Piccadilly Gardens

Piccadilly Gardens is the central public square of Manchester, England, in the heart of the city centre at the edge of the Northern Quarter. The gardens are laid out with lawns, trees, flower beds and a large fountain display, and the area combines green space with one of the busiest transport interchanges in the city. Piccadilly Gardens Metrolink stop and the bus station sit beside the square, so thousands of commuters and visitors pass through every day. Historically the site was occupied by the Manchester Royal Infirmary, which was demolished in the 1900s, and the open space has been redesigned several times since. Statues stand in the gardens, including a monument to Queen Victoria, and shops, cafes and restaurants line the surrounding streets. Piccadilly Gardens is a gateway to the Northern Quarter, Chinatown and the shopping streets of Market Street. The gardens are open at all times and free to enter. A stop takes about thirty minutes, though many visitors simply use the square as a meeting point or to rest on the lawns between visits to other attractions. On sunny days the lawns and fountains fill with office workers and families, and in the evenings the square can be busy with people heading to bars and restaurants. Visitors should keep an eye on belongings in busy areas, as in any city centre. Piccadilly station is a five-minute walk away, and the Metrolink stop sits on the square. For a quieter experience, morning visits before the commuter rush have the most space, and photographers can capture the fountain jets and the surrounding architecture in good daylight.