From Longsight to Lyme Park: XS Manchester’s favourite places around the city

It’s Manchester Day on Sunday. To mark the occasion, we asked presenters from XS Manchester, the radio station for Manchester from Manchester, to share their favourite places in and around the city.

Sophie Svenisson – Breakfast Presenter

“For me it has to be Lyme Park in Stockport. There is so much to do there, and it is perfect for all the family. From the children’s play area and café to exploring the gardens and the house itself, you can go back time and again and still find something new and exciting. But with all that on offer, still one of my favourite things to do there is to simply relax in the grounds with a family picnic – especially when the weather is nice. It is our escape from the city’s concrete jungle.”

Hywel Evans – Mid-morning Presenter

“As a longstanding south Manchester resident, one of my top recommendations would have to be Longsight, which may be surprising to some people. When you first see it, it is a total mess, a complete traffic jam of cars and people. But once you get to know it, spend time in it and understand its unique beauty you will love it too. Spending an afternoon there is like a trip around the world, in just a few hours, without even leaving Manchester. One minute you will find yourself enjoying a Pakistani mango (if you haven’t already tried this, then you need to), then the next minute I’m eating a pitta filled with the most amazing meat, before you find yourself buying spices you’d usually only see in a Michael Palin documentary. And I’m not the only one who loves it. Ian Brown sang:

Lets the stars shine on,
Until the break of dawn,
Let the stars shine on,
And let her move, move like a queen,
Of Longsight M13.

Clint Boon – Drive-time Presenter

“As a lifelong Manchester resident, I could talk for days about Manchester’s great history and the spots of the city that have a rich and interesting story behind them. But one thing we know about this city is that it’s always changing and developing, and one of the best examples of this Spinningfields. My current commute to XS Manchester every day takes me past the bars, restaurants, apartments and offices that have turned Spinningfields into an urban metropolis. It is aesthetically beautiful, full of interesting people and is on par to anywhere I’ve visited on my travels around the world. The whole development is a credit to the architects, designers, planners, builders and tradesmen that have created it. Every day it brings a smile to my face and a little extra heartbeat to my old Mancunian heart.”

Jim Salveson – Evening Show Presenter

“Our city has inspired some great music and when you visit many of these places featured in the songs you can understand why they were the muses to some of Manchester’s best musicians. The Stone Roses wrote Mersey Paradise about Chorlton Water Park and it really is an oasis in the city. It is a South Manchester mecca, ideal for sun-seekers (on the rare glimpse of sunshine), families, dog walkers, or anyone who wants a peaceful escape. The miles of tracks heading both ways along the Mersey are the perfect place to find some head space, whether you use them for running, walking or simply sitting by the water’s edge.”

Steve Berry – Breakfast Presenter

“Technically Salford, but just a few minutes’ walk from Deansgate, Chapel Street offers a charming contrast to the bustling city centre. With a huge range of independent restaurants and cafes, as well as some of the region’s best pubs nearby, such as The King’s Arms and The Eagle. These pubs have been here for hundreds of years and have seen the city grow, change and develop, and they’ve managed to keep up. Remaining true to their roots; serving great food and beer, but now offering live music and even comedy, they are still attracting crowds old and new.”

Which are your favourite places?

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