Head oop North for quay to Manchester

By 'eck it's grim oop North chuck. Well, that's what some folk would have you believe. I must admit my preconceptions of Salford had me raise an eyebrow when I was first asked to visit the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester.

For me, think Salford and it conjures images of Morrissey and the rest of the 80s band The Smiths outside the iconic 'Lads Club' but more so I think of one of the area's most traditional sons, who is now somewhat ironically celebrated in the most modern of ways.

Artist L S Lowry documented life in Greater Manchester like no other, with his famous Matchstick paintings evoking a time of industry and more generally the everyday folk.

His work is now celebrated in a superb gallery, housed within The Lowry – an arts centre with a contemporary theatre, nestled alongside the waterways of Salford Quays.

I can't rave enough about the area. It is cosmopolitan. It is vibrant. It is so not grim.

My visit to the quays began by parking up at the four-star Copthorne Hotel. This quayside hotel is just over half a mile from Old Trafford, which includes the Manchester United Museum & Tour Centre. The Lowry is a mile away.

There are airy rooms and suites with casual furnishings with a touch of modern decor. They come with en suite bathrooms, flat screen TVs, and tea and coffeemaking equipment. WiFi is available at extra charge in standard rooms, and is complimentary in club rooms and suites, which include vouchers for free breakfast, drinks and snacks.

A brasserie serves British and international cuisine, plus there is a bar and meeting/events rooms, as well as free on-site parking.

The excellent Metrolink tram system has regular stops throughout Greater Manchester and the city itself.

From Salford Quays take a tram to The Lowry via the Harbour City stop. Here you will find The Lowry Outlet mall, with shops and restaurants and The Lowry Theatre and Gallery.

The impressive building is home to a stylish theatre with a wide programme of events and its gallery of L S Lowry paintings and drawings is unrivalled.

I marvelled at many of the fabulous paintings that still seem so fresh today, perhaps because of the artist's style. Iconic paintings, including Going to the Match, Coming from the Mill, Industrial Landscape and Portrait of Ann sit alongside lesser known, equally intriguing work.

Crossing the lifting footbridge leading to Trafford Wharfside you arrive at the Imperial War Museum North, just a short walk from the Lowry.

For anyone with an interest in militaria this is a must. The ultra contemporary venue has a vast collection of artefacts, but more importantly the IWM North, as it is known, is about people and their stories – it is about how war continues to shape and change lives.

The main exhibition space takes you through a timeline of wars Britain and the Commonwealth have been involved in from the First World War to the present day. Six walled off areas within the space look at themes including the role of women, to science and technology.

Children will enjoy the informative and humorous short films projected on the walls at intervals throughout the day. Put together by the team behind award-winning Horrible Histories, they add colour to the visit.

The striking steel building that is the IWM North was created by renowned architect Daniel Libeskind. It was designed to reflect the subject matter of war, with three 'shards' representing a globe shattered by conflict, and though reunited, will never be quite the same. It is an immersive experience and for superb views of the quays and beyond, a visit to the top of the Air Shard is essential. Next to the museum is an altogether more familiar site. Glistening in the sun on a high wall is the unmistakable title of Coronation Street.

Production of the world's longest running soap moved to Salford Quays at the end of 2013 and is an exact replica of the street scene over at the old Granada Studios site, on Atherton Street near Deansgate. I had made a mental note to visit the soon to close tour, but before doing so, I made the short walk to Media City.

This is where ITV and BBC programmes are filmed and aired from today, including Blue Peter where the new BP Garden now resides. You can take tours of the studios or even be a member of the audience at a recording.

Right. Let's head for Weatherfield and see what Coronation Street has to offer.

The Manchester visitor attraction provides the ultimate immersive Corrie experience giving an insight into how the show is made. At the entrance, pick up your behind the scenes access pass allowing visitors to see the green room, dressing rooms, wardrobe and the television studio where authentic sets, props and costumes are on display.

Take a look at the Platts' lounge and stairway to nowhere. Visit Tyrone's pad – formerly The Duckworths' – and get misty-eyed over the scenes that have played out.

There is also an opportunity to have a souvenir photo taken behind the bar of the Rovers Return where you can become landlord or landlady for the day. Well, the time it takes to have a quick photo taken at least.

But for many, the highlight of the tour is the grand reveal onto Coronation Street itself. Here guests can fill up the family album with once in a lifetime snaps posing outside of iconic locations and reenacting favourite scenes from the show.

Be mindful though. The tour is due to finish on December 31, so get your tickets today.

From here, it is a short walk into the city centre, with its vast array of shops and bars.

It's a bustling city with much to offer and with Salford Quays being so accessible by so many forms of transport there has never been a greater time to visit Greater Manchester.

Fact file:Paul Naylor stayed at the Copthorne Hotel in Salford Quays. For availability and further information visit the website at www.millenniumhotels.co.uk/Copthorne or call 0161 873 7321.

For more details on the Salford Quays visit www.thequays.org.uk

For information regarding the Coronation Street Tour visit the site www.coronationstreettour.co.uk