First I shared a lift at the plush Holiday Inn with former England cricketer Phil Tufnell. Then, in the bar, I spied Tuffers' rival Question Of Sport captain Matt Dawson.

But that's not unusual because the BBC is moving 3,000 of its staff to the Quays-based MediaCityUK development, where top TV shows like Blue Peter and Match Of The Day are now filmed.

Coronation Street will be shot there next year, which brings me to the woman I queued behind in M&S at the nearby Lowry Outlet Mall - actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, aka Corrie's Hayley Cropper.

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Roy's better half obviously knows a bargain - the 80-shop mall claims to undercut high street prices by a staggering 60%.

LS Lowry, of course, is the Salford artist whose paintings of "matchstick men" in early 20th Century industrial northern towns made him world famous.

More than 350 of his works are permanently on display at the Lowry Centre, which also boasts a 1,800-seater theatre.

When we popped in it was featuring the work of iconic pop artist Andy Warhol and celebrating 21 years of Manchester's Gay Parade.

The Quays also hosts the Imperial War Museum North which is, ironically, built on land bombed by the Luftwaffe in 1940.

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The Quays, while served by the Metrolink tram system, is within walking distance of two great champions of English sport.

There's Old Trafford football ground - home to Manchester United - and Old Trafford cricket ground, where county champions Lancashire play.

We were there for a T20 clash between England and India, which we watched alongside Freddie Flintoff and football great Sir Bobby Charlton.

The folk song Dirty Old Town was written about Salford by local Ewan MacColl.

But nowadays, there's nothing grubby or ageing about the spectacular, star-studded Salford Quays.

FACT FILE

Rooms at The Old Trafford Lodge at Lancashire County Cricket Club cost from £64.

To book call 0161 874 3333 or visit oldtraffordlodge.co.uk.

Prices for B&B at the Holiday Inn MediaCityUK start from £99. See holidayinn.com/mediacity.

For details of Salford Quays see thequays.org.uk.