Manchester may not be the first city that springs to mind as a tourist destination, but to those in the know, the city is a fun and exciting place with a lot to offer its visitors. From its rich musical and sporting heritage to its historic routes in the industrial revolution, you’ll be sure to find a number of things to keep you entertained during your stay. Importantly, Manchester has a great transport network making it easy to access and travel around the city. From its modern airport and tram network to the busiest bus route in Europe, everything is easily accessible. Below you can find a selection of the top attractions available in the city.
Nightlife and Music
MEN Arena. Credit: Firing up the quattro....'s. CC by 2.0.
With so many successful bands originating from the city it’s no wonder Manchester’s nightlife and music scene are among the best available in the country. Whether you’re into more mainstream clubs or great little indie bars that offer live music, there is always going to be something to meet your tastes. There are also a lot of larger gigs from famous bands playing at various hot spots on a weekly basis; both the Academy and the Manchester Evening News Arena are worth checking out if you’re at all interested. Additionally, Manchester is known for its traditional pub culture and it is here where you will find the real heart and soul of the city.
Shopping
In Manchester you are truly spoilt for choice when it comes to shopping as the city caters for everyone’s tastes at varying price ranges. In the centre of the city you can find a vast array of the modern high street outlets along with all the more expensive and exclusive shops and department stores. Just a little off from the centre you will find the Northern Quarter which offers shoppers more alternative and vintage clothing lines, along with some traditional and independent record shops. If all of that’s not enough then you can take a tram ride up to the Trafford Centre, which is one of the largest shopping malls in the country.
Sports
Manchester has a very strong sporting heritage and is host to numerous sporting events throughout the year. If you’re a football fan you simply can’t visit the city without visiting the one of the two major stadiums of the teams Manchester United and Manchester City.
Manchester City Football Club Etihad Stadium. Credit: edhiggins. CC by 3.0
Manchester City won the FA Cup in 2011 and plans have been announced that the club is renaming it’s home the Etihad Stadium in recognition of of the clubs main sponsor Etihad Airways. Etihad is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates based in Abu Dhabi and have increased the number of scheduled flights to the UK recently doubling its service btween Abu Dhabis and Manchester in response to increased demand from the club’s expat fans and both business and leisure travellers who are keen to visit the city.
If you can get a ticket on a match day at Old Trafford, the atmosphere in the stadium is truly something special that has to be seen to be believed. Otherwise, there are tour options available where you can get guide around the stadium and a look into the club Museum. If football’s not quite your thing, then there are also a lot of international athletics events happening throughout the year along with major cricket and boxing matches.
Architecture
Lowry Centre. Credit: Martin Clark. CC BY-SA 2.0
Manchester has a lot to offer when it comes to interesting structural design, ranging from a number of impressive Victorian styles to modern glass buildings. The Manchester Town Hall is a fine example of Victorian Gothic revival architecture along with the medieval Manchester Cathedral. There are also a number of fantastic modern buildings in the city such as the Urbis Centre, The Lowry and the Beetham Tower. A great way to see some of the more undiscovered gems is to walk along one of the many canals in the city.
Museums and Galleries
Manchester is host to a number of museums and art galleries, all of which are worthy of your time. The Museum of Science and Industry in particular merits a trip as it displays a large collection aircraft, locomotives and space vehicles along with a number of other interesting exhibitions. Furthermore, the Imperial War Museum North offers a vast collection of war relics and replicas from various conflicts over the years, making it a fascinating place to visit. As for the Galleries, The Lowry and the Manchester Art Gallery both house a strong representation of the English school painting, that are of significant importance in the country. For more modern art and exhibitions, the Urbis centre offers ever changing displays and events on a wide range of topics.