Top Things to Do in Manchester
Although Manchester is my hometown, Iâve never really written about it. And yet I should because itâs the city I know most.
If you want to experience the North of England, then Manchester might well be on your list of cities to visit. The city is smaller than London, but itâs still pretty big- in fact the Greater Manchester Urban Area is the third largest metropolitan area in the UK.  The city was bombed by the IRA in 1996 and as a result, much of it was been rebuilt. To be quite honest, Manchesterâs landmarks arenât going to knock your socks off, but the city still has plenty of interesting museums, galleries and buildings. To me, Manchester is a very liveable city- one for shopping, culture, lunching, dining and great nightlife.
Manchester is the site of the worldâs first railway station, the city that brought about the Industrial Revolution, and the place where scientists first split the atom- so I think itâs worth a visit.
Hereâs my list of top things to do in Manchester:
Sights
You might want to start with the National Football Museum at URBISâ a ramp-shaped glass building in Cathedral Gardens, one of Manchesterâs green parks. Nearby you can have a look inside Manchester Cathedral, which has been modified over the years due to damage from the Civil War, a German bomb in the Second World War and the IRA bomb of 1996. On a lovely sunny day itâs nice to enjoy a pint outside The Old Wellington- a tudor pub that is actually one of the oldest buildings in Manchester.
For 360 degree views of the city, take a ride on The Wheel of Manchester, Manchesterâs answer to The London Eye. John Rylands Library on Deansgate looks more like a Cathedral on the inside than a library, and itâs well worth taking a peak inside to see the beautiful Reading Room. Manchester Art Gallery is free to enter and houses a collection of British Art, European masterpieces and works from well-known Manchester artists. The Victorian gothic Town Hall, with its 280-foot-high clock tower, is one of the cityâs most impressive pieces of architecture. Take a tour inside to see the Great Hall, which contains twelve murals depicting important moments in Manchesterâs history. Designed to look a bit like the Pantheon in Rome, Central Library in St.Peterâs Square is instantly recognisable and contains thousands of books, archives and important local documents. My favourite attraction has to be the Museum of Science and Industry, which is located at the site of the oldest passenger railway station and showcases steam engines, locomotives, planes and machinery from the cotton mills.
Shopping
Manchester is a place where you can shop-till-you-drop. For high-street stores like Topshop and H&M head to the indoor Arndale Centre or Market Street. If you have a bit more cash to splash then there are two expensive department stores- Selfridges and Harvey Nichols- which stand side by side next to each other in Exchange Square. For alternative fashion head to Affleckâs Palace, where youâll find independent shops selling everything from vintage clothing to tattoos. Manchesterâs expensive designer shops and boutiques are located around King Street and Manchesterâs newest shopping destination- The Avenue at Spinningfields.
Sport
Wherever I go in the world, people say to me:
[quote]Youâre from Manchester? Manchester City or Manchester United?[/quote]
Manchester is BIG on football (or soccer as the Americans call it) boasting two of the best teams in the world. There is great rivalry between these two big Manchester clubs, so will you be a red, or will you be a blue? If youâre a red youâll want to visit Manchester Unitedâs famous stadium at Old Trafford, and if youâre a blue youâll want to visit the City of Manchester Stadium, affectionally known as âThe Etihadâ.
A tour of either stadium will take you on a journey through Manchesterâs footballing history. Better still, why not get a match ticket so you can watch âthe beautiful gameâ and see some world class players in action?
Entertainment
Manchester has produced many famous bands and musicians, including Oasis, Simply Red, The Verve, Badly Drawn Boy, Take That and The Stone Roses to name just a few, so itâs worth checking out the live music scene.
Famous international artists play at the MEN Arena when they are on tour.
When it comes to nightlife, thereâs something for all tastes in Manchester. Oxford Road area is Studentville, so the areaâs clubs, pubs and takeaways are packed with Manchesterâs University students. The Printworks near Exchange Square is an undercover entertainment venue with an Odeon cinema and chain bar/restaurants like Hard Rock, Cafe Rouge and Wagamama. For stylish nightlife head to Deansgate, where youâll find trendy cocktail bars and restaurants occasionally frequented by footballers and WAGs. There are a number of bars and clubs nestled under the railway arches of Deansgate Locks, but they can get a bit loud and lairy on weekends. Alternatively if youâre looking for cool, artsy, independent bars, head to the bohemian Northern Quarter. Manchester also has a big gay scene and The Gay Village along Canal Street is always good fun.
So thatâs it! A guide to some of the best things to do in Manchester. Itâs by no means an exhaustive list, but it should give you an idea of areas to check out. There are also plenty of city centre hotels, so youâre never too far from all the action.
