Why go?

To discover a modern metropolis which, despite having suffered its share of bad luck (including an IRA bombing in 1996), has remained an energetic cultural centre. Manchester is a university city and therefore packed with museums, galleries and historic landmarks. Tie in your visit with the Manchester Food and Drink Festival from 7-17 October and you can take part in a variety of gastronomic events, including the chilli lovers’ fair, whisky festival, a village fête and even a mushroom hunt (foodanddrinkfestival.com).

What to do

Often referred to as the capital of the north, Manchester definitely won’t disappoint. Start off by taking a walk through Castlefield where old meets new. The city’s regenerated canal-side is buzzing with bars, restaurants amid clusters of old, red brick buildings, iron bridges and viaducts passing over the canal. Once you’ve explored, jump on the tram and head north to the city centre. The city’s art gallery has three floors and 21 rooms full of art and design, from fashion exhibitions to paintings. Nearby you’ll find an imposing red-and-gold Chinese arch, which is the entrance to Manchester’s Chinatown. Go on a Sunday when the area is bustling; pick up ingredients in the Chinese supermarkets or try some dim sum for lunch. Take a walk through the Northern Quarter – long considered the city’s ‘creative quarter’, there’s a host of hip fashion boutiques, music stores, cafés and craft shops to explore. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday you can also pick up potted plants, cut flowers, bulbs and bonsai trees at the flower market in Piccadilly Gardens. Heading west, the Royal Exchange Theatre is an impressive, seven-sided glass-walled structure with gold-capped columns, situated in the Great Hall of the historic Victorian Cotton Exchange buildings. Book a backstage tour and walk on stage and into areas of the theatre not normally open to the public (royalexchange.org.uk). A short stroll away, John Rylands library is a fine example of Victorian gothic architecture. Inside, treasures include medieval manuscripts and the oldest known piece of the New Testament (library.manchester.ac.uk).

Where to stay

Great John Street Hotel (0161 831 3211, greatjohnstreet.co.uk) has been transformed from a Victorian school into a grand townhouse hotel. Rooms retain many period features, such as exposed steel beams, brickwork and wooden floors. The 19-bedroom boutique hotel Velvet (0161 236 9003,velvetmanchester.com) is located on colourful Canal Street. Sink into king-sized beds with rococo-style headboards or sip a Velvet Sensation cocktail – a blend of Tia Maria, vodka, Baileys, amaretto, milk, cream and chocolate sauce – in the lounge bar below. Meanwhile, at the Oxnoble (0161 839 7760; oxnoblemanchester.co.uk) in Castlefield, you can eat, drink and sleep all under one roof. Once here, book a table to ensure you don’t miss the Sunday roast.

Where to eat and drink

Discover the oldest pub in Manchester, the Old Wellington (0161 839 5179, nicholsonspubs.co.uk), built in 1552 and birthplace of poet John Byrom, inventor of shorthand. Today, this popular watering hole serves a range of fine cask ale and satisfying pub grub including steak and kidney, beef and vintage ale pies. Good old-fashioned British food is on the menu at Market restaurant (0161 834 3743), with ingredients locally sourced where possible, such as fillet of Lancashire beef. Try the Japanese food at Walrus (0161 828 8700, walrusmanchester.com), created by ex-Nobu chef Paul Day. Signature dishes include three-times-cooked black pepper ribs and beef Mussaman curry, which you can enjoy in a relaxed setting with leather seats and round tables set against funky 60s wallpaper and prints. If you’re in Chinatown, make a pit stop at Yang Sing (0161 236 2200, yangsing.com), where you can feast on excellent Cantonese food including a menu featuring 60 varieties of dim sum.

Time running out?

Climb the spiral staircase at the Godlee Observatory on the roof of the University of Manchester for memorable views across the city.

Travel Information

Travel Information

Manchester is around two hours by train or four hours by car from London, or one hour by plane.

Getting There

Virgin Trains (08719 774 222, virgintrains.co.uk) operates a regular service from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly.
British Airways (0844 493 0787, ba.com) operates a regular shuttle service to Manchester. Airport from London Gatwick.

Resources

Visit Manchester (visitmanchester.com) has useful information about accommodation, events and eating out.
The Visitor Information Centre is at Piccadilly Plaza, Portland Street.