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Manchester Travel & Sightseeing Guide

A trip to Manchester
Located on the banks of the Irwell River in the northwest of England, Manchester has shaken off its reputation as a grim industrial city and presents its surprised visitors a pleasant metropolis that has become one of the country’s stylishly modern urban centres. This lively destination offers tourists some lovely old Victorian Gothic buildings, captivating edutainment facilities, most fashionable shopping centres and more than 130 parks as well as one of the country’s most vibrant nightlife. The city’s world-famous football team, Manchester United, needs not much or no introduction at all.

Flights to Manchester
Manchester International Airport (MAN) is one of Britain’s main airports and northern England’s major hub. It handles millions of passengers each year and serves flights to and from destinations all over the globe and the UK. The ‘Skylink’ moving walkway interconnects the three terminals via the airport railway station. Manchester Airport lies only ten miles to the southwest of the city centre, with bus and train services running on a regular schedule.

The local airport bus network is run by Skyline Buses, which depart from outside Terminal 1 every half-hour and head directly to several local centres as well as to other towns and cities. Manchester’s Piccadilly train station offers a frequent airport service, while the taxi ranks are located outside the Arrivals hall of all terminals. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Manchester try lastminute.com.

Manchester

Sightseeing in Manchester
Considered as the country’s most important city after London, Manchester provides an eclectic mix of highlights. A simple walk around the city centre uncovers Victorian Gothic buildings and the remains of Roman structures, particularly in the Castlefield area, which is also home to several museums. Situated in the world’s oldest passenger railway building, the Museum of Science and Industry focuses on the city’s prominent role as the globe’s first industrial city, while the Natural History Museum displays everything from dinosaur remnants to mummified bodies.

The Lowry Centre is a most significant arts and entertainment venue that unites a great variety of performing and visual arts and includes two theatres. The Trafford Centre is a colossal undercover shopping and entertainment complex and home to some 280 outlets, making it one of Europe’s biggest covered shopping centres. No holiday in Manchester is complete without having visited the world famous Old Trafford Football Ground, whether you support the ‘Mighty Reds’ or not.

Fun by night – eating, drinking and partying
Manchester is widely recognised as one of the UK’s top locations to eat and presents a varied and internationally inspired dining scene with an enormous selection of restaurants, bistros, gastro-pubs, cafés and fast food joints.

The city is home to numerous theatres including the Tameside Hippodrome and the Altrincham Garrick and Library theatres, not to mention the Opera House and Royal Exchange Theatres, which regularly perform dramas, comedies, operas and more.

Manchester takes its nightlife very seriously, with innumerable places ranging from cool little establishments to thrilling nightspots. Purportedly the largest concentration of nightclubs on the continent is located around the Oxford and the Piccadilly area, offering an abundance of bars, mainstream clubs and live music venues. The city is also renowned for its blossoming gay scene which focuses particularly around Canal street.

Fun by day – shopping and activities
Apart from London, there is no better location to shop in the UK than in Manchester. The city is home to luxurious department stores and boasts its own Selfridges, while an overwhelming range of independent stores invites you to acquire exceptional goods. Leisure activities include playing football as well as watching football.

Daytrips
Just a short drive from the city of Manchester is Salford Quays, which served as the main docks in the shipping canals. The area nowadays is a bustling centre for arts and culture with theatres, galleries and museums. There are some fine restaurants to enjoy as well as charming traditional English pubs and eateries.

In every direction from Manchester you will find beautiful countryside with charming small villages. Numerous close by towns are home to medieval churches and buildings, which are fascinating to see. The best way to explore these towns is by hiring a car and self-driving.

Visiting the Manchester United Museum and Tour Centre at the famous Old Trafford is an exciting experience. The amazing stadium is filled with history dating back to 1878 when the club first started. Inside the museum is a plethora of sports memorabilia and photographs of past and present players. Daily tours are available and should be booked in advance.

Must-see attractions
One of the most interesting attractions to see in Manchester is the Museum of Science and Industry, which is located in one of the oldest railway stations in the world. The museum is home to numerous exhibits with historic working machinery and fascinating hands-on displays. Open every day of the year except New Year’s Day.

The Chinese Arts Centre is situated on Thomas Street in the northern quarter of the city and is filled with brilliant modern art works from young and inspiring local artists. There are numerous works influenced by the eastern culture as well as some significant pieces displayed.

Chetham’s Library is one of the English-speaking world’s oldest public libraries, dating back to 1653. The fascinating library is filled with historic literature of past centuries and also offers a museum that looks into the building’s long history.

Manchester Cathedral is an impressive building with a long and interesting history. The cathedral has some fine examples of beautiful medieval woodwork and modern stained glass windows.

Best time to go
The most enjoyable time of year to visit Manchester is during the summer months of June through to August. There are several outdoor festivals and events held during this time that make for an exciting atmosphere. Spring and autumn are also pleasant, with mild weather but unless you want to experience the cold and bleak winter avoid the months from December to March.

Rainy day suggestions
Manchester has its fair share of bad weather but thankfully there are numerous activities and indoor attractions to enjoy in case of rain. Laser Quest is one of Europe’s best laser tag game centres, with huge playing areas bound to keep the kids and adults entertained for hours. The Manchester Jewish Museum is not only a place of worship but also an interesting historical museum with displays and exhibits documenting the Jewish religion.

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