Manchester City Centre

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City of Manchester.

Manchester City Centre is at the heart of Manchester, in the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester, North West England. Manchester City Centre has been extensively redeveloped in recent years. This redevelopment was prompted by the IRA bombing of the city in 1996. This event and the awarding of the 2002 Commonwealth Games to the city have proved to be the catalyst for much change in the area.

One of the most notable effects of this redevelopment has been a large increase in property development in the City Centre and there are now nearly 5000 residential properties in the City Centre, mostly in the form of apartments. Well over half of these have been built since 1996. Some of the most notable developments are No. 1 Deansgate and Urban Splash. The prices of these homes has also risen and the first £2 million penthouse was sold in 2002 and due to the promotion, witnessed in other cities in England, of inner city living.

The Castlefield area of the City Centre has seen particular change and now has a vibrant nightlife as well as being home to many houses and offices.

Manchester City Centre has many nightclubs, many of which following in the footsteps of the Haçienda nightclub which has now closed; the site has been redeveloped as a housing complex. There is a large gay village around the Canal Street area of the city centre, which plays host to an annual Mardi Gras, and also the largest Chinatown in Europe with numerous places to eat.

There are a variety restaurants in the City Centre including restaurants owned by famous chefs, Marco Pierre White and Paul Heathcote. There is also a stock of hotels in the area with Manchester's first five-star hotel, the Lowry Hotel opening in the City Centre in 2001.

Manchester City Centre is home to Marks and Spencer, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols stores. Deansgate and Market Street are the city centre's principal retail streets. There is also a large indoor shopping mall called the Manchester Arndale Centre. There are many leisure facilities in the City Centre also with the recent opening of the Printworks, a large facility containing a cinema (including an IMAX screen), numerous bars, clubs and restaurants and also Manchester's first Hard Rock Cafe, contributing further to this.

The Northern Quarter, centred around Oldham Street, is known for its bohemian atmosphere and independent shops and cafes.

The landscaping of the City Centre has also provided many public spaces including the newly developed Piccadilly Gardens, which incorporates fountains, green spaces and a Metrolink station, as well as Exchange Square which is located near the Urbis, which is a museum of city life. There are other museums in Manchester City Centre including the Manchester Museum which contains many ancient artifacts and natural history items and the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry which includes many hands-on exhibits.

The City Centre is a local government ward in the City of Manchester. It is represented by three Liberal Democrat Councillors - Cllr Marc Ramsbottom, Cllr Ken Dobson and Cllr Elaine Boyes.