The Quays area is Greater Manchester’s inner city jewel, just a pleasant stroll from XQ7.

The area abounds in waterside bars and restaurants, a number of which may be sampled when heading for the stunning building known simply as The Lowry. This stainless steel clad collection of striking architectural shapes was designed by Michael Wilford and opened in April 2000. The £98 million centre contains three theatres, the LS Lowry collection, holding the largest number of his paintings in the UK, and additional gallery spaces. Next to The Lowry, the Lowry Outlet Mall is a £70 million complex of cinemas, shops, restaurants, bars and apartments, which opened in 2001. Once sufficient retail therapy has been enjoyed it may be time to cross the stunning vertical-lift Lowry Bridge to the Imperial War Museum of the North. Designed by Daniel Libeskin, the museum resembles three shards of a shattered globe and was opened in 2002.

A little further along Trafford Wharf is the stadium that is home to Manchester United, the world's most financially successful football club. You could join over 50,000 fans at the “Theatre of Dreams” to watch a game, re-live the club's triumphs and tragedies by taking a stadium tour, or feast your eyes on the trophies in the Manchester United Museum. Just a few minutes away from this famous landmark is an equally celebrated venue for a very different sport – Old Trafford, the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club and the scene of many a thrilling test match tussle. So whether you're looking for the best cultural, retail, gastronomic or sporting experiences to make the most of your leisure time, it would be hard to think of another location that could match the superb quality of attractions to be found within a ten minute stroll of XQ7.