I am a full-time travel writer and part-time explorer. Although I have lived and worked all over the world, the UK is where I was born and will always consider it my home country. Manchester has a special meaning for me: it is the place where I have lived the longest and has never failed to satisfy my passion for food.
Why go to Manchester
Exquisite food, top-class sport, stunning art, fascinating industrial architecture: Manchester is truly a city that has something to offer everyone. In recent years it has grown in both size and fame, becoming an excellent and diverse hub of creativity, music and gastronomy. In short, it is one of the best - if not the best - city in the UK.
Best period
Intermediate season
(September-December):
For sports enthusiasts, the football season begins.
You can enjoy the magnificent autumn colours and seasonal cuisine.
Hotels offer cheap rates (except for match days).
The beginning of winter brings Christmas markets.
Around Manchester. Credits estherpoon / Shutterstock
Daily budget
Double room in a mid-range hotel: €110-200
Dinner in a local restaurant: €20-45
Cup of coffee: €3.50
Pint of beer: €5.50
Brunch: €10-15
Concert ticket: €5-50
A perfect day in Manchester
Twenty-four hours is barely enough time to scratch the surface of this fantastic northern city. Foodies will get a taste of its ever-expanding food scene, while culture lovers will make many interesting discoveries in the many museums and art galleries with free admission.
Manchester's Central Gallery. Credits trabantos / Shutterstock
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Morning: the sights of Manchester
Start the day with a leisurely stroll from your hotel towards Deansgate, one of the main arteries of the city centre. The Whitworth Locke Hotel is a good choice due to its central location, elegant furnishings and affordable rates. If you stay there, continue straight along Princess St to St Peter's Sq. Admire the elegant classical architecture of the Central Library and take a photo with the statue of Emmeline Pankhurst, the city's famous suffragette, before continuing west along Oxford St.
When you reach Deansgate, cross the street and sit at a table at The Federal. This Australian-inspired brunch spot is popular with locals for its strong coffee, tasty toast with halloumi and avocado, and homemade pasteis de nata (Portuguese cream pastries), as delicious as those you eat in Lisbon.
Now that you are satiated and recharged from your caffeine, head to the magnificent John Rylands Library, a little further down the street. This free-entry neo-Gothic building houses over 20,000 rare books and manuscripts arranged on shelves and in special glass cases in the Rylands Gallery. Particularly impressive is the Historic Reading Room, with cathedral-like windows and beautiful wood panelling - it wouldn't look out of place at Hogwarts. Don't forget to also pop into the downstairs bathrooms, where you can admire authentic Victorian tiles and fixtures.
Head out of the library and through the trendy Spinningfields district to the Science and Industry Museum. Housed in one of the world's oldest disused railway stations, this museum offers a fascinating insight into Manchester's industrial past. Spend about an hour exploring its detailed exhibits, which include a replica Victorian cotton mill.
After your visit to the museum, head back to Deansgate via Liverpool Rd. En route, stop at Castlefield to take a look at the ruins of a Roman fort dating back to AD 79, when the town was called Mamacium. Once in Deansgate, hop on the free bus that runs a continuous circular route through the city centre. The stop is just outside the tram station, near the bottom of the steps.
Afternoon: tempting lunch options and inspiring artwork
Get off the free bus at High St, on the edge of the Northern Quarter, a trendy neighbourhood whose gridded streets, tall brick buildings and myriad fire escapes are reminiscent of New York City. The district is also renowned for its vibrant street art (a popular free attraction in Manchester), bold vintage shops and great choice of bars and restaurants. Stroll down to the end of High St to grab lunch at Mackie Mayor's. This beautiful glass-roofed building, which used to be a meat market in Victorian times, is now home to many fantastic food stalls. You can enjoy delicious bao, stone cooked pizzas and succulent steak sandwiches, among many other delicacies.
After lunch, spend an hour or so visiting the Northern Quarter. Highlights include the Manchester Craft and Design Centre (a collection of artists' studios selling beautiful handmade gifts), Afflecks (a self-described emporium of trendy independent shops) and Piccadilly Records (a must for music fans).
When you're done shopping, cross Great Ancoats St and head towards Cutting Room Sq, a bustling square full of bars. From here, head east and cross the Rochdale Canal Path to enter the up-and-coming neighbourhood of New Islington. On the way, stop at Pollen for coffee and takeaway pastries (the cinnamon rolls baked in the morning are delicious).
To save some time, take the tram (one-way ticket costs US$1.60) from New Islington station to St Peter's Sq (10 minutes). From there walk north for two minutes to reach the Manchester Art Gallery.
Admire the splendid collection of pre-Raphaelite paintings and industrial landscapes by Manchester-born painter L.S. Lowry. If you have less than an hour, make a beeline for the gallery of Old European Masters, or enter the temporary exhibition space, where works by Leonardo and Van Dyck have been exhibited in the past.
True art lovers might want to skip the walk to Ancoats and New Islington and go straight to the gallery (to get there, just cut through Piccadilly Gardens from the Northern Quarter and head straight for Mosley St).
Manchester at night. Credits SAKhanPhotography / Shutterstock
Evening: a taste of the local restaurant and nightlife scene
After freshening up at the hotel, head out again for a pre-dinner cocktail at the Refuge. Located inside the luxurious Kimpton Clocktower Hotel on Oxford St, it boasts sumptuous interiors (including the enchanting Winter Garden with its atmospheric lighting) paired with an inviting cocktail list. Quench your thirst with a refreshing mix of rhubarb and gin or a fiery Pisco and chilli drink.
Time for dinner. There are plenty of options in central Manchester, including Rudy's on Peter St, which offers perhaps the best pizza in town (the margherita with buffalo is divine). Another good choice is Three Little Words, a stylish bistro run by the nearby Spirit of Manchester Gin Distillery. As you might expect, it serves fantastic gin-based cocktails: check out the lengthy menu, which includes offerings like the tart cherry-flavoured Gold Digger or the orange marmalade Paddington's Breakfast. Prefer dinner with a view? Book a table at 20 Stories and ask for a seat on the terrace to enjoy the magnificent view over the city.
If you're still not tired after dinner, don't worry: Manchester offers a wide range of entertainment, with something going on almost every night. Head back to the Northern Quarter to listen to live jazz music at Matt & Phreds or have a laugh at an amazing stand-up show at the Frog and Bucket Comedy Club. Alternatively, there are plenty of bars in the area - from the cosy Whiskey Jar to the speakeasy-style Science and Industry - perfect for a quiet drink.
Late evening: let the party continue
Still don't want to go to sleep? Manchester has no shortage of clubs and music venues that stay open into the wee hours. Head to Band on the Wall in Great Ancoats St for live gigs, rock out to techno at a gritty underground bar in the Northern Quarter like SOUP, or go dancing at one of the lively clubs in the Gay Village. Focusing on Canal St and its surroundings, this area comes alive at night and offers clubs with all kinds of atmospheres.
