Castlefield Viaduct

Castlefield Viaduct is a Victorian steel viaduct on Castle Street in Castlefield, Manchester, England, built in the 1890s to carry the railway across the canal basin. It was long disused and fell into neglect before the National Trust turned it into a temporary sky park, a garden in the sky planted with trees, shrubs and wildflowers along the elevated deck. The project was trialled as a pilot and is run seasonally, so access is limited to certain dates and times that the National Trust announces on its website. Visitors climb stairs or take a lift to the deck, then walk along the planted route, which gives elevated views of the Castlefield canal basin, the neighbouring Victorian viaducts, the Beetham Tower and the city skyline. The viaduct is one of the less well-known places in Castlefield and is a good counterpoint to the Roman fort and the busy canal-side terraces below. A visit takes around 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how long visitors stay in the planted areas. Weekend afternoons are the usual time for visits when it is open, and weekday mornings can be calmer. Entry details, including any fee or timed ticket, should be checked in advance because the pilot has changed over time. The Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink stop is a short walk, and the viaduct sits close to the Science and Industry Museum, the Roman fort and the Bridgewater Canal towpath. The nearby bars and cafes on the basin make it easy to extend the visit with a drink or a meal, and the views from the deck are particularly good in clear weather, when the skyline and the canal basin can both be seen at once. Visitors who are interested in industrial heritage may find the viaduct a good complement to the museum next door, since both tell the story of how transport shaped the city.