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Situated to the West of the Pennine Hills, Manchester is one of Britain’s largest and most exciting cities with more than 11 million people living within an 80km radius of the centre. Manchester came to prominence during the 18th century when it became one of the epicentres of the Industrial Revolution, but like many large British cities it experienced a serious decline in the 1950s. In the past decade, though, it has undergone a major face-lift, gradually being transformed into a dynamic, lively, and culturally diverse metropolis. Despite the extensive urban regeneration of recent years, Manchester has nonetheless maintained many features of its industrial heritage. Tradition and renaissance sit side by side throughout the city, for example at the Royal Exchange, where a modern theatre has been built inside a former cotton trading hall, or The Quays, where former industrial wharves have been replaced by modern architecture, galleries, bars and restaurants. Manchester boasts an extremely cosmopolitan population and the city has large Chinese and Asian districts that offer a range of exotic cuisine. Over 46,000 students study in the city and the three big university campuses are buzzing with activity during term time. Nicknamed ‘Madchester’ in the 1990s for its hedonistic music and clubbing scene, Manchester is still first class for live music and entertainment, from classical concerts at the Bridgewater Hall to rock and pop concerts at the Manchester Evening News Arena. One of the city’s virtues is that the beautiful Peak District is only a short distance away by car and train – a 30-minute journey will lead right into the heart of the Pennine Hills, which are perfect for hiking, cycling, and nature spotting. To the south of the city is the county of Cheshire, which boasts beautiful green open spaces, picturesque villages, and a number of stately homes to explore. Within two hours’ drive are two other National Parks (The Lake District and Snowdonia) and the seaside towns of the Fylde coast of Lancashire (Blackpool, Lytham St Annes, Southport, Morecambe and Fleetwood).
For a filling start to the day, enjoy a huge cooked or continental breakfast in Café Trof, a tiny, unique café converted from a terrace house in the student area (2a Landcross Road, Fallowfield M14 6NA, +44 (0)161 224 0467). Be sure to sample one of Trof’s fresh blended smoothies before heading up to Chorlton Water Park; perfect for a brisk walk and a picnic, this local nature reserve provides a peaceful, accessible sanctuary from the pace of the big city. Having recovered from breakfast, hit the city centre (15 minutes by bus through the Curry Mile) and indulge in some retail therapy on King Street or, for those on a budget, Affleck’s Palace. By then you will be ready for a lunch and a spot of culture, both of which can be found a tram-ride away (catch it from Piccadilly Gardens) at The Quays. On the banks of The Quays is the Lowry, an art gallery, theatre, and restaurant complex that houses many of the most famous works of the local artist L.S. Lowry. His unique ‘stick man’ paintings give an atmospheric flavour of 1950s industrial Manchester (Pier 8, Salford Quays M5, Box Office: +44 (0)161 876 2000, group bookings: +44 (0)161 876 2003). The Lowry Café is an excellent place for a spot of lunch and you could even catch a matinée in The Lowry Theatre before heading over the bridge to The Imperial War Museum North. Take the tram back to Victoria station and stroll up the hill to Urbis, Manchester’s museum of urban living. After browsing the five floors of interactive exhibitions, head up to le Mont and dine in style while watching the sun set over the city. If you want to sample the city’s night life, start down at Deansgate Locks, a row of upmarket bars that are accessible by wooden bridges over the Manchester ship canal. The Locks are particularly attractive in summer, when you can lounge outside on the banks of the canal before heading for Castlefield- Britain’s first urban heritage park and home to several pubs, bars and restaurants
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Hotels in Manchester range from basic to lavish, modern to traditional. Like any large city, Manchester also has countless hotels in the budget chains that offer cheap, convenient, and comfortable accommodation in all areas of the city. Manchester boasts a superb variety of accommodation to suit all styles and budgets. Available through My Extras is the three-star Jarvis Piccadilly, the Mitre and Novotel Manchester West. At the airport, the Quality Hotel and Britannia Airport are offered. Book on +44 (0) 871 900 8297. www.flybehotels.com Renowned as one of Manchester's finest buildings is the four-star Palace Hotel comprising 257 rooms out of which 80 are ambassador rooms. The Palace Grand Room is its unique feature being the largest function room within a hotel venue in the Northwest of England. Other features include 4 large and 13 smaller meeting rooms flexible enough to house up to 1,000 delegates. Book on +44 (0) 161 238 4509. www.flybehotels.com The Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel, one of Manchester's premier venues, is located in the city centre just minutes away from the Manchester International Convention Centre and G-Mex, making it ideal for all business needs. All rooms are equipped with high speed internet connections. Conference facilities are also available. Book on +44 (0) 161 238 4509. www.flybehotels.com
By car: Explore the city and the countryside in comfort and style at great prices! Get the best deal by checking Flybe's partner Avis for the best available car hire rates at www.flybe.com/avis By road: Manchester Airport is situated 16km to the south of the city. From the terminal, follow M56 Manchester, then join Princess Parkway, which leads directly into the city centre. Contact Flybe’s partner Avis for the best available car hire rates www.flybe.com/avis By bus: Stagecoach bus number 43 operates as often as every 10 minutes between the airport and the city centre from early morning until late at night. By coach: Services run daily from the airport and tickets can be obtained from the Tourist Information Centres in the arrivals halls in Terminals 1 and 2. By taxi: Taxis are always available outside the airport terminal and a licensed black cab should cost no more than £20 to the city centre. By train: during the day there are six trains per hour running into the city centre and up to four through the night. Trains run to Manchester Piccadilly rail station, which is bang in the middle of town, and take approximately 20 minutes.
By bus: Manchester’s public transport systems are second to none. The Oxford Road bus route (which leads from the city centre through the university campus and on to the south of the city) is the busiest route in Europe, with a bus arriving every 30 seconds on average. For detailed information and journey planning, call the GMPTE travel line on +44 (0) 870 608 2608 By taxi: Taxis are equally abundant – there are hundreds of black cabs around the city and many private hire firms as well. One of the best centrally based private firms is Mantax (Unit 4-5, Jersey Street, Manchester M4, +44 (0)161 236 5133). By train: The main train stations in the city centre are Victoria and Piccadilly; trains run all over the country from both, and regular services also operate to most areas in greater Manchester (www.railtrack.co.uk). For all your timetables and fares UK wide: By tram: Manchester also has a Metrolink tram system that joins the conventional railway lines at Victoria and Piccadilly. The Metrolink is heavily used by commuters who leave their cars out of town and is particularly useful for reaching Salford and The Quays area. Call +44(0)161 205 2000 for more details and timetables. By bicycle: There are plenty of cyclists in Manchester thanks to the lack of hills, but in certain parts of the city where the traffic is heavy, it is a method of transport favoured only by the brave.
Football: For fans of the beautiful game, Manchester offers the choice of several football clubs to visit from the international giant Manchester United FC to the lesser-known Football Club United of Manchester. Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United, operates tours that take you through the international stadium and the history of the club. With 200,000 people visiting a year, tours are available seven days a week and run from 09:30 18:00. Tel +44 (0) 8704 42 1994. www.manutd.com Relaxation: Is the hectic and bustling atmosphere of Manchester getting to you? The Manchester Buddhist Centre provides a small island of calm in a sea of activity. Take part in yoga, meditation or even experience acupuncture first hand. The centre aids those who want to learn more about Buddhism as well as those looking for a more alternative lifestyle. With several businesses based in the centre and a library, there is plenty to see and do. Tel +44 (0) 1618 34 9234. www.manchesterbuddhistcentre.org.uk Climbing: Name an activity and chances are there will be somewhere you can do it in Manchester. Home to one of the largest climbing walls in Europe and set in the beautiful St Benedict’s Church, the centre provides a challenge for climbers of all skills, with sessions for beginners to experts. Expert climbers can climb unsupervised providing they meet with the centre’s approval, and can even take two novices with them. Climbing gear is provided and trainers are allowed as long as they aren’t dirty or muddy. Tel +44 (0) 161 230 7006. www.manchesterclimbingcentre.com Guided Walks: No fewer than three rivers run thorough Manchester and visitors to the city can learn more about them on several guided walks. Follow the Irk, Irwell or Medlock and learn all about floods, factories and even films that were shot on the banks. Walkers are accompanied by a tour guide who will make the murky waters of Manchester’s heritage clearer. Tel: +44 (0) 871 222 8223. www.visitmanchester.com
Peak District: When the bustle of Manchester becomes too much a short car or train journey will transport you to one of Britain’s most beautiful National Parks, the Peak District. The Manchester-Buxton train line leads up into the heart of the Peaks to experience the breathtaking views and varied wildlife. Tatton Park: Alternatively, to the south of the city lies the county of Cheshire, which is dotted with stately homes and picturesque villages. Tatton Park, a beautiful 400-hectare area of gardens and woodland with two historic houses, tree-lined avenues, and a variety of wildlife, is only 20 minutes from the city centre along the M56 motorway (+44 (0)1565 750250). www.tattonpark.org.uk Housing prices in the north west of England have dropped by roughly 1.1% over the last month and the region also experienced the slowest growth in prices across the UK. Analysis of the growth of Manchester has shown that it is expanding as more and more parts of the city are transformed into residential suburbs. This is having a positive effect on towns surrounding the city and commuting is increasing. These outlying towns make an attractive proposition to those who want to invest in the area. Those looking to buy in the city centre won’t have much choice outside of apartments because of the availability of cheap land. However, sales are booming but due to their location they are also expensive.
Manchester Town Hall: This beautiful Victorian Gothic-style building is in the heart of the city centre. It was designed and built in 1877 by Alfred Waterhouse and among its many treasures are the Ford Maddox Brown murals, which portray the industries and ideals that Victorian Manchester was build around, such as invention, education, trade, and the textile mills. Manchester Cathedral: The city’s cathedral was built in 1421 in the Perpendicular Gothic style (typified by its tall windows and flat fan-vaulted ceilings). As well as being the best example of heritage remaining from the city’s medieval past, it is home to some of the finest medieval carving in Europe, plus a wall of 20th-century stained glass created by the artist Anthony Hollaway. Next door to the cathedral is a visitor centre boasting interactive exhibitions about the cathedral and its links with the wider world. There is also a shop and licensed restaurant (+44 (0)161 833 2220). http://manchestercathedral.org St Ann’s Church: St Ann's Church is an elegant, neo-classical building dating from 1712. Situated in the equally attractive St Ann’s Square, the church is built in local pink sandstone and its design has been attributed to Sir Christopher Wren, although it is likely one of his pupils was responsible. The church hosts free music recitals on weekday lunchtimes. (+44 (0) 161 834 0239) The Imperial War Museum North: This is a fascinating museum in terms of display, innovation, and architecture: designed by Daniel Libeskind to depict a world fragmented by war, the angular, stainless-steel structure dominates the quayside and houses a fascinating range of wartime memorabilia. More impressive than the material displays, though, are the regular interactive shows; every half-hour the lights go down and an audio-visual account of war is projected onto each of the huge white walls. Seeing the famous image of blinded World War 1 soldiers parade past on an 8m high wall makes a louder statement on the realities of war than anything in the display cabinets could hope to (Trafford Wharf Road, Trafford Park, Manchester M17 1TZ +44 (0)161 836 4000). www.iwm.org.uk
Culture: For a cultural night out, Manchester has more theatres than any other city outside London, many of which attract internationally acclaimed actors and productions. The Royal Exchange Theatre is a stunning metal and glass structure that was constructed inside the Great Hall of Manchester's old Cotton Exchange (the exchange ceased trading in 1968). It is the world's largest theatre in-the-round and attracts excellent actors and productions as well as hosting regular midday concerts and other special events. There is also a café, bookshop and craft shop in the building (St Ann’s Square +44 (0)161 833 9833). www.royalexchange.co.uk For music lovers, The Bridgewater Hall is the perfect venue for an evening concert. It was designed and built in 1996 and has since become of the city's most important and attractive civic buildings – mounted on a system of 270 giant springs that isolate it from vibration, it is one of the most acoustically superior concert venues in the world. It is home to Manchester’s Halle Orchestra and regularly welcomes musicians, conductors, and ensembles of international status. It has a stunning glass exterior, and visitors can enjoy a pre-concert meal in the Charles Halle restaurant or drinks in one of the multi-storey bars (+44(0)161 950 0000, box office +44(0)161 907 9000). www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk Clubbing: Manchester offers a bit of everything club-wise, from student cheese in Fallowfield to jazz and soul venues in The Northern Quarter. Matt and Phred’s Jazz Bar is a great little low-key venue that hosts jazz and blues acts from across the globe. These acts provide a soundtrack for candlelit drinking and dancing until the early hours of the morning and attract a relaxed, casual crowd (64 Tib Street, Manchester, +44(0)161 831 7002). For a true ‘clubbing’ night out it is well worth trying Sankey’s Soap, a Mancunian institution based in an old warehouse that has been revamped in the past few years. Enjoy a few drinks in the courtyard then join the eclectic mix of hardcore clubbers, students, tourists, and locals for a night of solid dancing (Jersey Street, Ancotes, Manchester, M4 6JG). For those who prefer a smaller, funkier venue, South in the city centre is the perfect club. With a capacity of only 250, South is frequented by a discerning crowd but remains completely unpretentious. The DJs work the crowd with an eclectic mix of funk, electro-pop, and indie (4a South King Street, Manchester, M2 6DQ). Along similar lines, Via Fossa on Canal Street is one of the most relaxed and friendly bars in the gay village with a fascinating interior made up of balconies, reclaimed furniture, and hidden alcoves (28 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 3EZ, +44(0)161 236 6523). Despite its title, the gay village (known locally as Canal Street) attracts a mixed crowd, has an abundance of great bars and clubs and is an absolute hive of activity every day and night of the week. Bars: If you’re around the university campus, follow the students for a drink in Kro, an award-winning Danish inspired bar with a great range of continental beers and a good, varied menu. A bigger, more modern Kro2 has opened down the road but the smaller, cosier original still remains the favourite thanks to its lively atmosphere and intimate feel (325 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PG). For something a little more central Prohibition on St Mary’s Street specialises in cocktails and shooters with an emphasis on great service. Prohibition offers a full-on party atmosphere set against a desirable, contemporary backdrop. (2-10 St Mary's Street, Manchester Tel: 0870 22 03 026) For those who prefer a traditional pub, Peveril of the Peaks is a quirky, green-tiled, extremely cosy hostelry situated near the Bridgewater Hall. It has a large range of local beers, pool tables, table football, and can boast a truly intimate and friendly atmosphere. It needs to be friendly though, as at busy times there isn’t room to swing a cat (127 Great Bridgewater Street, Manchester, M1 5JQ, +44(0)161 236 6364). Nearby is The Briton’s Protection, a 200-year-old pub that has miraculously lost none of its traditional atmosphere. It serves traditional English grub to suit the décor and a massive range of beers and whiskies (50 Great Bridgewater Street, Manchester, M2 5LL, +44 (0)161 236 5895). For the ultimate in relaxation, The English Lounge, offering a wide range of traditional cask ales, a superb wine list and a selection of continental lagers, prides itself on comfort, quality and choice. A place to sit, unwind and relax an oasis of calm set amidst a busy urban lifestyle. (The English Lounge 64-66 High Street, Manchester, M4 1EA +44 (0) 161 832 4824) Of all the cities in England (according to VisitBritain) Manchester attracts the third highest number of overseas visitors and (despite the rain) its tourist industry is booming. Marketing Manchester - the tourist board for Greater Manchester -reported that in 2003 the estimated economic impact from tourism was £2.23billion The 2002 Commonwealth Games generated many new hotel developments and furthered the gradual regeneration that the city has been experiencing for the past 15 years. Thanks to this regeneration Manchester can truly call itself a modern city, diverse in culture, architecture, and style with a multicultural population. The three large universities attract world-renowned academic speakers and the two major television stations (Granada and the BBC) have led many well-known faces to move into the city and the surrounding regions (you cannot go anywhere without bumping into a Coronation Street cast member). In the more upmarket bars and restaurants you are also likely to bump into a famous footballer or two, either from the blue or red end of the city. More and more companies and commercial industries are opening bases in Manchester, which has led to the development in the past two years of many new stylish apartment blocks and offices. The city’s economic growth has been accompanied by a boom in museums, theatres, pubs, and clubs, meaning that visitors and residents are never short of something to do. For more information about Marketing Manchester tel. +44 (0) 161 237 1010. www.marketingmanchester.com
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Although almost every conceivable sport is on offer in the city, the word Manchester is globally synonymous with football thanks to the success of Manchester United, whose home is Old Trafford Stadium. Match tickets are notoriously hard to come by but football fans can still visit the magnificent stadium by booking onto one of the regular stadium tours and taking in the Manchester United museum and shop (Sir Matt Busby Way, Old Trafford, M16 0RA, +44(0)161 872 1661, ticket office: +44(0)161 872 0199, Museum: +44(0)161-868 8631). United is not the only team in the city though, and Manchester City have a ground to rival Old Trafford: The City of Manchester Stadium is an impressive 48,000-seat venue located in the heart of SportCity, a Commonwealth complex that also boasts international squash, badminton, and tennis facilities. Tickets are usually available for home games and the club offer tours of the stadium and hospitality packages (SportCity, Rowsley Street, Manchester, M11 3FF +44(0)161 231 3200, MUFC ticket office and tour booking +44 (0)870 062 1894). |
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