Coming to Salford University for a graduation or open day? From its campus packed with history to the bright lights of MediaCityUK right on its doorstep, you’ll find it an interesting - and varied - place to visit.
Situated just outside Manchester city centre, the majority of campus buildings are in or around leafy Peel Park, which makes the University incredibly picturesque. Peel Park was one of the first public parks to be opened in the UK and a recent refurbishment has restored much of its Victorian charm.
The University can trace its history back to Victorian times, too. Originally called the Royal Technical Institute, it was opened in 1896 to meet the needs of businesses during the Industrial Revolution. The main Peel building was built in this year and original features like its red-brick facade and elegant concert hall are a must-see for history lovers.
The university has remained true to its industrial heritage and today, some 20,000 students enrolled on a full alphabet of vocational courses, from accounting to zoology, many taught by professionals in the field. In fact, one of Britain’s most celebrated comedians, Peter Kay, has delivered guest lectures on the University’s ‘Comedy Writing and Performance’ course.
With a state-of the-art sports and media centre, great bars and cafes and even a museum on campus, there are plenty of things to see while you’re at Salford University. And, in the unlikely event that you run out of things to do, there’s always the bright lights of the city of Manchester just minutes down the road.
To get your visit off to a great start, why not book into one of our Manchester hotels? There’s a Premier Inn near Salford University (the Manchester City Centre West hotel) that makes a great base for exploring the area.
Salford University
Salford University
Salford University
Layout
There are three campuses at Salford University. Peel Park and Frederick Road are adjacent to each other, while MediaCityUK is slightly further away, at Salford Quays.
Peel Park
Peel Park is Salford Uni’s main campus and where you’ll find most of its facilities and amenities, from the bar to the sports centre. It’s home to a mix of Victorian and contemporary architecture, with the historic Peel building sitting side by side with the bang-up-to-date New Adelphi - the latest addition to campus, which boasts a large theatre and recording facilities.
MediaCityUK
Salford is the only University to have a presence at MediaCityUK, Manchester’s waterfront area where both the BBC and ITV have headquarters. It opened its doors in 2011 and provides courses to 1,500 media students. If you’re visiting, make sure you check out Salford Quays while you’re here, with its legendary bars and cultural hotspots.
Frederick Road
Head to the Frederick Road campus to have a look at the University’s industry-standard health facilities. Frederick Road is home to the Schools of Health Sciences and Nursing, Midwifery, Social Work and Social Sciences and it’s here that you’ll find practice clinics, a mock hospital ward and a human performance lab.
Essential information
From campus tours to open days, Salford University welcomes visitors throughout the year. The address for the main Peel Park campus is University of Salford, The Crescent M5 4WT. Don’t rely on Internet access when you get here, as there’s no wifi available for visitors. If you just fancied looking around, guided campus tours are available throughout term times on Wednesday afternoons.
Open days can be booked at the University’s website. They run between 10am and 4pm and are structured flexibly, so you get to choose the talks and tours you want, at times that suit you. You’ll see all three campuses, and speak to academic staff and current students.
Graduation
If you’re here to watch a loved one graduate, ceremonies take place at Maxwell House on the main Peel campus or at The Lowry at the MediaCityUK campus. Each graduating student gets two complimentary guest tickets, but additional ones can be booked online at the University’s website.
Accessibility
If you have additional requirements, let the University know in advance and they’ll do everything they can to accommodate you. Before your visit, download the free AccessAble Salford Uni app which has detailed information on lecture halls, cafes and bars, toilets and halls of residence.
Things to do near Salford University
There’s so much to see and do near Salford University, you may decide to make a weekend of it. Right on campus in Peel Park is the Salford Museum and Art Gallery. It's a stunning Victorian brick building with great views across the park. There’s a cute cafe, a Victorian Gallery filled with high gothic art and a Northern Gallery crammed with the work of local artists. But best of all is the recreation of a Victorian street called Lark Hill Place - full of intricate detail and complete with sound effects.
If you’re a footie fan, you’ll be pleased to hear that Salford is the closest university to Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium where you can take a tour, visit the museum or just part with some cash at the megastore.
Eating and drinking
With a raft of eating and drinking options, both on campus and beyond, there’s no need to let a rumbling tum spoil your Salford University visit.
Atmosphere
From an evening drink to a morning coffee, this newly revamped campus bar and kitchen is the place to go. With super stylish decor and lots of communal seating, it’s a great option if there’s a group of you who want to sit together. Serving food until 9pm and drinks until 11pm, the bar has a great range of hotdogs, burgers, pizzas and vegetarian options. The cafe is open until 5pm and while you won’t find any alcohol, there are hot drinks, sandwiches and breakfast options available.
SALFOOD
These little University cafes can be found all over campus, with outlets at Adelphi, Allerton, Mary Seacole, Clifford Whitworth, Chapman, Crescent House, Maxwell, MediaCityUK and Newton. Serving great coffee from Costa, they’re the perfect place to grab a hot drink and tasty lunch, with some outlets also offering a branch of Subway. Look out for themed days, like Mexican week with its burrito specials, or chip shop Fridays to get your fix of cod in batter.
The Botanist
If you’ve just had a graduation ceremony at the Lowry, why not book into the Botanist at MediaCityUK for a special lunch? There are great views over Salford Quays and a cute garden theme, full of trinkets and plants, but that’s not all that’s on the menu. Each of its cocktails has a botanical theme, from the floral Lemon and Jasmine Collins to the fruity Blackberry Royale. Onto the food, where nibbles like fried whitebait and baked camembert served with apple slices are there to tempt you. But make sure you leave room for the Botanist’s famous hanging kebabs. Available in chicken, salmon, salt and pepper pork or halloumi, they’re the most talked about item on the menu.
The Dockyard
Just across the road from Salford University’s MediaCityUK building is this buzzing bar and restaurant. It’s normally filled with MediaCity workers and residents, drawn by the Dockyard’s mantra of ‘proper beer, proper food, proper pub’. So break up your campus tour in style with a tasty, relaxed lunch here, sat at one of its quirky tables made of reclaimed wood - the decor is industrial, but still manages to be comfy. Choose from hotdogs, ribs and sandwiches, or go for the speciality they’re most famous for - the Dockyard Mac burgers. To wash it down there’s a great range of craft beers, real ales and an extensive list of wine, gin and rum. Or try one of their signature Docktails.
Getting to Salford University
The campus is less than two miles away from Manchester's city centre and takes just minutes on the bus. Alternatively, come by train because Salford University has its own station.
By car
On-site parking is limited for students, but if you’re coming for an open day or graduation you are allowed to park free of charge at the Irwell Place car park. From the city centre, follow signs for Salford and then signs for the University of Salford which will direct you to the A6.
By bus
There are several buses that serve the main Peel Park campus and the Frederick Road campus. These include the 8, 12, 26, 31, 32, X34, 36, 37, 38 and the X61. The number 50 bus takes you to MediaCityUK and runs every ten to 15 minutes from Manchester city centre via the main Peel Park campus.
By train
Salford Crescent station is on campus between Peel Park and Allerton. Direct services run to and from Manchester Airport, Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria. Coming from further afield? Inter-city services use Manchester Piccadilly and from there it’s a ten minute train journey to Salford Crescent.