Manchester hotels

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.

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.

England vs. Sri Lanka One Day International Cricket - 9th July

On the 9th July Old Trafford cricket ground plays host to the 5th One Day International (ODI) cricket match between England and Sri Lanka. The series is currently in the balance after England won the first game at the Oval by 110 runs in a rain-interrupted match that saw the game reduced to 32 overs a side. Sri Lanka have since hit back, winning the next two games convincingly at Headingly and Lord's respectively leaving the score in the series 2-1 to Sri Lanka. The fourth ODI takes place on the 6th July at Trent Bridge before the final game of the series takes place in Manchester. The game at Old Trafford could potentially be the deciding game in the series so why not head down to show your support. Tickets are on sale now priced between £40-£50 for adults and £10 for under 16's.

Manchester Jazz Festival - 22nd-30th July

Taking place over a 9 day period, the Manchester Jazz Festival returns once again having first being introduced in 1995. The annual event will see performances taking place across a variety of locations including The Bridgewater Hall, Band on the Wall and Festival Pavilion. Whilst some of these performances will require visitors to purchase tickets which range in cost between £5 and £37.50, many other performances are free to attend. Those performing at the festival include Apitos, Gambol, Centrifuge and Al Jarreau and the festival is expected to be the biggest and best yet. For full information on who is performing when and where, check out the event website.

Ben & Jerry's Sundae in the Park Festival - 23rd-24th July

Famous ice cream makers 'Ben & Jerry's' are back once again for a seventh time in 2011 with their 'Sundae in the Park' festival and this year they will be heading to not only London but Manchester too. Heaton Park will be the host of the first Ben & Jerry's festival in Manchester and it is sure to be a huge hit thanks to the massive range of activities on offer. The festival will host performances from bands such as Maximo Park and Ocean Colour Scene and there will be a number of fairground rides and attractions for visitors to enjoy. The unlimited supply of free Ben & Jerry's ice cream for those attending to tuck into may be reason enough for many people to visit. Tickets for the event are on sale now. Whether you visit on the Saturday or the Sunday, tickets will cost £17 with children under the age of 5 able to enter for free.