Manchester City Breaks

A guide to Manchester

Manchester features an idiosyncratic, proud, spirited city at the cutting edge of urban regeneration, where state-of-the-art contemporary style sits alongside Manchester’s great industrial heritage. The city’s distinctive neighbourhoods are bursting with personality, and ensure plenty of variety and local colour. The Northern Quarter, Castlefields, Deansgate, Chinatown and the internationally-renowned Gay Village each offer character and interest, and a host of trendy bars, cool cafes, traditional pubs, cosmopolitan restaurants, specialist club nights, discos and nightclubs. And of course, an essential part of the landscape are the irrepressible, easy-going, welcoming Mancunians themselves.

Unique spirit, heritage and innovation

With a rich architectural heritage and several enjoyable museums, Manchester presents the chance for plenty to see and do. Heritage gems like the neo-Gothic Town Hall, the glorious Royal Exchange theatre, the Palace Hotel and the Central Library stand alongside futuristic modernity and striking contemporary landmarks like the Beetham Tower, the Inacity Tower and the Millennium Centre. You'll enjoy innovative interactive museums like the Urbis Centre and the Museum of Science and Industry, as well as outstanding traditional museums and galleries like the Manchester Museum and the Manchester Art Gallery. You can explore its industrial canals and waterways, take the tram to Salford Quays for the striking Lowry Arts Centre and the equally daring Imperial War Museum North. Football fans may want to pay homage at Old Trafford or the City of Manchester Stadium.

Terrific entertainment and nightlife

For many visitors, Manchester mean first-class nightlife, in terms of entertainment and live music, with over 30 music venues in the city, as well as its terrific reputation for comedy clubs and specialist music club nights. There's also exceptional shopping, with everything from designer boutiques to eclectic, independent music and fashion stores, and with so much of Manchester’s appeal revolving around its buzzing cafes and bars, it is little wonder the city is so popular all year round.