See the city from a whole new point of view on a Manchester River Cruises tour

With the days getting longer and the temperatures rising, now is the perfect time to ditch the dry land, hop aboard the Princess Katherine and get ready to spot some of the top attractions along the waterways of Manchester and Salford.

The City River Tour by Manchester River Cruises gives you an insight into the history of the area and a unique view of Manchester including Media City, Old Trafford and the disused dry docks.

Salford Quays has become a must-see on the list of Manchester’s places to visit. Home to the Lowry Arts Theatre, BBC and Granada Studios not to mention a whole host of bars and restaurants, it really is a perfect place to spend the day.

Lucky for me I got to experience this tour first hand. Departing from Spinningfields the 60 minute tour travelled past the new set of the nation’s favourite soap, Coronation Street. We spotted Old Trafford Football Ground, Stephenson’s 1830 Bridge and the Mode Wheel Locks, the last locks on Manchester Ship Canal.

The trip was accompanied by commentary by the captain, who explained the history of the sights and shared some pretty interesting facts about various parts of Manchester.

I was fortunate enough to set sail on a glorious day so I felt like I was cruising around Sydney Harbour. Really.

Seeing the city from a whole new point of view, the sun was shining, prosecco in hand. For a moment it felt like I was on holiday. There’s a lot to look at and it really shows an even more beautiful side to this great city. The time went really quickly but they do say time flies when you are having fun.

There are also a variety of specialty cruises including a Swing and Rat Pack evening, a Soul River evening and a boat to Old Trafford which provides the ultimate way to get to the ground on match days.

If, like me, you fancy something a little livelier, there’s the Boat Tropicana Cruise,  a three-hour trip down the River Irwell that promises a night of old school tunes, bad hair and amazing outfits – and you’ll be greeted with a Blue Lagoon cocktail, which sounds like a great way to get the party started.

Princess Katherine is fully licensed and has a fully stocked bar on board for those who enjoy a tipple whilst soaking up the scenery. Tea and coffee is also available so there’s no need to worry about staying hydrated.

The boat departs daily from the city centre with an optional drop off outside the Lowry Centre up to five times a day.

So why not let the Manchester breeze blow away those cobwebs and explore the city in style with Manchester River Cruises.

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