Wheel of Manchester, The Bridgewater Hall, Beetham Tower, and The Trafford Centre are the main candidates that compete for the title of the major architectural symbol of Manchester. Just like in the first part of the guide, you can watch each monument by viewing its colorful 3D model in the Manchester flyover video on the left. Don’t forget to access our photo gallery and an overview of interesting facts regarding every monument. The map of the most important architecture sights of Manchester (located below this guide) will help you to create your own sightseeing tour through Manchester.
Wheel of Manchester, Manchester
Location on the map: 
Facts:
» It is better to enjoy the panoramic view of Manchester from heights. The Ferris wheel was constructed here in 2004. It was mounted and delivered to the amusement park from Edinburgh. 
Facts:» The wheel is over 50 m high and weighs several tons. It is tens of meters across. A few tens of suspended trolleys for passengers are attached to the rims of the vertical wheel. The trolley seats several people.
» Visitors can reach their seats through a special platform. Dozens of workers used a crane to mount such a construction.
» The mobile wheel is located not far from Manchester Cathedral, in the Millennium Quarter. From the wheel, you can clearly see the Town Hall, the river, and other attractions. The wheel rotates three of four times.
» It is more comfortable to take a ride during daylight hours when the range of vision is up to 30 km. Within an hour, up to 1 000 people manage to take a ride.
» According to the latest data, in April 2012, the city council decided to close and dismantle the wheel due to the Olympic Games.
The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Location on the map: Facts:
» The Bridgewater Hall was built in Spring 1993. It was necessary to renovate the stage area for better symphony orchestra’s sounding. Facts:» The modern concert hall with amazing acoustics was moulded and formed from solid, reinforced concrete. So, the metal structure does not need to be fastened.
» In the building, the level is not solid but flexible. It seems to be at a height of 3 m and is supported by pillars that are not exposed to seismic vibrations. The mass of the building is 22 tons.
» To construct it, modern equipment was used. Due to this, the sound inside is surround. There is also an organ.
» In the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, different music bands that have won international awards perform. They present various music genres here.
» The first recital took place here in September 1996. The opening ceremony was held on 4 December. It was visited by the Queen and the representative of a noble family, the Duke of Edinburgh.
Beetham Tower, Manchester
Location on the map: Facts:
» The Beetham Tower is named like this because it was built by the Beetham Organization. Facts:» The skyscraper was constructed on a thin strip of land, so the construction is considered to be the thinnest in the world.
» The tower is 168 m high. It is the highest tower in Manchester.
» It has 47 floors, 22 of which are occupied by the Hilton Hotel. On the 22nd floor, there is a high cafe called Cloud 23. Other floors are occupied by apartments and penthouses.
» In 2007, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat declared the tower “the best highest building in the world”.
» If the weather is good, the building is seen from 20 nearby counties. When it is windy, the upper part of the skyscraper, a so-called blade, hums eerily, which is heard even at a great distance.
The Trafford Centre, Manchester
Location on the map: Facts:
» The Trafford Centre is a large shopping and entertainment center located in the city surroundings. It was built in 1998. Facts:» Here, you can visit 230 most famous brand shops and three department stores: John Lewis, Debenhams, and Selfridges.
» The walls, staircases, and columns are made of granite and marble. The interior is designed in pink, white, and golden. Decorative elements are made of ivory. In the center of the building, there is an impressive chandelier made of a thousand pieces of Japanese crystal.
» The second floor of the centre is occupied by the Odeon Cinema. There are also Legoland and Aquarium for children. There is a wide range of restaurants and cafes: Pesto, Las Iguanas, Palm D’or, and Carluccio’s
» 8 000 people work in the Trafford Centre. Every year, it is visited by 35 million customers. Near the centre, there is a parking area for 10 000 cars.
