Belle Vue, Manchester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Belle Vue |
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Frontage of Belle Vue Stadium |
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OS grid reference | SJ875965 |
Metropolitan borough | |
Metropolitan county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | MANCHESTER |
Postcode district | M18 |
Dialling code | 0161 |
Police | Greater Manchester |
Fire | Greater Manchester |
Ambulance | North West |
EU Parliament | North West England |
UK Parliament |
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Belle Vue is a cool area in Manchester, England. It's located just east of the city centre. Imagine it like a neighbourhood bordered by two railway lines: the Hope Valley line on one side and the Glossop line on the other. It's also part of a bigger area called Longsight.
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Belle Vue's Exciting History
Belle Vue has a really interesting past, especially known for its famous zoo and amusement park.
The Famous Belle Vue Zoo
The Belle Vue Zoological Gardens opened way back in 1836. It was a huge place, covering 96 acres! In the 1870s, a small area for fun rides was added. This grew into a massive amusement park in the 20th century. At its most popular, about two million people visited every year!
In 1910, a big building called the Kings Hall opened. It hosted many important concerts, including performances by The Hallé orchestra. Sadly, the zoo closed in 1977. The amusement park stayed open for a few more years during summer weekends until 1980. The land was sold in 1982 and cleared away by 1987.
Early Businesses in Belle Vue
Before the zoo became so famous, a company called Kendall and Gent opened its Victoria Works here in 1897. They made special tools for machines. This company closed down in the late 1960s.
Sports Hub of Belle Vue
Belle Vue is a great place for sports! It's home to some important sports facilities and teams.
Basketball and Netball
The National Basketball Performance Centre is located right here. This is where Basketball England has its main offices. It's also the home court for the Manchester Giants men's basketball team and the Manchester Mystics women's basketball team. Plus, the Manchester Thunder women's netball team plays here too!
Speedway Racing
If you like fast bikes, the National Speedway Stadium is home to the Belle Vue Aces speedway team. They race motorcycles without brakes on a special track!
Getting Around Belle Vue
Belle Vue is well-connected, making it easy to travel to and from the area.
Train Travel
Belle Vue railway station is on the Hope Valley line. You can catch a train from here to Manchester Piccadilly or New Mills Central. Trains run hourly from Monday to Saturday. There are no trains on Sundays.
Bus Services
Many bus services operate in Belle Vue, mostly run by Stagecoach Manchester. These buses can take you to places like Manchester Piccadilly, Gorton, Hattersley, Hyde, Stockport, and even the Trafford Centre for shopping and fun!
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West Gorton | Beswick | Openshaw | ![]() |
Longsight | ![]() |
Debdale | ||
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Rusholme | Levenshulme | North Reddish |