Manchester Arndale, Shopping mall in Manchester, England
Manchester Arndale is a large shopping mall in the city centre of Manchester, England. It spans several floors and houses a wide range of shops for clothing, electronics, and everyday goods, alongside a food court and multiple restaurant options.
Manchester Arndale opened in 1975 as part of a broader effort to modernise the city centre and replace older streets with a new retail space. After a bombing in 1996 caused serious damage, the centre was rebuilt and redesigned, emerging with a brighter interior and updated layout.
Manchester Arndale is a regular gathering point for people living in and around the city. On weekends and holidays, the corridors fill up with shoppers, families, and groups of friends meeting for a meal or a browse.
The mall sits right in Manchester city centre and is easy to reach on foot from several nearby tram stops and bus stops. Lifts are available for those with pushchairs or limited mobility, and the wide corridors make it straightforward to move between levels.
When it opened, the exterior of the Arndale was widely criticised for its plain concrete and tile facade in dull colours, with some calling it one of the ugliest buildings in the country. Parts of that original facade are still visible today, creating a sharp contrast with the updated interior.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
