See the Bigger Picture in Manchester

Aidan O'Rourke has produced a magnificent collage of Manchester. Visitors to Urbis can see the giant 10ft by 27ft image, entitled The Manchester Mega Photo, in the foyer of the museum. The collage covers an area of 150 miles, including Deansgate, Bury town centre and more.

The Manchester Evening News reported yesterday (Monday, 07 July) that O'Rourke took over 850 shots before creating the collage from around 300 of the images.

O'Rourke explained that his interest in the city was fuelled by the re-development that took place after the IRA bomb in 1996.

Manchester has always been in the forefront of developments that have had far reaching repercussions beyond its boundaries. Visitors to Manchester or interested locals can explore the city on foot with the Manchester: Then & Now audio walking tour. Remember when the city was arguably the top city clubbing destination in the world, during late 1980s's and early 1990's? See what has become of the Haçienda nightclub and feel the new beat of the city at Deansgate Locks.

Beetham Tower, the city's tallest structure, dominates its surroundings. Listeners to the Manchester: Then & Now iPod travel guide can hear about the Tower's vital stats.

Hear how the opening of the Bridegwater Canal spurred the first industrial city's growth. Then visit the Museum of Science and Industry, where several firsts originating in the city - including the world's first railway station, Liverpool Road, are showcased. To hear an audio sample from the Manchester: Then & Now city guide please click here.

Don't want to stick out like a sore thumb with a guidebook in your hands? Sick of trying to follow - let alone hear - the tour guide with the umbrella. With a Walk Talk Tour you're charge. In addition, each of our tours comes with Where & When pages, which provide you with the opening times and admission charges of many of the attractions en route.

Each Walk Talk Tour is divided into commentary points. Listeners receive clear instructions informing them how to get from one commentary point to the next. Listeners are then invited to press pause, as they walk from A to B. Tour users then press play when they reach their next destination. Each Walk Talk Tour comes complete with a downloadable map which has all of the commentary points marked on it - for you to print off - so you won't miss a thing.