Albert Square

I love Albert Square in Manchester its where the Town Hall is and it hosts many great events from great food festivals, the amazing Christmas markets and many other events, There is also a handful of great restaurants around the edge of Albert Square as well.

Nothing to much to go into here. Albert square is an outdoor space surrounded by nice restaurants, cafes and bars.
During the winter time the Christmas markets set up all around here so there’s plenty to see and buy and taste.
Albert square is where the Christmas lights were switched on this year with a huge fireworks display and a rather large lit up Santa clause. Very pretty.

Very festive and magical during Christmas time. However, there is something missing. Christmas carols or festive bands! I wish they’d add some entertainment here. It’s a cute square and a great place for festive events especially for travelers who want to visit in December, but on its own, there isn’t much around.

Really miss being in Manchester this time of year when the weather is getting extra chilly and the Christmas markets abound soon. Whilst the Christmas markets are in different locations of the city centre, the largest one (to me) is in Albert Square. Nothing is as nice to see when approaching the square but the lovely teddy bear with its Christmas hat on. Oh my, I do have to return again soon and partake in all of the lovely atmosphere.

Seems that if any outdoor events are happening in Manchester City Centre it will be here. It is named after Prince Albert, I guess the son of Queen Victoria or something. When cars increased it overloaded the city by traffic and the city decided to bring back trams instead. Amazing how small it was in the 1950’s and amazing how intelligent it was to rebuke car society.

I spent my youth overlooking Albert Square, I worked from Carlton House overlooking the square for five years and during that time, come summer, autumn, winter and spring, I enjoyed all the events and activities with the changing seasons.
It was a great place to people watch. A great place to sit down with my sarnies on lunch breaks (weather permitting) and a place I caught my cabs home from, late at night.
It holds wonderful memories over many years when New Years were celebrated here police orchastras played and markets, and christmas trees brought everyone together. Some of you should go back over the archives and see how this hub of this city was, and remains today a popular place for all ages and events.

What an awesome part of Manchester Albert Square is. It’s a huge, cobbled square right by the incredible and imposing architecture of the town hall.
There’s plenty of benches to have a sit down and take it all in, with a fountain and a few statues dotted around as well to offer a bit of character too. Sometimes when I’m here it’s almost a bit like I’m in some German city square instead of Manchester. I’m sure a few cafes with outdoor seating spilling out on to the square would sort that one out…
It would be nice if there wasn’t some traffic going around three sides, but then that’s just a minor complaint.
Albert Square is often the venue for council-​organised goings-​on in Manchester, for things like the Christmas markets and more besides.

Manchester was granted the status of the city in 1853, and by that time the city centre had already attracted some criticism. Like the Russian St. Petersburg was build on the marshy grounds, so was Manchester’s Albert Square created on the spot of slums. And just like St. Petersburg in Russia, it has become the refined and popular focal point of the city. Its cobbles, monuments, the fountain and the Town Hall in Gothic style all together make Albert Square an impressive public space.
The reconstruction began in 1866, and the centerpiece was the Albert Memorial. It was designed by Thomas Worthington, the same student of John Ruskin’s ideas who worked on the Old Crown Court in Minshull St. The square houses the old Town Hall, the Jubilee Fountain, and several statues. It is flanked by Cross St and Princess St, and can be accessed and photographed from various side streets.
In the recent years Albert Square has been the regular venue for Christmas fair as well as some festivals. In 2009 it played the host to the Manchester International Festival Pavilion, the Arts biennale.

Albert Square really is awesome. Alongside the beautiful buildings of Manchester Central Library and Manchester Town Halls are a few nice cafes and restaurants which makes Albert Square a great place to wonder round and stop for coffee, munch or beer.
As Thomas says its also the centre of Manchester and this makes it a place to go if there’s any kind of event on, be that Christmas Markets or a strange cycling festival I recently witnessed.
If you’re new to Manchester or are showing a visitor the sites I would recommend Albert Square as the place to start. Its almost equidistant from Deansgate, Oxford Road and Manchester Piccadilly, so its an ideal stop to begin your tour of central Manchester.

Albert square is awesome. It’s that simple. The hubbub of all Manchester festivals its a rare occasion when you pass across the square without at least one marquee in site plugging something local or of a special origin. Every Christmas time it is the centre piece of the Christmas markets with hundreds lining the streets with Bavarian food and Christmas trees. Any other time of year includes festivals, live music and what have you. Additionally albert square is the número uno point for people watching, sit on a bench and enjoy the flows of humans day in day out. If your lucky you could see the mayor of Manchester and her crazy hair (for someone who is so high ranking she has shock blonde hair with a blue streak in it, how cool?), she has a specially designated car with the Manchester crest of the side of it, so keep your eyes peeled!