Whitworth Park, Manchester

Whitworth Park is a large public park located to the south east of Manchester city centre. It forms part of the academic heart of the city, as it adjoins the main campuses of Manchester’s two universities – the University of Manchester, and Manchester Metropolitan University further north. The park is 18 acres in size and houses some student residences within its boundaries. It also contains the popular Whitworth Art Gallery, and faces one of Manchester’s most historic hospitals, The Manchester Royal Infirmary, relocated from the city centre in the Edwardian era.

Whitworth remains a popular attraction for tourists and local residents, as one of the closest public country parks to the city centre; it can be found on the corner of Moss Lane and Wilmslow Road in the suburb of Chorlton. The park is named after Joseph Whitworth, a local inventor and philanthropist who leased the park to the city council in 1904. The area possesses an abundance of green space in the form of park land and forests, and is ideal for an afternoon walk or family day out. As with many city parks, opening hours tend to revolve around daylight hours, with evening access to the park available in the summer months.