There are three main areas of Manchester where film production happens: in the east of the city at Space Studios and the Sharp Project, in the city centre indie companies cluster between the Northern Quarter and Spinningfields and, in the west, the renowned Media City.
- Space Studios and The Sharp Project
On the east side of the city Space Studios and The Sharp Project are key film industry locations. Built on virtually the same location as iconic Mancunian show ‘Shameless’, Space Studios is a purpose-built studio lot, home to the largest sound stage in Europe, on a par with the Bond stage at Pinewood. Recent productions based there have included series 6 of ‘Peaky Blinders’ and Sky Original’s ‘Intergalactic’. The Sharp Project houses a central campus, with numerous companies such as Brown Bag and Brickhouse; and is also home to smash hit Sky TV series ‘Brassic’.
- City Centre
The city centre is thriving with commercial and indie film companies. From production houses who create high-end commercials and premier football content, to the UK’s biggest regional post-production house and indie film companies making feature films released on Netflix. There are numerous large new developments, including the St John’s development of Old Granada Studios comprising new Arts venue The Factory part of Enterprise City, and N.O.M.A. a larger creative development than Media City. These all make the city centre of Manchester an incredible, transformative and exciting place to be right now.
- Media City
A renowned area of Manchester is, of course, Media City. Predominantly home to what are known as ‘shiny floor’ studio productions from CBBC, BBC Sport and ITV studios. The iconic drama production company RED also have their home here alongside other broadcast TV companies specialising in factual TV.
Manchester is a city where you can sense a buzz of excitement, something revolutionary, around every corner. Known for proud Mancunian swagger and witty humour, the city’s most famous exports include Oscar-winning film director Danny Boyle, countless game-changing bands such as The Smiths, Oasis, and Elbow, as well as of course those world-famous football teams who play in the red and blue shirts.
Continuing the progressive, ground-breaking theme, historical figures from the city include suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst who helped shape the battle for women’s votes, ‘Matchstick Men’ artist LS Lowry, ‘A Clockwork Orange’ author Anthony Burgess, scientists John Dalton (theory of the atom), presenter Professor Brian Cox, and philosopher Fredrich Engels. Historically, Manchester experienced a boom during the Industrial Revolution; its intricate weaving of canals plays homage to its rich industrial heritage and its Victorian nickname ‘Cottonopolis’, as it became the world’s centre for cotton spinning processing.
The Mardi Gras Festival (now Manchester Pride) began in 1985 as a fundraising event for victims of AIDS, thriving in the 90s as a unifying community event, making it a national focal point for change and inclusivity. Contemporary Manchester is now a highly creative city with a diverse cultural scene and a wealth of theatres, galleries, live music and cinemas.
Beyond Manchester’s famous musical heritage, you can soak up some history, art and culture at locations such as Manchester Museum, Manchester City Gallery, MOSI, The Imperial War Museum, The Lowry, Palace Theatre and Manchester Opera House, Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester Craft Centre, HOME, and Bridgewater Hall.
There are plenty of open spaces and green areas in which to take a break and enjoy some fresh air in Manchester.
Just a short walk away from our Bank Chambers campus, you’ll find Piccadilly Gardens – a nice spot to hang out in the sunshine between lectures. A little further south, just off Canal Street, you’ll find Sackville Park, which is home to the Alan Turing memorial statue.
Look a little further afield, and you’ll find Manchester and its surrounding areas are teeming with numerous wide-open spaces to enjoy like Heaton Park, Alexandra Park and many others.
Manchester is a very cyclist-friendly city, with accessible cycle lanes making it a cost-effective way to travel if you live near the city centre. For those relying on public transport, the city boasts an extensive bus network covering Greater Manchester, including a free ‘hop-on, hop-off’ service within the city centre that links the main rail stations and shopping districts.
For other transport options, Manchester is well-serviced by taxis, Uber, and minicabs, with the usual advice to pre-book with licensed firms. The city is a major rail hub with three key train stations offering regular services across the UK, including direct trains to London Euston and connections to cities like Glasgow, Birmingham, and Liverpool, as well as some airports. The Metrolink tram system also provides frequent services across Greater Manchester, connecting areas such as Chorlton, Didsbury, and Salford. Manchester Airport, the nearest major airport, is just 13 miles away, offering international and domestic flights and a half-hour train journey from the city centre.
