Reflections...

What I like a lot about Manchester is the heady mix of architecture that sits cheek by jowl in the city centre. Not for Manchester the Georgian perfection of Bath or the medieval delights of York dominated by the great Cathedral. Manchester has everything from bits of Ancient Roman Fort (the Romans founded the city and named it) to 21st century skyscrapers. The two mentioned there are within five minutes walk of each other.

This is a section of Manchester's commercial core, King Street, where the Victorian cotton barons built some of the city's most spectacular buildings. The building on the right is Chancery Place, a modern glass addition to the area, built a couple of years back to replace a dull, dour, 1960s block. I love the way it reflects the buildings around it, in this case the white Portland stone backs of Atlas Chambers and Ship Canal House which have stunning facades onto King Street.

And just in the corner is the honey coloured sandstone (local stone of choice in Manchester) of Lombard Chambers. It's one of my favourite buildings in the city being decorated with wrought iron daisies in rows, looking like the daisies a little child might draw. It was originally a private, Victorian bank but is about to get a new lease of life as a London based restaurant, selling steak and lobster, is fitting it out as yet another new restaurant for the city.