centre.
Here is an interactive map you can save and share with all the locations tagged.
Any top ten list is subjective, but these ten are extremely popular with local photographers.
There is a real satisfaction in finding a new angle or a completely new spot, and that should always be an aim when exploring a city for the first or hundredth time.
Tag me on Instagram if you take some photos in Manchester!
