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alling Manchester the Venice of the North might be pushing things a little. But the city’s network of waterways have certainly done much to shape the geography and history of the city. Today, there are three rivers and countless manmade canals crisscrossing the city, a watery legacy that is still an integral part of the city.

Historians will know that the Bridgewater Canal, which linked the Duke of Bridgewater’s mines in Worsley to the vital markets in Manchester, was the first wholly man-made canal. It was such a successful solution to the transport and supply problems of the industrial revolution that pretty soon canals were built all across the North West, and in Manchester in particular.

For years, as with much of the city’s industrial past, Manchester’s canals went through a fallow period. But today these dramatic waterways have been reclaimed, and are a fascinating way of exploring the city’s less celebrated history - while enjoying a drink or two, of course.

Castlefield, in the south of the centre, is the place to start your pilgrimage. The Urban Heritage Park here was the country’s first, and the dramatic viaducts, railway bridges and arches offer a window on the area’s rich past.

From here, wander along Deansgate Locks, with its trendy bar scene, before ending up at Canal Street, heart of the city’s gay community. Manchester in microcosm? The pioneering Duke of Bridgewater would doubtless be proud.