Nestled in the heart of England, Manchester is a city of contrasts. Its storied past as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution intertwines seamlessly with its modern-day dynamism. Here, the echoes of cotton mills and factories resonate alongside sleek glass skyscrapers, creating a captivating urban tapestry.
Delve into the bohemian haven of the Northern Quarter, where vintage shops spill onto cobbled streets, independent cafes tempt with artisanal coffee, and vibrant street art explodes from brick walls. You might stumble upon a pop-up gallery showcasing local talent or catch a live gig at a hidden music venue.
It's city where rain-slicked cobbles and trendy bars hum with the infectious energy of a young, creative crowd. Here, grand Victorian architecture like the opulent Manchester Town Hall shares space with cutting-edge museums like the recently expanded Science and Industry Museum, a treasure trove of innovation that chronicles the city's pivotal role in the Industrial Age.
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In the evening, Manchester truly comes alive. Sample the city's renowned curry scene in the vibrant Rusholme district, or catch a performance at the legendary Manchester Arena, a stage that has seen music icons grace its lights.
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In the evening, Manchester truly comes alive. Sample the city's renowned curry scene in the vibrant Rusholme district, or catch a performance at the legendary Manchester Arena, a stage that has seen music icons grace its lights.
Wander through the cobbled streets, and you'll encounter the John Rylands Research Institute and Library. This neo-Gothic gem houses ancient manuscripts, whispering secrets of centuries past. Lose yourself in the hallowed halls, where knowledge unfurls like delicate parchment.
Artistic Treasures
The Manchester Art Gallery beckons art enthusiasts. Within its walls, masterpieces come alive—brushstrokes capturing fleeting emotions, sculptures frozen in time. Here, creativity transcends boundaries, inviting contemplation and wonder.
Culinary Delights
In this gastronomic haven, culinary adventures await. Manchester's dining scene is an eclectic symphony with bold flavors, fusion fare, and comforting classics. Savor aromatic curries, sip craft beers, and relish artisanal chocolates. Each bite tells a tale of innovation and tradition.
Urban Exploration
Venture beyond the city center. The Greater Manchester boroughs reveal their charms. Quaint market towns invite you to linger, while traditional pubs echo with laughter. Green spaces and winding waterways invite leisurely strolls or bike rides, connecting you to nature's heartbeat.
Festivals and Surprises
Mark your calendar! Manchester hosts a year-round carnival of events. From the groundbreaking Manchester International Festival to the enchanting Christmas Markets, there's always a reason to celebrate. The city thrives on surprise, with every corner promising a delightful revelation.
My hotel choice: Moxy
Daytrip to Peak District with Rabbie's Tours
For more information see the Official Tourist Information website
PLACES
Albert Square is dominated by the imposing Manchester Town Hall, a Grade I listed Victorian Gothic masterpiece designed by architect Alfred Waterhouse. Its intricate spires and ornate details make it a true architectural gem 1. Surroundings Smaller buildings from the same period encircle the square many of which are also listed. The structures on the north side face Princess Street. These historic buildings contribute to the square's character and charm. Monuments and Statues Albert Memorial The largest monument in Albert Square, the Albert Memorial commemorates Prince Albert, the Prince Consort of Queen Victoria. It was erected between 1863 and 1867 as a tribute to the prince who had passed away from typhoid in 1861.
Gladstone Statue Another notable statue stands nearby honoring the British statesman William Ewart Gladstone Historical Significance The square's creation emerged from a project by Manchester Corporation's Monuments Committee to honor Prince Albert. Originally there were plans for a memorial library museum or botanical gardens. However the committee settled on a statue in a decorated canopy. The site was once derelict land cleared to make way for this public space. The Manchester Bricklayers' Protection Society even donated bricks toward the monument's construction as an expression of sympathy for Queen Victoria 1. Events and Gatherings Over the years, Albert Square has been a hub for political rallies, cultural events, and celebrations. It has witnessed important protests, demonstrations, and moments of civic pride.
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Arndale Centre is a large shopping centre: Shop, Eat, Play. It was constructed in phases between 1972 and 1979, at a cost of £100 million. Manchester Arndale is the largest of the chain of Arndale Centres built across the UK in the 1960s and 1970s. The centre has a retail floorspace of just under 1,400,000 sq ft (130,000 m2) (not including Selfridges and Marks and Spencer department stores to which it is connected via a link bridge), making it Europe's third largest city-centre shopping mall. It is one of the largest shopping centres in the UK, with 41 million visitors annually.
Aviva Studios, Designed by Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) Aviva Studios is Manchester's landmark cultural venue and the permanent home of Factory International. It hosts a year-round program of original productions and special events across all art forms from major exhibitions to intimate performances. Aviva Studios contributes to the city's thriving music scene presenting a rich selection of gigs. Explore what's on at Factory International.
Castlefield, Just west of Deansgate Station, the tangle of railway viaducts and canals that lie sandwiched between Water Street, Liverpool Road, and Deansgate make up pocket-sized Castlefield filled with canals, green spaces, and millennia of history leading to its designation as the UK's first urban heritage park. It was here that the country's first man-made canal the Bridgewater Canal brought coal and other raw materials to the city's warehouses throughout the eighteenth century. By the early 1960s, the district was an eyesore, but an influx of money cleaned it up, and it now boasts cobbled canalside walks, attractive café-bars Urban Heritage Park (always open; free) centered on the excavated and partially reconstructed Mamucium Roman fort from which the name Manchester is derived.
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Central Library, St Peter's Square Mon–Thurs 9am–8pm Fri & Sat 9am–5pm • Free • http //manchester.gov.uk/centrallibrary St Peter's Square Central Library was built in 1934 as the world's largest municipal library a self-consciously elegant classical construction. After a four-year closure, it reopened, was beautifully refurbished, and extended in 2014, with its showpiece domed reading room restored; check out the display case of sweet wrappers found stuffed down the desks here over the last eighty years. The children's library is modelled on The Secret Garden by local author Frances Hodgson Burnett.
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Chinatown, From Piccadilly Gardens it's a short walk south to Chinatown whose grid of narrow streets stretch north–south from Charlotte to Princess Street between Portland and Mosley streets and are dotted with Chinese restaurants supermarkets and bakeries. The inevitable Dragon Arch at Faulkner and Nicolas provides the focus for the annual Chinese New Year celebrations.
Deansgate Locks area has popular venues like Rebellion a lively and popular area known for its trendy bars and vibrant nightlife. Let me guide you through this exciting spot on Whitworth Street West near the southern end of Deansgate. The area consists of converted railway arches each housing unique bars and entertainment venues.
Deansgate cuts through the city centre from the Rochdale Canal to the cathedral. Its architectural reference points range from Victorian industrialism to post-millennium posturing. One landmark is the Great Northern mall flanking Deansgate between Great Bridgewater and Peter streets. This was once the Great Northern Railway Company's Goods Warehouse a great sweep of brickwork dating back to the 1890s originally an integral part of a large and ambitious trading depot with road and rail links on street level and subterranean canals down below. Deansgate Locks a pattern repeated along and across the street in the old railway arches abutting Deansgate Station. Look up and you'll see the striking Beetham Tower easily the tallest skyscraper in Manchester and h ome to a glitzy hotel.
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Enterprise City, A cluster of media tech and modern businesses resides within St. John's. Notable occupants include Booking.com Department Versa Manchester Studios (the new home of TV and film in Manchester) WPP Mediacom Code Computerlove Auden Tech Nation and the tech Exchange program.
HOME Manchester, glitzy modern cultural hub a merger between Manchester heavyweights Cornerhouse and the former Library Theatre Company. HOME is an arts centre, cinema and theatre complex. With five cinemas, two theatres and 500 m² of gallery space, it is one of the few arts organisations to commission, produce and present work across film, theatre and visual art. Each of the three floors has a low-key bar or restaurant with additional outdoor seating for when the sun shines.
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John Rylands Library, Deansgate Library Mon & Sun noon–5pm Tues–Sat 10am–5pm • Tour and treasures Rare books can be seen close up every third Thurs of month 3–4pm (booking required) • Free • Metroshuttle #1 #2 John Rylands Library is the city's supreme example of Victorian Gothic – Nestling between Spinningfields and the north end of Deansgate
King Street, shopping paradise. King Street is one of the most important thoroughfares of the city centre, England. For much of the 20th century it was the centre of the north-west banking industry but it has become progressively dominated by upmarket retail instead of large banks.
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Lowry, Pier 8 Salford Quays Galleries Mon–Fri & Sun 11am–5pm Sat 10am–5pm • Free MHarbour City/MediacityUK Lowry is the quays' shiny steel arts centre. Perched on the water's edge, The Galleries, which host sixteen different exhibitions each year, are largely devoted to the paintings of Lawrence Stephen Lowry (1887–1976), the artist most closely associated with Salford. The earlier paintings – those somewhat desolate melancholic portrayals of Manchester mill workers – are the most familiar while later works repeating earlier paintings but changing the greys and sullen browns for lively reds and pinks can come as a surprise.
Manchester Central tram station, is situated above Deansgate Locks.
Manchester Victoria, is Manchester's second busiest railway station after Piccadilly and is the busiest station managed by Northern. It hosts local and regional services to destinations in Northern England such as Blackburn, Rochdale, Bradford, Leeds, Newcastle, Huddersfield, Halifax, Wigan, Southport, Blackpool (Sundays only), and Liverpool using the original Liverpool to Manchester line. Opened in 1844 and part of the Manchester station group
Manchester Visitor Information Centre, Piccadilly Plaza Portland Street (www.visitmanchester.com; ✆ 0871/222-8223) is open Monday to Saturday 9, 30am to 5:30 pm, and Sunday 10, 30am to 4:30 pm.
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Market Street, Partially a pedestrian-only zone Market Street is one of Manchester's main retail streets. At the northwest corner of Piccadilly Gardens Market Street is a short stretch of bustling activity day and night. Between the Gardens and the nightlife-heavy Deansgate, you'll find many retail shops, cheap eateries, and street performers. This section is especially popular with Manchester's younger population. Come here to people-watch browse and get a feel for the city.
Northern Quarter, Traditionally, this is Manchester's garment district, and you'll still find old-fashioned shops and wholesalers selling clothes, shop fittings, mannequins, and hosiery alongside the more recent designer shops, music stores, and trendy café-bars.
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Piccadilly Gardens, is a green space in Manchester city centre England on the edge of the Northern Quarter. It takes its name from the adjacent street Piccadilly which runs across the city centre from Market Street to London Road. The gardens also contain a bus station and a tram stop.
Salford Quays, After the Manchester Ship Canal opened in 1894 Salford docks played a pivotal role in turning the city into one of Britain's busiest seaports. Following their closure in 1982 which left a post-industrial mess just a couple of miles to the west of the city centre an extraordinarily ambitious redevelopment transformed Salford Quays as it was rebranded into a hugely popular waterfront complex with its own gleaming apartment blocks shopping mall omplex with its own gleaming apartment blocks shopping mall and arts centre The Lowry. Also here is the splendid Imperial War Museum North and the MediaCityUK site.
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Open-Top Bus Tour Discover the city's heritage and how it has grown to be the progressive hub it is today with a 90-minute loop bus tour. The tour has been carefully planned to take you around some of Manchester's key sights, including Manchester Town Hall, National Football Museum, Manchester Cathedral, Salford Cathedral, The Quays, Manchester United Imperial War Museum, Science & Industry Museum, The Bridgewater Hall, English commentary by Lord of the Rings, and Lost actor Dominic Monaghan. Your ticket is valid for 48 hours from time of purchase if on the bus or from the date chosen if online and you can board any Sightseeing Manchester branded bus during this time. There is one main tour route with recorded commentary in English. For other languages, there is a free app that can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play. Tour Timetable Tours depart at 10 30 12 00 and 14 00 Tour Start Location
Six Bars, The ten railway arches host six bars each with its own character and offerings.
Spinningfields, a glitzy corporate district that's home to law courts, financial HQs, designer shops and a crop of see-and-be-seen bars and restaurants including a swanky rooftop terrace bar as the cherry on the top of shiny corporate high-rise No. 1 Spinningfields.
St Ann's Square, tucked away off the eastern side of Deansgate not all that far from the cathedral. Flanking the square's southern side is St Ann's Church (Tues–Sat 10am–5pm; free), a trim sandstone structure whose Neoclassical symmetries date from 1709, though the stained-glass windows are firmly Victorian. At the other end of the square is the Royal Exchange, which houses the much-lauded Royal Exchange Theatre. Formerly the Cotton Exchange this building employed seven thousand people until trading finished on December 31 1968 – the old trading board still shows the last day's prices for American and Egyptian cotton.
St John's is a neighborhood to watch, particularly since Factory, an impressive art space that will be a permanent home for the Manchester International Festival reopened in 2020.
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St Peter's Square: Just south of the Town Hall is St Peter's Square home to the revamped Central Library. Footsteps away over on Peter Street the Free Trade Hall was the home of the city's Hallé Orchestra for more than a century – until Bridgewater Hall was completed in 1996. The Italianate facade survived intense wartime bombing and is now a protected part of the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel whose modern tower block rises up behind at a (fairly) discreet distance.
St. John's Manchester, newest city center neighborhood is a dynamic and evolving hub that seamlessly blends enterprise culture and living. Let me introduce you to this vibrant area. St. John's offers a variety of cultural, retail, leisure, food and beverage, wellness, fitness, and multi-use event spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy 24/7. It's a unique place to work create live learn hear see and enjoy.
Station Building is the world's oldest passenger railway station.
Sun Terrace: During the summer, visitors can enjoy drinking on the sun terrace while taking in the views over the canal below.
Tib Street Market, Up-and-coming local designers get a chance to display their wares at this weekly market where you can pick up everything from purses to lingerie and hats to jewellery.
Union, is more than just a place to live; it's where souls come to life. Located next door to The Factory and a short walk from Spinningfields and Deansgate Union puts you in the heart of the city. It's time for life in Union.
The University of Manchester holds a special place in history, the largest single-site university in the UK. Its origins as England's first civic university are closely linked to Manchester's development as the world's first industrial city. Through our free guided tours, you can discover the diverse history of the institutions that eventually formed the University of Manchester as we know it today.
Victoria Station is a combined mainline railway station and Metrolink tram stop situated to the north of the city centre on Hunts Bank, close to Manchester Cathedral.It adjoins Manchester Arena which was constructed on part of the former station site in the 1990s.
Whitworth Street, West and you'll spot the string of café-bars and restaurants that have been shoehorned along the Rochdale canal's
Wilmslow Road, Curry Mile gets its name from the many great Indian Pakistani Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi eateries along this stretch of Wilmslow Road. It's thought to be the largest concentration of South Asian restaurants outside of the Indian subcontinent. Take a stroll along the street lined with restaurants and other shops selling wares like saris and jewelry. If you are looking to grab a bite to eat one of the most popular restaurants along Curry Mile is Mughli.
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MUSEUMS and CHURCHES
Chetham's Library & School of Music Founded in 1653 in a building that dates from 1421, Chetham's is the oldest public library in the English-speaking world, a trove of dark shelves lined with ancient books and manuscripts. In 1845, Marx and Engels spent time studying in the alcove of the main reading room,
John Rylands Library Less a library and more a cathedral to books, Basil Champneys' stunning building is a breathtaking example of Victorian Gothic, no more so than the…Reading Room, complete with high-vaulted ceilings and stained-glass windows.
Manchester Art Gallery Mosley St, Wed–Sun 10am–5pm • Free • • MSt Peter's Square as well as attracting big-name exhibitions by contemporary artists, holds an invigorating collection of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century art. Spread across Floor 1, these works are divided by theme – Face and Place, Expressing Passions and so on – rather than by artist (or indeed school of artists).
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Manchester Cathedral formally known as the Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys, and St George, stands as a magnificent example of Perpendicular Gothic architecture in Manchester, England. Here are some fascinating details about this historic place: Origins and History: The cathedral's origins are somewhat mysterious. The Angel Stone, a small carving of an angel with a scroll, hints at an earlier, possibly Anglo-Saxon church. The first church dedicated to St. Mary was built by King Edward the Elder around 1086. The current cathedral, rebuilt in the Perpendicular Gothic style, became the collegiate church in 1421. James Stanley II, warden and later Bishop of Ely, played a significant role in rebuilding the nave and collegiate choir during the late 15th century. He commissioned exquisite wooden furnishings, including the pulpit, choir stalls, and the nave roof adorned with gilded angels playing instruments. Becoming a Cathedral: In 1847, the collegiate church officially became the cathedral of the newly formed Diocese of Manchester. Extensive restoration and expansion occurred during the Victorian period and after World War II due to bomb damage. Features: Architectural Style: The cathedral exemplifies English Perpendicular Gothic with its high clerestory windows. Grade I Listed: It is one of fifteen Grade I listed buildings in Manchester. Religious Services: Manchester Cathedral hosts regular religious services and can accommodate up to 940 people. Historical Significance: In 1787, it witnessed the first public meeting of the campaign to abolish the slave trade. The nave and quire boast intricate 15th and 16th-century carvings.
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Manchester Museum Oxford Rd, M13 9PL • Daily 10am–5pm • Free • Gothic Revival boasts a diverse collection spread over five floors, with displays on rocks, minerals and prehistoric life, meteorites, animal life, the human body and biomedical research. It also boasts one of the country’s finest collections outside of the British Museum on Ancient Egypt. The Vivarium is dedicated to the conservation of reptiles and amphibians, with plenty of frogs, snakes and lizards to handle. in February 2023 a modern extension and beautiful galleries (as well as old favourites) provide opportunities for curiosity and wonder.
There is a new Exhibition Hall Belonging Gallery Lee Kai Hung Chinese Culture Gallery and South Asia Gallery a British Museum partnership. Displays and exhibitions will showcase the best of the museum's historical collections as well as address the urgencies of the present day and highlight the complexities of our world. Golden Mummies of Egypt will be the first blockbuster exhibition opening in the new Exhibition Hall following a successful tour across USA and China. The Exhibition Hall is home to ambitious shows that explore past, present, and future and engage with global and local narratives. The opening exhibition Golden Mummies of Egypt will offer visitors unparalleled access to the museum's world-class Egypt and Sudan collection and aims to challenge Victorian narratives of 'ancient Egypt' through new research from the University of Manchester. Featuring more than 100 objects and 8 mummies the UK debut follows a hugely popular tour across USA and China and will present a rich perspective on beliefs about the afterlife during Egypt's Graeco-Roman Period (332 BC -395 AD) with highlights including elaborately decorated mummies known as 'Fayum Portraits'.
People's History Museum explores Britain's rich history of radicalism and the struggles of marginalized people to acquire rights and extend suffrage – ideas that developed out of the workers' associations and religious movements of the industrial city and which helped to shape the modern world. It showcases Britain's battle for democracy over two centuries through historical displays of working-class life. This includes a fascinating interactive display that follows these historic events' impact on five generations of the same family. Rotating exhibitions feature socially relevant themes such as climate protests immigration and worker rights. Housed in a former pump house and an ultramodern, four-story extension, the galleries use interactive displays. Daily 10am–5pm, until 8pm second Thursday of the month • Free
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Science and Industry Museum Daily 10am–5pm • Free but admission charge for special exhibitions • It mixes technological displays and blockbuster exhibitions with trenchant analysis of the social impact of industrialization, one of the most impressive museums of its type in the country. Explore 250 years of innovations and ideas that started life in Manchester and went on to change the world on a visit to the Science and Industry Museum. Journey through Manchester's rich legacy of ideas and discoveries in the Revolution Manchester Gallery from the ancestor of modern computing to one of the first Rolls-Royce motorcars. Find out how the city's heritage is interwoven with the cotton industry in the Textiles Gallery. Follow the textile's story through innovations in design, printing, and finishing, and find out how 'Cottonopolis' changed the world we all live in today. Get hands-on and see science brought to life in Experiment, an interactive gallery designed for the whole family to enjoy together. The world's first train station built in 1830 for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway is the centerpiece of a tribute to the city's many scientific achievements. Manchester also dug the first commercially viable canal and led the way in such 20th-century innovations as aviation and computing. Manchester's rich industrial legacy is explored in this excellent museum set within the enormous grounds of the old Liverpool St station, the oldest rail…terminus in the world. The large collection of steam engines, locomotives and original factory machinery tell the story of the city from the sewers up, while a host of new technology looks to the future.
Whitworth Art Gallery Corner of Oxford Rd & Denmark Rd, M15 6ER • Mon–Wed & Fri–Sun 10am–5pm, Thurs 10am–9pm • Free • The university's Whitworth Art Gallery reopened in 2015 after a £15 million renovation project to double and extend its public space into the surrounding Whitworth Park. A lively rota of exhibitions showcases contemporary artists, designers and performers, as well as the gallery's fine collection of pre-1880s and modern art, and the country's widest range of textiles outside London's Victoria and Albert Museum. The glass walls and walkways of the award-winning gallery space blends seamlessly with the park, and sculpture by the likes of Emily Young, Nathan Coley and Dorothy Cross have augmented the already spectacular collection that included work by Epstein, Hepworth and Moore. Manchester's second most important art gallery is arguably its most beautiful following a restoration that saw the doubling of its exhibition space through the opening of its sides and back and the construction of glass-screened promenades. Inside is a fine collection of British watercolors, the best selection of historic textiles outside London, and galleries devoted to the work of artists from Dürer and Rembrandt to Lucian Freud and David Hockney.
20 Stories, 1 Spinningfields Hardman Sq; mains £19-35; hnoon-2.45pm & 5.30-10.15pm Mon-Thu noon-3.45pm & 5.30-10.30pm Fri & Sat noon-3.15pm & 5.30-8.45pm Sun; gall city centre) The most anticipated opening of 2018 was this rooftop restaurant atop a 20-storey tower marshalled by local star Aiden Byrne (formerly of Manchester House). 0161-204 3333; www.20stories.co.uk;
Adam Reid, at the French; Midland Hotel 16 Peter St; lunch/dinner tasting menu £75/99; h6.30-8.30pm Tue-Thu 5.30-9.30pm Fri noon-1pm & 5.30-9.30pm Sat; jSt Peter’s Square) Adam Reid’s exquisite Modern British cuisine is considered one of Manchester’s culinary highlights with each dish of the seven-course tasting menu exquisitely prepared and presented. 0161-932 4198; http://the-french-manchester.co.uk
Australasia, 1 The Ave A remarkable glass pyramid on street level leads down under (get it?) to Australasia a buzzing white-tiled restaurant that’s arguably the star of the Spinningfield dining scene. Food is Modern Oz meets Pacific Rim and pricey but well-regarded (the Australian Wagyu steak fillet fits both these categories). £££ Spinningfields http://australasia.uk.com
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Corn Exchange, is home to a mouthwatering mix of new restaurants in Manchester. Home to restaurants Banyan Bar and Grill The Cosy Club Zizzi Delhi House Café Doner Haus Gino D’Acampo My Restaurant Mowgli Pizza Express Pho Salvi's Tampopo Vapiano and Zizzis. Showcasing all its original Edwardian beauty with a modern twist The As well as escape game adventure Escape Hunt which offers 6 exciting onsite game rooms and 2 outdoor experiences.
Dimitri’s, 1 Campfield Arcade Deansgate particularly good for vegetarians Long-established Manchester favourite: pick and mix from the Greek/Spanish/Italian menu () and enjoy it at a semi-alfresco arcade table with a Greek coffee or Lebanese wine; you’ll think you’re in the Med. ££ http://dimitris.co.uk;
Eighth Day, 107–111 Oxford Rd Manchester’s oldest organic vegetarian haunt has a shop takeaway and juice bar upstairs and a great-value café-restaurant downstairs. £–££ http://8thday.coop;
Fenix, served escapism through elevated modern Greek Mediterranean cuisine. Hellenic food combining heritage and innovation Fenix brings elevated cuisine to life in a groundbreaking setting with forward-thinking dishes and immersive effects offering true escapism through refined indulgence.
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Freight Island, Located on Baring Street amid the thrilling regeneration of Depot Mayfield Escape to Freight Island will become a permanent urban market and festival space - an axis of food drink music immersive entertainment festival takeovers and family focused happenings. home to a number of different bars restaurants food trucks with retail space and a bike park. games corridor. Camden Town Brewery’s biggest collaboration outside of London There will be a 70s New York-inspired roller disco a hidden high-fi audio bar which will transform into a karaoke venue called Queen Samantha’s and a retro arcade.
Home Sweet Home, 49–41 Edge St Northern Quarter http://homesweethomenq.com; MShudehill. Queues snake round the block for this gem which serves huge portions of American/Tex Mex-influenced mains luscious milkshakes and generous slices of the most extravagantly decorated cakes you will ever have seen. ££
Koffee Pot, 84–86 Oldham St Northern Quarter Beloved by hungover hipsters (and local legend Liam Gallagher) this is a reliable place for a full English or veggie brekkie (served until 2pm) amid much Formica and red leatherette. Often packed. ££ http://thekoffeepot.co.uk;.
Lime Tree, 8 Lapwing Lane West Didsbury ;. The finest local food with a menu that chargrills and oven-roasts as if its life depended on it using produce from its own smallholding. Main courses cost less at lunchtime. Reservations recommended. £££ http://thelimetreerestaurant.co.uk
Mackie Mayor, Food Hall 1 Eagle St; mains £9-15; h10am-10pm Tue-Thu to 11pm Fri 9am-11pm Sat 9am-8pm Sun; gall city centre) This restored former meat market is now home to a superb food hall with a fine selection of 10 individual traders. ££ www.mackiemayor.co.uk;
Mana, BRITISH 42 Blossom St set lunch/dinner £65/140; hnoon-1.30pm & 7pm-late Thu-Sat 7pm-late Wed; g74 76 216 217 230 231 from city centre) Manchester’s first Michelin star since 1977 has come courtesy of ex-Noma chef Simon Martin who takes dishes recognisable from a classic British menu £££ (www.manarestaurant.co.uk
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Michael Caines, Modern British And European the best dinner in town do succumb to the pleasure of descending into the chic polished underbelly of the Abode Hotel and enjoying Caines’ creative takes on the freshest ingredients from the region served in tasting menus (some very reasonably priced) or a la carte. Lamb roasted with herbs and pan-fried scallops are perennial favorites but you won’t go wrong with the specials on offer followed by inspired desserts and paired with an excellent wine selection. 107 Piccadilly. www.michaelcaines.com. ? 0161/200-5678. Mains £21–£26. Mon–Sat noon–2:30pm and 6–10pm.
Midland Hotel, Peter St. swankiest spot for tea is the where you might be so swept up in the vaguely exotic Moorish ambiance of the Octagon Lounge that you’ll want to hang around for cocktails too. If you’re feeling escapist the Richmond Tea Rooms (www.richmondtearooms.com) transport you into a fantasy world via an over-the-top Alice in Wonderland theme. (www.qhotels.co.uk; ? 0161/236-3333)
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Mr. Thomas’s Chop House, Traditional English A perfectly preserved Victorian pub is tiled in jade and brown with plenty of dark woodwork and warm hearths to create what’s known as a cozy boozer. It’s easy to imagine yourself among mustachioed 19th-century burghers as you sit back and tuck into traditional British food that spurns any concerns about fat and calories: corned beef hash that simmers for 10 days onion soup cooked for 36 hours and so thick you can eat it with a knife and fork homemade steak and kidney pie served with chips mushy peas and a jug of gravy. www.tomschophouse.com. ? 0161/832-2245. Mains £10–£25. Mon–Thurs noon–3pm and 5–9:30pm; Fri–Sat noon–10pm Sun noon–8:30pm.
Mughli Charcoal Pit, 30 Wilmslow Rd Out by the Whitworth Art Gallery this stylish Indian restaurant is a standout in the area traditionally known as the Curry Mile. Mouth-watering meat veggie and vegan dishes http://mughli.com.
Oast House, Don’t think this charming old relic has anything to do with Manchester—it was moved here brick by brick timber by timber from Kent where these odd-looking structures for drying hops are a common sight. The old drying room and warm-weather patio provide an atmospheric place to sit back and enjoy casual food of the burger and kebab ilk prepared on a grill outside and paying homage to the oast house provenance served with an astonishing selection of casked and bottled beers. The rotisserie chicken is done to juicy perfection and a filling deli board is an excellent lunch or midafternoon snack. Crown Sq. Spinningfields. theoasthouse.uk.com. 0161/829-3830. Mains £10–£14. Sun–Wed noon–midnight Thurs noon–1am Fri–Sat noon–2am.
Printworks, is a buzzing entertainment and leisure complex located in the heart of Manchester City Centre’s retail district. Positioned right next door to the AO-Arena National Football Museum and Arndale Centre onz Exchange Square Printworks is alive with activity seven days a week. Be it with early morning gym classes at Nuffield Health or late-night get-togethers with friends at one of Manchester’s biggest & best nightclubs Cargo. Or why not even try your hand at axe throwing at one of our most recent venues Boom Battle Bar.
Refuge by Volta, InternationaL ££ 0161-233 5151; www.refugemcr.co.uk; Oxford St; small plates £5.50-11; hnoon-2.45pm & 5-9pm Mon-Thu to 9.30pm Fri noon-9.30pm Sat noon-9pm Sun; gall city centrering plates with global influences from the Middle East to Korea RefugeBAR 0161-233 5151; www.refugemcr.co.uk; Oxford St; h8am-midnight Mon-Wed to 1am Thu to 2am Fri & Sat to 11.30pm Sun; gall city centre) Occupying what was once the Victorian Gothic ground floor of the Refuge Assurance Building this is not just Manchester’s most beautiful bar but arguably its coolest too
Richmond Tea Rooms, Richmond St Gay Village M1 3HZ; http://richmondtearooms.com; Metroshuttle #1. Without question the most brilliantly conceived tearoom in Manchester.
Abel Heywood, a true Mancunian feel to their accommodation this well-priced boutique hotel and bar in the funky Northern Quarter Abel Heywood The Northern Quarter is Manchester’s most creative neighborhood with lots of independent shops and bars occupying the old warehouses.
Abode, 107 Piccadilly; city centre Piccadilly Gardens The original fittings at this converted textile factory have been combined successfully with 61 bedrooms divided into four categories of ever-increasing luxury.
Castlefield Hotel, The surroundings on the banks of a canal in Manchester’s old industrial district could not be more atmospheric.
Clayton Hotel, Located right in the heart of the city it’s a place that has everything from food culture and entertainment all within walking distance. If you want to see even more of the area we’re conveniently located right beside several major transport links which connect you across the city. From fine dining shopping and culture you’re connected to everything.
Dakota, This boutique hotel has brought some glamorous decadence to the Manchester hotel scene with its low-lit vibe bold palette of mainly pale and chocolate browns.
Gardens Hotel, One of Manchester’s prime locations right on Piccadilly Gardens might warrant a grander hotel but this modest one delivers an admirable amount of standard no-frills comfort at very good value.
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Hotel Brooklyn, 59 Portland St; This New York City–themed hotel has 189 comfortable rooms kitted out in nu-retro style (Smeg fridges rotary dial phones old-style sound systems) spread across 10 floors of a new building.
Hotel Gotham, 100 King St A worthy contender for the crown of Manchester’s best-looking hotel is this darkly stylish Art Deco property set in the former Midland Bank building atop King Street the city’s most beautiful road
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, Beyond the triple-height lobby of this 19th-century beaut are 270 newly refurbished loft-style rooms that are incredibly popular with both leisure and business visitors alike.
King Street Townhouse, 10 Booth St; This beautiful 1872 Italian Renaissance–style former bank is now an exquisite boutique hotel with 40 bedrooms ranging from snug to suite.
Malmaison Manchester, offers a lavish and refined experience during your stay in this culturally diverse and lively city. Perfectly situated on Piccadilly our hotel is nestled amidst the city's top shopping dining and entertainment hotspots.
Midland, Once the terminus hotel for the old Central Station – and where Mr Rolls first met Mr Royce – this building was the apotheosis of Edwardian style and is still arguably Manchester’s most iconic hotel.
Motel One, Not much to look at from the outside but the location couldn’t be more central.
Moxy, One of Manchester's freshest new hotels - where guests check-in at the bar (first drink on us) before relaxing in our social spaces with cool comfy seating with super-fast WiFi throughout to keep everyone connected and device charging points galore. Whether you’re in town for business a couple in need of some rest and relaxation friends on a weekend away or a family (including your four-legged friend) exploring the city you’re sure to feel at home.
Native, A charming reincarnation of a one-time cotton warehouse.
Novotel Manchester Centre, With easy-access to both Piccadilly and Oxford Road train stations 4 star Novotel Manchester Centre is ideal for guests looking to explore the many sights the city has to offer. Whether you are here for business or pleasure with friends or family our friendly and accommodating staff are here to help make your stay a memorable one. After a long day relax and unwind at the lively eXchange bar and lounge with free wi-fi throughout the hotel or hit out gym before re-energizing in the sauna and steam room.
Radisson Blu Edwardian, The Neoclassical facade is all that’s left of the Free Trade Hall; inside this five-star hotel has a sleek modern interior
Stock Exchange Hotel, 4 Norfolk St The 1906 Stock Exchange building is now a modish 40-room hotel in the heart of the city. It’s modern and luxurious.
The Alan, 18–24 Princess St Don’t let the prosaic name fool you: this is a trendy design boutique where the extremely comfortable guest rooms feature mid-century modern furnishings
Townhouse Hotel, You'll be centrally located in Manchester. 85 air-conditioned rooms featuring plasma televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected and digital programming is available for your entertainment.
Yotel, City centre centrally eco-centred around you. YOTEL Manchester Deansgate brings you close to everywhere with innovative designs and time-saving tech right in the beating heart of Manchester. Check out MOTLEY an all-day on-site restaurant and bar where we invite you to eat drink and hang out.
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