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Everything You Need to Know about Peel Park in Salford
- What is Peel Park known for?
- Best Time to Go to Peel Park
- Things to Know About Peel Park
- How to Get Around
- What to Do and See in Peel Park
- Take advantage of the new play area
- Explore the Salford Tree Trails with friends
- Enjoy wildlife watching
- Play sports while spending time in nature
- Visit the Salford Museum and Art Gallery
- Where to Eat and Drink near Peel Park
- Atmosphere
- Salford Museum Cafe
- Library Cafe
- Maxwell Restaurant
- The Old Fire Station Bakery
- The View Bar and Restaurant
- Where to Stay Near Peel Park, Salford
- Imperial Salford Hotel
- Holiday Inn Manchester - West
- The Ainscow Hotel
- FAQs about Peel Park in Salford
Peel Park in Salford is well-loved by loads of folks today because of the number of activities you can do here. It’s an ideal place to take the edge off with your mates or have some needed peace and quiet.
What people don’t really know is that Peel Park is also packed with a whole lot of history. Luckily, we’re here to share with you just that, as well as activities and nearby places to visit, so your visit will be a breeze! Read on to know more!
What is Peel Park known for?
The park was the very first public park in the country to be funded entirely by the people. It opened in the year 1846 and has been free to use for all Salford residents since then.
Peel Park is named after Sir Robert Peel, a Prime Minister from 1834 to 1835 and from 1841 to 1846. He’s known for setting and modernising Britain’s social and economic policies, making a massive impact on the lives of those living in Salford at the time.
Nowadays, it remains a beautiful and peaceful park open to families seeking a quick holiday or students looking for a study break. So if you’re looking to visit the park and Salford in general, here’s a trusty guide to the best activities, grub, and lodging.
Best Time to Go to Peel Park
It’s best to go to Peel Park during the warmer months, from January to October. This is so you can fully enjoy playing sports, walking, and hanging out at the park.
Things to Know About Peel Park
Opening: The park is open all the time, even on holidays. So it’s a great place to go when you’re off work or bored on holiday.
Parking: There’s paid parking at the Salford Museum and Art Gallery that costs around £2.50 for three hours; if it’s past that but below six hours, you’ll pay £5.50. If it’s over six hours, it will set you back £9.
How to Get Around
By bus: You can take the V1, V2, 8, 35, 36, 37, 38, 50, 67, and 100. Any of these buses will take you right outside the university front entrance, which will take you to Peel Park.
What to Do and See in Peel Park
Take advantage of the new play area
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Little ones will be thrilled to know that Peel Park has a massive play area with plenty of structures to climb, slide, and swing on. There are sand diggers, a zip wire, a slide, large swings, see-saws, and a hexagon climbing frame. There’s loads of space to run around too!
For parents, picnic tables are provided near the play area. You can bring your own picnic basket for an old-school feel.
Explore the Salford Tree Trails with friends
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Peel Park Rangers and the Environmental Sustainability Team worked together to come up with three routes that you can complete on your own or with a group. These are the Yellow trail, Blue trail, and Red trail.
These trails will take you to 25 unique trees around the University of Salford, Peel Park, The Meadow, and David Lewis Playing Fields. The downloadable guide can give you useful information about the different kinds of trees.
Once you get to the specific tree, you’ll know you’ve found it because each one has a plaque with a QR code. Scanning those QR codes on your phone will bring more information about each species.
The Yellow Trail takes around 30 minutes to complete, and you’ll see trees like Cherry, Holly, Horse chestnut, White willow, among others. Fair warning, some parts of the yellow trail tend to become quite muddy – so wear appropriate shoes when you go.
Meanwhile, the Blue Trail is approximately a kilometre long and takes about 40 minutes to finish. On this trail, you’ll learn more about the English oak, Eucalyptus, Lime, etc.
Finally, the Red Trail is about a kilometre as well and takes 30 minutes to explore. You’ll get the chance to learn about Hazel, Field maple, Ash trees, and so much more.
Enjoy wildlife watching
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Bird and wildlife enthusiasts enjoy Peel Park because it’s home to numerous species of animals. Since there are plenty of trees, open grass, plus the fact that it’s close to a river, plenty of birds live here. You’ll see kingfishers, cormorants, and little grebes hunting for food by the water.
Birding is a growing hobby among locals. It’s not uncommon to find Swallows and Sand Martins here pecking on insects along the river and in the grassy areas. You can try this too, just bring your trusty binoculars and keen senses.
Aside from birds, you’ll also see snails, earthworms, butterflies, and bees here. If you’re bringing children, it’s a fantastic way for them to learn about these different species while getting sunshine and (literally) touching grass.
The park holds wildlife watching activities at times that you can join. Some activities they do that you can participate in include wild food foraging, mushroom hunting, and identifying bird songs.
Play sports while spending time in nature
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The park has plenty of open spaces where you can bring friends for a friendly yet competitive game of whatever you fancy – whether that’s cricket, football, or ultimate. Aside from sports, you can also get your steps in, cycle, or run.
If you’re up for something challenging, you can check out the Salford Trail. The route is about 80 kilometres long within the city of Salford.
Visit the Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Media Credit: Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Website
Address: Crescent
Business Hours:
- Tuesday-Friday (9:30 AM – 4 PM)
- Saturday-Sunday (11:30 AM – 4 PM)
- Closed on Mondays
Contact: +44 161 778 0800
If you’re visiting, don’t miss the chance to learn more about Salford’s history, check out Victorian art, and admire Victorian architecture at the nearby Salford Museum and Art Gallery.
The park has always been a treasure trove for learning. It’s a common sight for university students filming projects, surveying land, sampling for research, or hosting fairs.
Where to Eat and Drink near Peel Park
Atmosphere
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Website
Menu
Address: University House, University Rd
Pricing: $
Business Hours: Daily (11 AM – late)
Atmosphere is a food and drinks venue at the University of Salford. It’s a popular spot because something is ALWAYS happening here. The vibe is fun, loud, and everything college is supposed to be.
Every week there’s live music, events like quiz nights, and sports on the TVs. The best part? The grub and booze come in student-friendly prices.
They have a wide selection of beers and cocktails, but some showstoppers are the Mango Monster Mash and Blue Lagoon. Their fried chicken and small plates are flavour bombs and definite must-tries!
Salford Museum Cafe
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Website
Pricing: $
Business Hours:
- Tuesday-Friday (9:30 AM – 4 PM)
- Saturday-Sunday (11:30 AM – 4 PM)
- Closed on Mondays
Contact: +44 161 778 0800
After exploring the museum, you can grab a bite to eat at the Salford Museum Cafe. It’s a non-profit cafe that has a great view of Peel Park. They serve hot food until 2:30 PM, after which they only serve snacks until 4 PM.
There are plenty of hot and cold lunch options, but the salads are very filling and tasty. They also have a good selection of strong and delicious coffee.
Library Cafe
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Website
Menu
Address: The University of, Peel Park Campus
Pricing: $
Business Hours:
- Monday-Friday (8 AM – 3 PM)
- Closed on weekends
If you love to read or need to get some work done, the Library Cafe is the place for you because it’s located right inside the university library. They offer freshly-brewed coffee and pastries that are the perfect pick-me-ups after a long day.
Some comforting treats here include the hot paninis and toasties. They also have assorted soft drinks, crisps, and other snacks when you’re feeling snacky.
Maxwell Restaurant
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Address: Maxwell Building, The University of Peel Park Campus
Pricing: $
Business Hours:
- Monday-Friday (8 AM – 10:30 AM; 11:00 AM – 2 PM)
- Closed on weekends
If you’re looking for a halal spot, Maxwell Restaurant is a good option. They offer six themed menus, which are served on rotation. So if you like Indian, Mexican, and Italian food, you’ll love it here.
We love their fish and chips for a quick and satisfying treat that can easily be brought to the park. Note, however, that this is only available on Fridays.
They have a build-your-own breakfast sandwich stall in the mornings and a jacket potato bar that’s available all week long.
The Old Fire Station Bakery
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Website
Pricing: $$
Address: 47 Albion Pl, Crescent
Business Hours:
- Tuesday-Wednesday (8 AM – 4 PM)
- Thursday (8 AM – 8 PM)
- Friday (8 AM – 9 PM)
- Saturday (9 AM – 4 PM)
- Closed on Sundays
Contact: +44 161 295 2155
The Old Fire Station Bakery is a cafe, bar, and bakery. What makes it stand out is that it serves good sourdough bread made from organic and local ingredients. They have a wide range of pastries and cakes that are beautifully crafted and delicious.
Their coffee is also sustainably and ethically sourced, supplied by a local independent roaster.
The View Bar and Restaurant
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Website
Menu
Pricing: $$
Address: 47 Brunel Ave
Business Hours:
- Monday-Friday (12 PM – 8 PM)
- Saturday-Sunday (9:30 AM – 8 PM)
Contact: +44 7508 818682
If you’re looking for something different, The View Bar and Restaurant is a good bet. It’s the only resto-bar on this list that overlooks an action sports facility.
We love that they use quality produce and source local ingredients for their meals.
For food, their Graystone burger, Korean crispy chicken sandwich, and Tandoori chicken wrap are amazing. Plus, they have mad drinks here – organic coffee, bespoke cocktails, and draught beer.
Where to Stay Near Peel Park, Salford
Imperial Salford Hotel
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Website
Address: 2 Cross Ln
Contact: +441619250387
Imperial Salford Hotel offers budget-friendly hotel rooms that are clean and comfortable – perfect for short stays. The vibe of the hotel is very cosy and it’s frequented by people in town for both business and leisure.
They have the usual inclusions – a kettle and coffee maker, en-suite bathroom, fast Wi-Fi, iron and ironing board, free toiletries, and free parking.
Holiday Inn Manchester – West
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Website
Address: Liverpool St.
Contact: +441617430080
With branches all around the world, Holiday Inn is known for its consistent and hospitable service. The branch in Manchester West is no different and is a good option for a staycation when you visit Salford.
You get a complimentary breakfast with your stay, and kids eat for free. Other inclusions are free Wi-Fi, daily housekeeping, free parking, printing services, free toiletries, a bathtub, and heated showers. Of course, you’ll also get access to hotel amenities such as the pool, gym, and spa.
The Ainscow Hotel
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Website
Address: Тrinity Way
Contact: +44 161 827 1650
This 4-star hotel is just a three-minute stroll from the Salford Central Railway Station. It used to be a brewery but has now been restored to be a boutique hotel.
They have an on-site car park here; however, you’ll have to pay a fee. The hotel rooms here blend modern touches with Victorian charm.
It features inclusions commonly expected from 4-star hotels, such as flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi, en-suite bathrooms, bathtubs, on-site laundry areas, separate living spaces for deluxe suites, and sofa beds available upon request.
