What To See in Salford – 7 Secret & Strange Places
When you think of Salford, you might picture MediaCity, the Lowry, or Old Trafford just across the Irwell. But there’s far more to discover—if you know where to look. Behind the modern waterfront and urban sprawl lies a hidden Salford, full of unusual museums, historic curiosities, and streets frozen in time.
Here are 7 of the most secret and strange places to see in Salford this summer—all drawn from Manchester – Secret & Strange Places to Visit by Paul Chrystal.
1. Lark Hill Place (Inside Salford Museum & Art Gallery)
Peel Park
This is Salford’s best-kept time-travel experience. Step through the doors of the museum and suddenly you’re walking a cobbled Victorian street, complete with shop windows, flickering gas lamps, and eerie shadows. It’s an immersive, nostalgic—and slightly spooky—peek into 19th-century life.
2. Salford Lads Club
Ordsall, near Regent Road
Famous the world over for The Smiths album cover, this 1903 youth club is more than just a music landmark. Inside you’ll find the Smiths Room, packed with fan photos, memorabilia, and tributes. The club is still in use today, and guided visits reveal layers of fascinating history behind the red-brick facade.
3. The Working Class Movement Library
The Crescent
Housed in an old nurses’ home, this library is a treasure trove of political pamphlets, banners, and radical publications. From suffrage to strikes, it’s a compact but powerful tribute to the working-class movements that shaped Greater Manchester and beyond.
4. Salford Quays’ Historic Crane
Outside The Lowry
Among the sleek glass and modern builds of Salford Quays stands one of its last original dock cranes—rusted, proud, and defiant. It’s a strange survivor from the days when this area bustled with cargo ships and grime, rather than galleries and studios. A quiet but powerful reminder of Salford’s industrial soul.
5. The Old Pint Pot’s Secret Garden
Adelphi Street
This riverside pub is a popular student haunt, but most people miss the best part—a hidden garden at the back with views across the River Irwell, away from traffic and noise. It’s a peaceful, green pocket in the city where stories and pints flow freely.
6. The Church of the Ascension, Lower Broughton
Ascension Road
You’d never guess that this modest church houses a dramatic collection of pre-Raphaelite stained glass. Inside is a glowing kaleidoscope of colour and history, including works by William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones. It’s a work of art hidden in a residential neighbourhood.
7. Peel Park – The People’s Park
Opposite Salford University
Opened in 1846, this was Britain’s first public park funded by the people, for the people. Queen Victoria herself visited it. Though it fell into neglect for years, it’s been beautifully restored and now reveals sculptures, winding paths, and echoes of Victorian grandeur.
Ready to Explore the Real Salford?
These seven sites are just a taste of what Salford has to offer. Whether you’re into industrial history, secret gardens, political firebrands or musical legends, there’s more here than meets the eye.
You’ll find all of these and many more in Manchester – Secret & Strange Places to Visit—an illustrated guide packed with over 100 hidden, strange and remarkable locations across Manchester, Salford and Stockport.
Available now from local bookshops and online. Order here https://destinworld.com/product/manchester-secret-and-strange-places-to-visit-book/
