Manchester is a city with spirit. Original, edgy and open-minded, it masterminded the industrial revolution, and it's no less innovative today, producing talented musicians, sporting champions and cutting edge entertainment. Manchester is on the move, so if you haven't visited for a while, it could time to come back.
| Many visitors come here to shop, and they find a mecca of stores here... |
South Manchester is a location of affluent suburbs, including Didsbury, Wilmslow and Cheadle, in which can be found some hotels which have excellent facilities and superb locations close to some very attractive countryside. The ring road around Manchester - the M60 - is also a pathway to a wide range of mid level hotels. Depending upon whether sport or art is your thing, there are also hotels situated near to Old Trafford, home of Manchester United Football Club, and in Salford Quays, near to the Lowry Centre. A hotel on Portland Street is perfectly placed for Chinatown, as well as for much of the city's nightlife. There are a range of hotels in Manchester city centre itself, from budget chains to five star hotels including a hotel in the city's tallest building - the Beetham Tower.
Manchester is a cultural melting pot, and that's reflected in just about every aspect of the city. Take the food for example: you'll find cuisine from every corner of the globe in the many restaurants, and Manchester has its own Food and Drink Festival too. You'll find no end of interesting ingredients at Farmers and produce markets throughout the city, and watch out for Young Star Chef evenings, when you can sample menus by up and coming chefs at exceptional prices at some of Manchester's top restaurants. One thing this city does really well is festivals, and depending on the time of year, you can take part in festivals from all around the world, Celebrate the Chinese New Year in January, and enjoy the Spanish and Latin American Film festival in March.
Sport has always been big news in Manchester, and the 2002 Commonwealth Games has left the city with excellent facilities. So whether you're into cycling, marathon running or watching the Para-Olympics, you'll find plenty of opportunities here, with the city staging national and international championships.
Of course, many visitors come here to shop, and they find a mecca of stores here, from Harvey Nichols and Selfridges, to mega malls and one off boutiques. Whatever your budget, you'll find something to buy here. The other big draw is the nightlife, which is second to none. From big clubs like Hacienda, to more intimate venues like the Night and Day Café where you might see young bands on their way up, there's a huge choice of places to have fun. Theatre too has the full spectrum of styles, from big name pantos to smaller, alternative productions. And if you're here with children, you'll find loads of museums - perhaps the Museum of Science and Industry or the new Generation Pop Gallery freshly arrived from New York.
So come to Manchester, for this is a city with a few surprises up her sleeve.
