manchester tourist information website

Select language

What are you looking for.

VisitBritain/Manchester Craft Beer Festival

Why we love Manchester

Home to world-famous football , renowned art galleries and a music scene that brought Oasis to centre stage – there’s lots to love about Manchester. Once the world’s manufacturing powerhouse, its former industrial buildings now bounce with energy. From the creative to culinary, there’s a wealth of treasures waiting to be discovered.

Discover hip new restaurants, diverse food halls, markets and food tours . Stay at quirky or indulgent hotels that fill its once dormant factories. Discover the Norther Quarter and Explore Ancoats . Spend a day rummaging through vintage record stores and retro shops, or head to one of Britain’s most famous gay villages. With a cuisine as diverse as its people, an art scene full of creativity and a nightlife that will leave you dancing from dusk ‘til dawn, you’ll find there’s so much to discover.

Jody Hartley

Manchester, England

Band on the Wall

With live gigs, club nights, shows and more, Band on the Wall is one of Manchester’s leading music and cultural venues. Celebrating the UK’s diverse communities, there’s also learning sessions, access for all and a speak-easy-style bar for drinks and snacks, too.  

RHS/Trevor Ray Hart

Flourishing flora at RHS Garden Bridgewater

Immerse yourself in one of the largest gardening projects in Europe at RHS Garden Bridgewater . Explore the 11-acre walled garden and grab a bite to eat at the Bridgewater Café that has its fruit and vegetables supplied by the evolving Kitchen Garden.

VisitBritain/Jacob Niblett

Home of the quirky and eclectic, Afflecks  is a haven for the different, the diverse and the bold. Wander through the maze of indie stalls, zero-waste shops and vintage treasures – you’ll be sure to pick up something unique.

Canal Street

Canal Street is packed with an array of village bars, pubs, tearooms and places to stay. The heart of gay Manchester, this is a hotspot destination for the city’s vibrant queer scene. Look out for a range of events, including Trans festival Sparkle and the Bear’s Bash.

Manchester’s flavours at Mackie Mayor

Tuck into deliciously diverse food at this iconic Grade II listed heritage building. On the fringes of Manchester’s famous Northern Quarter, Mackie Mayor offers a buzzing scene for foodies. Dine on rustic sourdough pizza or try its hanger steak.

Things to do in Manchester

Choosing an option from the dropdown will automatically update the map listing results to filter by your selection.

The heart of gay Manchester, this is a hotspot destination for the city’s queer scene.

Looking for something unique? You’ve come to the right place: Afflecks is renowned for its quirky independent boutiques.

Football in Manchester

Manchester is the world-famous home of football – so why not go behind-the-scenes at its iconic stadiums?

VisitBritain/Andrew Pickett

Manchester Museum

In a beautiful Gothic building at the heart of the city, this free museum is full of treasures from all over the world.

Manchester Music Walkabout Tour

Strut through the streets and discover the venues and places that make up Manchester’s musical legacy.

Mackie Mayor

This street food market is set in an impressive Victorian building, and is open from breakfast to supper.

Scranchester

This foodie tour visits fantastic cafés, food stalls, delis and more, tasting multiple dishes as you walk.

Freight Island

This street food and nightlife venue is chock-full of amazing eats, craft beer and artisan cocktails.

Adam Pester/Escape to Freight Island

Ducie Street Warehouse

With its chic bar, restaurant, hotel and art house cinema, this is a mini neighbourhood all of its own.

Adam Pester/Memphis Medium

Alternative Manchester LGBTQIA+ Walking Tour

Explore Manchester’s rich rainbow history on this expert-led walking tour of Canal Street.

VisitBritain/Ben Selway

Manchester Pride

The city is home to one of Britain’s biggest Pride festivals, and the Gay Village is its vibrant epicentre.

Manchester Pride / The Vain Photography

Sparkle Weekend

The world’s largest free-to-attend celebration of gender diversity lands in Manchester for an annual festival full of lively music and entertainment.

Sparkle Festival, Danny Mclaren, Snappitysnaps Photography

Manchester Gay Village

With its inclusive bars, shops and clubs, the area around Canal Street is a hub for LGBTQIA+ nightlife and events.

Manchester Opera House

From drag cabaret and glittering musicals, to famous ballets and operas: you’ll find it all right here.

AKA/Palace Theatre and Opera House

Dunham Massey Hall and Gardens

This 18th century house is surrounded by magnificent gardens, wild woodlands and a deer-filled park.

National Trust/Nick Meers

King Street Townhouse

Treat yourself to bit of top-class pampering at at this city-centre hotel.

Rena Spa at the Midland

Sneak away to this spa hideaway to discover indulgent treatments and a heated swimming pool.

Castlefield Viaduct

A once disused Victorian bridge transformed into an urban sky park and ‘garden in the sky’, where lush planting combines with its original 19th century features.

National Trust/Annapurna Mellor

Imperial War Museum North

From the First World War to the present day, Imperial War Museum North tells over a century of stories from Britain’s conflicts.

Imperial War Museums

Open Kitchen

Sustainable, ethical and delicious: that’s the mission of the People’s History Museum café.

Herbivorous

Vegan Philly cheesesteak, loaded fries and mac ’n’ cheese? This food stall is 100% plant-based…

Northern Roots

Maybe you’ll try beekeeping, explore on horseback, or venture off-road on a cycling trip?

Alan Hamer/Northern Roots/Marketing Manchester

Skyliner, Manchester

Check out Manchester’s hipster hotspot, take a Skyliner art tour and discover its urban past.

skylinermcr

Palace Theatre Manchester

This historic theatre is a hot ticket for star-studded productions, with a vibrant line-up of shows.

Manchester Art Gallery

This collection spans from Ancient Egypt to present day, with thousands of paintings, photos and sculptures.

Marketing Manchester

Science and Industry Museum

Discover the human stories and remarkable innovations behind Manchester’s industrial history.

Science Museum Group

MediaCity UK

MediaCity is an iconic waterside destination located just outside of the city centre.

Media City UK

Royal Exchange Manchester

An award-winning theatre and shopping centre, combined in one beautifully restored Victorian complex.

"Rich J Jones Photography/Royal

Enjoy live gigs, club nights and more, at one of Manchester’s leading music and cultural venues.

Chetham's Library

Take a tour of Britain’s oldest public library and the home of Chetham's School of Music.

Sara Porter/Marketing Manchester

Chill Factore

From pro's to absolute beginners, there's room for everyone on the slopes at Chill Factore.

Craft Beer Tour Manchester

Tour Manchester sampling the best of its booming craft beer scene at the same time.

Craft Beer Tours

Dove Stone Reservoir

Get back to nature and count the critters as you walk past woodland, hills and water.

Shutterstock / SAKhanPhotography

Manchester Gin

Inspired by the city it was created in, explore the award-winning Manchester Gin Distillery.

Manchester Taxi Tours

See Manchester’s top sites from the comfort of this black electric cab.

National Football Museum

Test your ball skills and football knowledge at the interactive National Football Museum.

Chris Payne Images

From opera to musicals, theatre to comedy, The Lowry is a creative space for all.

RE:TREAT at The Lowry Hotel

Leave your stresses at the door as you step into this sanctuary.

Phil Tragen/RE:TREAT at the Lowry Hotel

The Whitworth

Home to historic and contemporary art, explore The Whitworth gallery, park and grounds.

University of Manchester

Manchester International Festival

Every two years, the Manchester International Festival presents a star-studded line-up.

Featured things to do

Matt Eachus/Manchester City Centre BID

Manchester Flower Festival

As warmer weather finally arrives, the city starts to bloom. The Manchester Flower Festival takes over the city, flowing with floral installations.

Manchester Pride Festival

Manchester in the summertime bursts with the colour and excitement of its annual Pride Festival. Expect a jam-packed weekend with popular events Gay Village and Pride Parade.

Marketing Manchester/Mark Waugh

Aviva Studios

Home of Factory International, discover works by world-renowned figures and Manchester’s rising stars at this newly opened arts, music and cultural hub, telling the city’s innovative history through captivating art.

VisitManchester

Christmas Markets

Soak up the festive spirit at Manchester Christmas Market – explore the city centre filled with food stalls, independent craft sellers, and locally brewed ales this festive season.

Places to stay in Manchester

Northern quarter.

From dirty street food to hidden bars and shops filled with memorabilia, look no further than a stay in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

City centre

For some retail therapy and places to eat around every corner, stay in the heart of Manchester.

Salford Quays

With a wealth of world-class entertainment, sporting activities and cultural facilities on offer, stay in this unique waterfront destination.

Explore nearby

From The Beatles to Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Liverpool is a UNESCO City of Music with seriously cool credentials.

Oh Me Oh My

Peak District

For hikers, cyclists, horse riders and thrill seekers, the Peak District offers adventures galore.

VisitBritain/Becky Stacey

A hotbed for shopping and the arts, you’ll find lots to explore in Leeds.

VisitBritain/Thomas Heaton

Chester is captivating with unmissable attractions such as its historic Roman City Walls to Chester Zoo's animal kingdom. See the best things to do here.

VisitBritain/Lisa Ruohoniemi

From its beginnings as a Norman Fortress, Lancaster’s historic buildings and attractions tell epic tales and offer plenty of things to do.

Marketing Lancashire

Sitting on the edge of the Peak District National Park, Sheffield is a place for outdoor lovers and creatives. Find the best things to do in our guide.

Salt St for The Outdoor City

Getting to Manchester

Manchester is located in the north of England, situated in the county of Greater Manchester.  Manchester Airport is one north England’s main international hubs, welcoming travellers from all over the world. As the largest airport outside of London, Manchester flies to around 225 destinations worldwide. Manchester is approximately 200 miles (322km) north of London and it takes just over 2 hours when travelling from London to Manchester by train.

Getting around

With fantastic public transport served by bus, tram and rail, it’s super easy to explore Manchester. Plan your journey with Transport for Greater Manchester, jump aboard a free bus or pick up a System One Travelcard for seamless travel via rail, tram and bus.

Greater Manchester is served by the Bee Network which also covers the tram network. With hundreds of routes which run throughout the city, affordable and flexible tickets can be used on any bus and tram.

With one of the best tram networks in Britain, it’s easy to get around by Metrolink which sits under the Bee Network . You can also plan train journeys and book tickets on the main rail network .

A bike-friendly city, there are loads of cycle routes and dedicated lanes, making exploring by bike hassle-free.

Want to know more?

Don’t forget to check out Visit Manchester, where you’ll find top tips on what to see and do, and much more.

Parks, leisure and the arts Manchester Visitor Information Centre

About the manchester visitor information centre.

If you are looking for information about the latest events or suggestions for days out, call into Manchester Visitor Information Centre where the knowledgeable team can help make the most of your trip to Manchester.  

The centre stocks a wide range of leaflets and a city centre map and tickets for the Sightseeing Bus and Mountain Goat Day trips are also available.

Visitor information online

You can find all the latest visitor information at the Visit Manchester website .

Getting to the visitor centre:

Find us at:

Manchester Visitor Information Centre Central Library St. Peter's Square M2 5PD

Opening times Monday to Wednesday: 9.30am to 4.30pm Thursday: 9.30am to 6pm Friday and Saturday: 9.30am to 4.30pm Email: [email protected]

Fields marked * cannot be left blank

Feedback submitted to us on this form is monitored but you won’t receive a reply. In an emergency, visit our emergency contact details page . Please don't include any personal or financial information, for example your National Insurance or credit card numbers.

The top 12 things to do in Manchester

Oct 5, 2022 • 7 min read

Manchester is a famously queer-friendly city especially the village around Canal Street © trabantos / Getty Images

Mancunians are fiercely proud of their city. And rightly so as the ever-growing metropolis houses an impressive collection of attractions, with options to appease even the most cultured visitors. 

It’s not just football and great music, either. Awesome art galleries, museums with free entry and all manner of festivals are possible contenders for your itinerary. Not sure where to start? Here’s just a snapshot of the best things to do in Manchester. 

1. Go to a gig

The Madchester years may be over and the Haçienda long gone (or, rather, remodeled as a block of flats), but Manchester ’s musical spirit remains very much alive. The city has nurtured numerous bands over the years and still plays host to countless live music venues.

Attending a gig is easily one of the best things to do in Manchester at night. Band on the Wall and the Deaf Institute showcase an eclectic mix of up-and-coming acts, while the MEN Arena is the domain of globally renowned superstars. You could also treat your ears to free live jazz at friendly neighborhood bar Matt and Phreds or listen to classical masterpieces courtesy of the Hallé Orchestra at Bridgewater Hall . 

Detour: The Science and Industry Museum's Turn It Up: The power of music exhibit lets visitors get hands-on with music making, with displays that include odd and groundbreaking instruments and a space to create your own masterpiece.

2. Explore the Northern Quarter

Manchester’s hippest neighborhood sits a stone’s throw from Piccadilly Gardens and offers numerous refreshing alternatives to the chain cafes and high street stores of nearby Market Street. 

As well as being adorned with thought-provoking street art, the Northern Quarter’s red brick buildings are filled with vintage clothing shops, indie record stores and quirky themed bars. 

Some of the best restaurants in Manchester can be found here, too. Head to Northern Soul Grilled Cheese for a cheap and indulgently cheesy lunch. You could also join the queue for a table at Aussie-run brunch spot, Federal , where great coffee is served alongside plates piled high with smashed avocado, grilled halloumi and freshly-baked sourdough toast.

Local tip: With lots of boutique hotels and situated in a convenient location, the Northern Quarter is also a good place to stay in Manchester.

3. Indulge your inner football fan

Manchester is the home of not one, but two legendary football teams. Whether your loyalties lie with Manchester City or Manchester United , you’ll find much to entertain you at the National Football Museum . Tucked behind the cathedral, it’s the biggest museum of its kind and one of the most popular attractions in Manchester. 

Local Tip: Rather see a ball being kicked across the pitch? The Premier League season kicks off in early September, with matches hosted at both the Etihad Stadium and Old Trafford. Pick up tickets for as little as £20 or go inside Old Trafford during a private stadium tour. 

4. Tick off some museums

There’s no shortage of ways to spend a day in Manchester. With no fewer than ten museums located within the city limits, it’s an excellent place to expand your knowledge on a range of different subjects. 

Learn about the Suffragette Movement at the Pankhurst Centre or uncover the city’s natural history at the Manchester Museum . The Imperial War Museum North in Salford Quays is as educational and evocative as its London counterpart. 

Visiting with kids? The Science and Industry Museum is hands down one of the best things to do in Manchester as a family. It’s lodged inside the oldest railway terminus in the world and has some brilliant interactive exhibits, including astronaut virtual reality experiences for wannabe space explorers. 

5. John Rylands Library

The John Rylands Library – with its Gothic facade and dramatic interiors that wouldn’t look out of place in a Sherlock Holmes mystery – is more than just a giant storehouse for rare books. It’s stood on the same spot on Deansgate since the 1890s and is probably the city’s most impressive heritage site. 

A visit to the library is one of the best things to do in Manchester, whether you’re a certified bookworm or not. Entry is free and it’ll take you less than an hour to admire its wood-paneled reading rooms, sweeping stone staircases and glass cases filled with fading, antique papyrus. 

6. Eat your way around the city

If you take away one piece of advice, let it be this: always come to Manchester with an appetite. The city has some serious culinary credentials, spanning Michelin-starred fine dining to vegan-friendly fast food. Mouth-watering global cuisine is always on the menu, too. 

Ancoats (the Northern Quarter’s equally cool neighbor) is Manchester’s unofficial Little Italy and where you’ll be able to gorge on stonebaked pizza and other carb-heavy delights. For fragrant ramen and delectable dim sum, the brightly decorated restaurants of Chinatown are your best bet. 

Local Tip: Searching for a cozy Sunday lunch spot? Book a table at Sam’s Chop House . It’s one of the best pubs in Manchester and still has the same moody Victorian decor as it did when it opened in 1868.

7. Check out the city’s craft beer scene

Manchester is swiftly catching up with the capital when it comes to craft beer. A good chunk of its breweries (many of them with onsite bars) lie a short walk from Manchester Piccadilly station. This includes trendy Cloudwater Brewing Co and the slightly more rustic Alphabet Brewing Company.

Detour: Prefer a G&T? The Manchester Gin distillery behind the Odeon Great Northern offers terrific tasting tours. 

8. Hit up a market

Sucker for a good market? Manchester has plenty. Foodies will be thoroughly satisfied with the treats on offer at Altrincham Market and Mackie Mayor in the Northern Quarter. If it's vintage treasures you’re seeking, make a beeline for eclectic Afflecks on Church Street. There’s also the Didsbury Maker’s Market – an emporium of locally made gifts and crafts – which sets up shop just off Burton Road on the last Sunday of every month. 

9. Salford Quays

Looking for things to do outside Manchester City Center? Hop on the tram and head for Salford Quays. The modern waterfront district is on the site of the former Manchester Docks and serves as the home of the BBC and ITV in the North. You’ll spot their studio buildings in the aptly named MediaCityUK .

Directly opposite is The Quays, a shopping, dining and entertainment complex. Within it is the Lowry , one of the top-performing arts centers in the region, and Salford Water Sports Centre where you can hire paddleboards or kayaks to explore the surrounding canals. 

10. Attend one of Manchester’s many festivals

No matter the season , there’s bound to be a festival to take your fancy. Mancunians love to celebrate, whether that’s by heading en masse to Heaton Park for the Parklife music festival or by lining the streets of the Gay Village for the annual Pride parade. 

You could also enjoy avant-garde film screenings and immersive performance art at the biannual Manchester International Festival or join in with the Lunar New Year festivities in Manchester’s Chinatown in early February.

11. Take a dip at Victoria Baths

This early Edwardian swimming pool turned cultural events venue is worth trekking up Oxford Road for. Victoria Baths first opened in 1906, and it’s managed to retain its period beauty. Original tiles cover the walls of the entrance hall, while powder blue changing cubicles with red and white striped curtains line the edge of the female baths.

The long-term goal is to refurbish it as a public pool and Turkish bath. For now, though, Victoria Baths is open for tours between March and September.

Local tip: Various events are held throughout the year too, including the Vintage Home Show in June and a pop-up festive cinema in December.

12. Embark on an art-themed tour of the city

Art fanatics will be in their element in Manchester. The Whitworth Art Gallery ’s collections are vast and include prints by Renoir and Cezanne, as well as a room dedicated entirely to wonderfully colorful wallpaper. 

Back in the city center, Manchester Art Gallery is a haven for fine art aficionados and usually has a fantastic temporary modern art exhibition. You could also browse bold works with hefty price tags at Castle Fine Art Gallery on King Street. 

Local tip: After a unique date idea? Leisurely uncovering the street art of the Northern Quarter and Ancoats – preferably with a coffee in hand – is one of our top things to do in Manchester as a couple.

This article was first published Apr 21, 2022 and updated Oct 5, 2022.

Explore related stories

Art and Culture

May 29, 2024 • 11 min read

From Glastonbury to Latitude plus boutique festivals like Secret Garden Party, here's your guide to the UK's best summer music festivals.

May 7, 2024 • 4 min read

Mar 22, 2024 • 9 min read

Aug 31, 2023 • 11 min read

Aug 16, 2023 • 6 min read

Apr 11, 2023 • 4 min read

Jan 25, 2023 • 4 min read

Jul 1, 2022 • 10 min read

Apr 26, 2022 • 7 min read

Apr 14, 2022 • 8 min read

Best Time to Visit

Weather & Climate

Manchester Airport Guide

Best Hotels

Public Transportation

48-Hour Itinerary

Day Trips From Manchester

Top Things to Do

Best Museums

How to See a Soccer Match

Food to Try

Best Restaurants

Nightlife Guide

Your Trip to Manchester: The Complete Guide

Although London is the obvious destination for many travelers coming to the U.K., its northern cousin of Manchester offers a similar dose of culture, good food, and excitement. Known for its soccer team, Manchester United, the city has been the U.K.'s third-most-popular destination   for the past several years. It's easy to navigate thanks to a robust public transportation system (and a primary language of English). It's a great gateway destination to popular tourist spots like the Lake District and Liverpool.

Whether you're coming to experience Manchester or want to include the city as part of a longer itinerary, there are few things to keep in mind as you plan.

Planning Your Trip

Best Time to Visit: The weather is moderate most of the year in Manchester, but the summer and early fall are the best times to enjoy the outdoors. Visit in the late fall to avoid the crowds and take advantage of shorter lines at the popular attractions. Bring an umbrella and a jacket, although it rains far less than you'd assume.

Language: English, although numerous other languages, including Spanish, French, and Arabic, are spoken around the U.K.

Currency: England's official currency is the pound sterling (GBP), which is more commonly called "the pound."

Getting Around: Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is the city's expansive public transportation system, connecting the city center with various suburbs via bus, tram, and local train. There are also taxis and Uber, as well as places to rent a car or bicycle.

Travel Tip:  Give yourself at least three days to see all of Manchester. The city has various neighborhoods and suburbs that are well worth exploring, and you'll want enough time to try all of the different cuisines and restaurants available in the city. Those interested in museums will have a lot of ground to cover, so do some research in advance and prioritize your itinerary. It's also a good idea to bring along an extra bag or suitcase as Manchester is known for its shopping, both at large department stores and smaller, local boutiques and vintage shops.

Things to Do

Like London, Manchester is a diverse and vibrant city, with lots to see and do, all depending on your preferences and interests. The city is known for its museums, including the National Football Museum and the Imperial War Museum North, and its lively soccer culture. It's also close to many nature destinations, including the Peak District and the Lake District, so many travelers will include Manchester in a longer itinerary. There are also numerous day trips possible from Manchester, many of which can be taken via train or bus.

• Tour the National Football Museum before heading to a Manchester United match at Old Trafford stadium.
• Dine at The Old Wellington , a historic pub that dates back to 1552. It has a traditional and rustic menu, with classic options like fish and chips and burgers, and lots of beer.
• Visit the Pankhurst Centre , which celebrates the Suffragettes' first meeting and is the former home of Emmeline Pankhurst. Entry is free.

For more, explore the top 10 things to do in Manchester.

What to Eat and Drink

London often gets credit as England's best city for food, but Manchester comes in a close second, with many different types of eateries and bars to pick from. The city has an expansive food scene that continues to grow every year, and most global cuisines are represented in its many neighborhoods. Whether you're interested in Indian, Middle Eastern, Japanese, Italian, or some classic British dishes, there's something for every taste.

Manchester also has a thriving pub and bar scene, with many historic pubs and sports bars and smaller, independent cocktail bars. Don't miss grabbing a pint at the corner pub, a quintessential experience while in England, but don't forget to explore areas outside the city center like Stockport, which is known for its innovative restaurants and bars.

The local delicacies   are a bit off-center (don't try black pudding unless you learn what it is first), but there are a few treats to seek out, including the Manchester Tart. The traditional English baked tart, which features raspberry jam, can be hard to find, but check the dessert menus at the local British restaurants. Otherwise, be sure to try a Sunday roast, a traditional lunch that features roast meat, vegetables, and a Yorkshire pudding.

Where to Stay

Most travelers will opt to book a hotel or an Airbnb in the city center of Manchester, which itself is fairly vast. Look for places to stay in the Northern Quarter, a hip area with plenty of dining and shopping options, as well as the Central Retail District and NOMA. Staying in the center makes it easy to walk to many museums, but look closer to Manchester Piccadilly station if you're on a budget. Some favorite downtown hotels include The Cow Hollow Hotel, The Midland, and the Stock Exchange Hotel.

Those who want to be closer to Old Trafford stadium should look for accommodations near the Quays, which is a bit farther out (although usually cheaper) than what's available downtown. Salford, located west of the city center, is another good option for cheaper hotels or Airbnbs, although it's a drive or bus ride away from many attractions.

Getting There

Travelers can arrive in Manchester via Manchester Airport, an international hub that mainly serves Europe and the Middle East, or via London . Those flying into London can take a two-hour train journey north from Euston Station to Manchester Piccadilly. Trains run frequently, and it's easy to access Euston from Heathrow Airport via taxi or Uber. There are also National Express buses that connect London and Manchester, although those may be slower and less frequent than the train. More adventurous travelers may want to rent a car and drive to Manchester from one of the U.K.'s airports. Be sure to opt for a GPS in your rental car to help navigate the roads and highways around England.

Culture and Customs

Manchester has a similar culture to London, although the North of England can feel slightly different than the South. There are also a few differences between U.K. and U.S. culture, particularly when it comes to tipping. Restaurants and bars will include a service charge (usually 12.5 percent) on the bill, so there's no need to leave extra cash, although you can drop a few extra pounds if the service was particularly great. When grabbing a drink at a pub, leave a pound or two tip for each round you buy.

Be mindful that British culture is fairly reserved, especially compared with how we behave in public in America. When using public transportation or visiting museums, keep your voice low and be polite. Brits also appreciate a good queue, so never skip the line or push your way to the front, even if you're at a rowdy soccer match.

Money Saving Tips

• Manchester has a free bus system that operates around the city center  . There are three routes, 1, 2, and 3, which run throughout the main areas, including the Northern Quarter, NOMA, and Chinatown. Two of the buses run daily, including holidays, while one is not available on Sundays. Check the timetables and routes online to plan a journey.
• Several of Manchester's museums are free to enter  , including Manchester Museum, Manchester Art Gallery, and the Manchester Airport Runway Visitor Park.
• Take advantage of nearby walks and parks, including Heaton Park and Arley Hall and Gardens. Bring along a picnic during the warmer months to save some money on lunch.
• Grab a bite to eat at one of Manchester's hip food halls, which have casual, inexpensive breakfast, lunch, and dinner offerings. Mackie Mayor is one of the city's most popular.
• Save money on public transportation by walking as much as possible. Central Manchester is very walkable, especially when visiting attractions like museums and theaters, and it's a good way to keep your budget low. For those who need to take public transportation, consider one of the tram and bus passes that are good for multiple journeys.

Visit Britain. "Inbound Town Data." 2019.

Visit Manchester. "Greater Manchester Local Delicacies."

TfGM. "Free Bus - Free Travel Around Manchester City Centre." July 20, 2020.

Visit Manchester. "Free Things To Do in Manchester."

Your Trip to Birmingham, England: The Complete Guide

Getting Around Manchester: Guide To Public Transportation

48 Hours in Manchester: The Ultimate Itinerary

One Week in England: The Perfect Itinerary

How to See a Soccer Match in Manchester

Top 20 Most Popular UK Cities for International Visitors

Your Trip to Edinburgh: The Complete Guide

The Top 10 Attractions in Manchester England

Your Trip to England: The Complete Guide

Nightlife in Manchester: Best Bars, Clubs, & More

Your Trip to Ireland: The Complete Guide

Your Trip to Boston: The Complete Guide

How to Travel From London to Manchester by Train, Bus, Plane, and Car

The 10 Best Museums to Visit in Manchester

LGBTQ Travel Guide: Manchester

• 1 Districts
• 2.1 Tourist information
• 2.2 History
• 2.3 Student life
• 2.4 Sporting
• 2.5 Diversity
• 2.6 Climate
• 3.1 By plane
• 3.2 By train
• 3.4 By motorbike
• 3.6 By boat
• 4.2 On foot in the city centre
• 4.5.1 Tickets
• 4.6 By taxi
• 4.7 By train
• 5.1 Cosmopolitan Manchester
• 5.2 Historical Manchester
• 5.3 Cultural Manchester
• 5.4 Sporting Manchester
• 5.5 Hidden Manchester
• 6.1 Of particular interest
• 9.1.1 Chinese
• 9.2.1 British
• 9.2.2 Chinese
• 9.2.3 Indian
• 9.2.4 Japanese
• 9.2.5 Seasonal
• 9.3.1 Spanish
• 9.4 Patisseries and tearooms
• 11.1 Hotels
• 11.2 Self-catering
• 13 Stay safe
• 15.1 Seaside
• 15.3 Country
• 15.4 Suburban and beyond

Manchester is a vibrant, post-industrial gem at the heart of North West England . The city that used to be nicknamed 'Cottonopolis' (a reference to its most famous export) has hung up its clogs and, thanks to successive regeneration projects, is now a major centre for culture and commerce; seen by many as the capital of the north of England , and sometimes regarded as England's second city.

The site of the world's oldest surviving passenger railway station and one of the birthplaces of socialism and the industrial revolution, Manchester remains at the vanguard of British culture and technology with a verve and vibe of its own. This vivacious spirit is augmented by the city's two world-famous football clubs and large student population; whilst the mills have been swapped for Michelin stars and the warehouses for world-class shopping and museums, this is still a city that is very proud of its industrial past and of its influences on music and sport.

Smaller than London , Manchester offers the 'buzz' of a large city without the overwhelming scale of the capital. Outside of the city 'proper' lies Greater Manchester , home to 2.8 million inhabitants, unique shopping destinations, urban havens and beautiful countryside. The region also hosts Manchester Airport , one of the UK's best-run international airports and the busiest British airport outside of South East England .

Throughout time, writers have sought to describe the magic of Manchester: George Orwell called it "the belly and guts of the Nation"; Edward Abbott Parry "a synonym for energy and freedom", but Ian Brown, lead singer of The Stone Roses, perhaps summed up the Mancunian spirit best when he said "Manchester's got everything except a beach". The sand is almost certainly on order already.

Districts [ edit ]

Other towns within Greater Manchester but not covered by this page are (clockwise) Stockport , Marple , Altrincham , Sale , Wigan , Bolton , Bury , Oldham , Rochdale , and Ashton-under-Lyne ,

Understand [ edit ]

The city is in the North West of England, between Liverpool and Leeds . It is seen by many as a young, vibrant and cutting edge city, where there is always something happening. The "Manchester brand" is seen to extend well beyond the city's boundaries (covering all of neighbouring Salford and Trafford, as well as districts of other boroughs) and even beyond those of Greater Manchester. This serves to reflect the influence it has on the wider region as a whole.

Manchester is a friendly city as well. Northerners do talk to each other and to strangers. Just compare asking for directions in London and Manchester and the difference is often clear. Locals seem more proud than ever of Manchester and all it offers. Some outsiders may find this fierce pride in their city somewhat "un-British". Positive comments and praise go down a treat with the locals, and with all that has happened, such is often due.

The adjective associated with Manchester is Mancunian or simply Manc . The distinctive linguistic accent of the city's indigenous inhabitants is much more closely related to that of Liverpool with its strong north-Waleian (Welsh) roots than it is to the Lancastrian or Cestrian of the neighbouring cotton towns. However, most locals still consider Manchester to be part of Lancashire , and the rivalry with Yorkshire persists.

Although it has gained the stereotype of being very wet, it is actually less than the UK average.

Tourist information [ edit ]

• 53.478255 -2.244113 1 Manchester Visitor Information Centre , Manchester Central Library, St Peters Square, M2 5PD , ☏ 0871 222 8223 (high cost number) , fax : +44 161 236-9900 , [email protected] . M-Sa 9AM-5PM . Has up-to-date lists of places to eat and sleep. The visitor centre has moved close to the town hall. ( updated Oct 2022 )

History [ edit ]

Manchester was the site of the Roman fort Mamucium ( breast-shaped ), founded in AD 79, but a town was not built until the 13th century. The old Roman road that ran to the nearby fort of Coccium ( Wigan ) is mirrored today by the route through Atherton & Tyldesley. A priests' college and church (now Chetham's School and Library and the Cathedral) were established in Manchester in 1421. Early evidence of its tendency towards political radicalism was its support for Parliament during the Civil War and in 1745 for the Jacobite forces of the Young Pretender.

It was not until the start of the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries that this small mediaeval town would build its fortune. The presence of an existing cloth trade, coupled with the mechanisation of spinning in nearby Bolton , created a thriving cotton industry in Manchester. The damp, humid atmosphere was good for cotton spinning since it meant fewer broken threads and reduced the risk of explosions from cotton dust. Water power rapidly gave way here to steam invented by Boulton and Watt and a steam-driven factory was built in Ancoats, immediately north-east of what is now the city centre. By the end of the 19th century, Manchester was one of the ten biggest urban centres on Earth (even before counting the wider population, within 50 miles of the Northern England region, such as Liverpool, Sheffield, Bradford, Leeds, and Central Lancashire).

Whitworth, inventor of the eponymous mass-cut screw thread, also manufactured his equally revolutionary rifled guns in huge quantities at his factory on Sackville Street. After their initial meeting at the Midland Hotel, still one of the city's most luxurious, Rolls and Royce began manufacture of their luxury motor cars in Hulme .

Trafford Park, in Trafford, was to become the first industrial estate in the world, housing the Ford Motor Company and much of the pre-wartime aircraft industry, notably the 'Lancaster' Bombers of the AVRO Co.

Manchester's success during the Victorian era and before is evident everywhere you look. Great Ancoats Street was a source of wonder to Schinkel, the neo-classical architect from Berlin. Equally grandiose neo-Gothic buildings line the old Financial District around King Street, and public institutions such as the University and the many libraries are dotted around everywhere. There is even a statue of Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln Square ( Brazennose Street, straight across Albert Square from the Town Hall main entrance ) commemorating his personal thanks for Manchester's support during a cotton famine created by Britain's refusal to run the Federal blockade of the slave-owning Confederacy during the American Civil War.

Continuing its radical political tradition, Manchester was the home of opposition to the Corn Laws and espoused Free Trade, as well as Chartism and the Great Reform Act. It was instrumental in the establishment of socialism in the UK. Early socialist theorists Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx frequented the city; the former conducted his famous inquiry into the condition of the working class, and the latter sought to draw universal rules from the particular circumstances of the early industrial revolution. Cleaving to a more gently pragmatic English tradition, it was the birthplace of the Trades Union Congress which led to the creation of the Labour Party. It was also home to a number of philanthropists of the industrial age, such as John Owens and John Dalton, who bequeathed large parts of their fortunes to improving the city.

Manchester has also been famous for its influence on the UK music scene. The Madchester movement of the early 1980s, started by Factory Records and Joy Division, led to the creation of the Haçienda nightclub (now demolished after standing empty for many years) and the birth of modern club culture. Manchester has given life to many hugely successful musicians, among them The Stone Roses, The Smiths, The Fall, Joy Division/New Order, The Happy Mondays, Oasis, James, and Badly Drawn Boy.

In the 2020s, Greater Manchester has become one of the preferred destinations for Hongkongers fleeing repressive laws imposed by China, with Salford , Sale and Tameside having a particularly high concentration of them.

Student life [ edit ]

Central Manchester is home to two of the largest universities in the UK. The University of Manchester (formed from a merger of Manchester University and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST)) and Manchester Metropolitan University (also known as 'Man Met', formerly the Polytechnic, itself a conglomeration of municipal colleges), as well as the Royal Northern College of Music . There is also a university in Salford , within one mile of the city centre, which is renowned as a European Centre of Excellence in Media. Together they create a body of over 86,000 students living full-time in the city.

Manchester is often named 'best student city'. It is very welcoming to the student lifestyle and many establishments in the centre and South Manchester are geared towards students; eating and drinking in Manchester can be very inexpensive due to the high competition that goes on between these establishments.

However, if you want to be far from students, there are many places that are not frequented by students although you may have to be prepared to pay a little extra. Also, a few places have a strictly 21+ policy so take identification with you. But those places are quite rare. In the student areas of Fallowfield and Withington, some venues operate a student-only policy so production of a student card (or something resembling a student card) is necessary.

Sporting [ edit ]

Manchester is famous all over the world thanks to its football clubs, including Manchester United ( Old Trafford ) and Manchester City ( Etihad Stadium, Sportcity ). Both clubs offer stadium tours every day. Tickets for Premier League games can be hard for tourists to obtain, though cup matches are easier. Tickets to all matches are sold in advance, with no admission available on the day.

Old Trafford is also home to the Lancashire County Cricket Club . despite no longer being a part of the county of Lancashire. Tickets for Lancashire cricket matches are almost always available on a walk-up basis, though there is a discount when purchased in advance.

In 2002, Manchester was the host to the Commonwealth Games and a large area of East Manchester was converted into Sportcity . The centrepiece of this is the stadium. It was used for athletics during the Games, after which it was converted for football and Manchester City moved in. Next door to this is the Regional Athletics Arena, which was used as a warm-up track during the Games.

The Manchester Velodrome started off the whole regeneration of East Manchester and formed part of the bid for the 2002 Commonwealth Games (and for Manchester's failed bid for the 2000 Olympics). Britain's great success in the cycling events in the 2012 Olympics owes much to this venue and many of the medal winners are based in and around the city. A BMX centre was added in 2010. Sportcity also includes the National Squash Centre and several tennis courts.

Diversity [ edit ]

Manchester is a very mixed city. Many races and religions have communities in the city and it has a long history of being more tolerant than most cities to people of any background. The very large number of British Citizenship ceremonies, held in Heron House by the Town Hall each year, is a testament to this.

Manchester is also extremely gay-friendly and very liberal-minded. It is very well known as being one of "The Big 3" in terms of sexual diversity along with Brighton and London. The Village is an area concentrated around Canal Street and is very popular with people of all sexualities. It is also home to an annual 12-day Pride festival with the involvement of people of all types; attracting all kinds of people: not just from Manchester but from the entire country and abroad, further reflecting Manchester's unique approach to tolerance and acceptance. Expect to see amongst others the likes of gay police officers, firefighters and health workers in the good-natured parade.

The atmosphere of the village area is very friendly and welcoming, as is Manchester's very large LGBT community, known to be one of the most accepting in the country. Manchester is certainly the most gay-friendly major city by far and has the largest and most visible LGBT community of any major city outside London. Most Mancunians have grown up with a tolerant attitude towards sexuality and it is extremely rare to come across homophobia, making Manchester a very welcoming city for LGBT people.

Climate [ edit ]

Manchester has a temperate maritime climate and rarely gets too warm or too cold. The city receives below-average rainfall for the UK. It is not significantly far behind London in terms of the average number of hours of sunlight per day (based on the last 100 years' data from Met Office) though it does have a few more days with rain. However, as a result of relatively mild winter conditions, there is never a period that one should avoid visiting due to extreme weather conditions.

As with any city, it puts on a good show when the weather is fine in spring and summer and there is a lot of al fresco drinking and eating. It does have its fair share of dull, grey days, which can strangely add to its charm for the visitor.

Daylight hours run from 4:45AM to 9:30 PM in the summer. Darkness falls just after 3:45PM in the winter, with sunrise not until almost 8:30AM.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ].

Manchester Airport ( MAN  IATA ) south of the city is Britain's largest airport outside London, with flights to over 200 destinations, including North America, the Gulf and Far East. Most flights use Terminal 1, holiday charters are usually from T2, and T3 has smaller aircraft on domestic and near-European hops. Train is the quickest way downtown: they run frequently to Manchester Piccadilly and Oxford Road stations, taking 20 mins, for a fare of £6.20. Many trains continue direct to other cities: via Warrington to Liverpool, via Preston and Carlisle to Edinburgh and Glasgow, via Huddersfield, Leeds and York to Middlesbrough, Durham and Newcastle, and via Sheffield, Doncaster and Scunthorpe to Cleethorpes. Trains are sparse after midnight but you can use Bus 43 which runs all night, taking 50 mins to Piccadilly via the university corridor/Oxford Road.The bus is just £2 for a single fare of any distance. There's also a tram, most useful for the southern suburbs.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport ( LPL  IATA ) has mostly budget flights across Europe by Easyjet and Ryanair . There's a coach to the airport from Manchester's central coach station, taking 45 min. There are also several trains hourly between Liverpool South Parkway (the station near John Lennon Airport) and Manchester Oxford Road in city centre.

By train [ edit ]

Manchester city centre is served by two major railway stations, 53.47739 -2.23073 1 Piccadilly in the south and 53.48758 -2.24261 2 Victoria in the north.

Piccadilly is the main destination for trains from around the UK, e.g. London , Birmingham , Leeds etc. Victoria has trains from Bradford and local services from elsewhere in North West England.

Trains from Liverpool, Leeds, York, Sheffield and Nottingham often also stop at 53.474 -2.2423 3 Manchester Oxford Road which is convenient for the University.

Other stations in the city centre are 53.4742 -2.2508 4 Deansgate and 53.482778 -2.255833 5 Salford Central , but generally only local services stop at these stations.

If you are travelling to a major rail station in Greater Manchester from a station outside Greater Manchester you can buy a PlusBus add on ticket which will give you bus (but NOT Metrolink) travel throughout Greater Manchester for a day. If you have a Railcard , the discount applies to PlusBus as well.

By car [ edit ]

The outer ring road of the Manchester conurbation is the M60. It is accessible from Leeds or Liverpool by the M62 and from Scotland and the south by the M6. From the north and Scotland follow the M6 and then the M61. From the south take the M6 and the M56. The most direct route from the M6 to the M56 and South Manchester is to take the A556 leaving the M6 at junction 19, but it has a 50 mph/80 km/h speed limit for most of its length and can be somewhat congested at busy times of the day. It is signed Manchester and Manchester Airport.

Another route would be to carry on northbound up the M6, taking you directly to the M6/M62 interchange. Here, you would follow signs for Leeds and Manchester North. This can, however, seem a longer way round, but it does also give you access, via the M60 orbital road, to places around the conurbation and is a much better option if you wish to access the northern part of Greater Manchester.

If a little lost in the city centre, follow signs for the inner ring road, as there are signs to most destinations from this road.

Parking in the city centre of Manchester can be expensive. Avoid the multi-storey car parks if you can and look for some open-air car parks. There are good ones by Salford Central Station, behind Piccadilly Station and opposite the cathedral.

If you have to use a multi-storey, the one by the Coach Station and the Village is handy. This is fine as a last resort if you have been driving around for an hour, looking for a place to park. There are increasingly more and more double yellow lines, which designate no parking at any time.

Ladywell Park & Ride is situated near Eccles (M602, Junction 2); the car park is free and there is a tram station. Similarly, parking at the Trafford Centre ( M60, junctions 9 and 10 ) is free and there are buses to the city centre and Stretford tram station. Details of other Greater Manchester Park & Ride schemes can be found here.

On Saturday from 12:30PM to Monday morning, just over from the city centre into Salford, you can park on a single yellow line (remember that you can never park on a double yellow line) or in a designated space without paying, unlike in the city centre where restrictions apply even during weekends. Streets like Chapel Street, Bridge Street, and the areas around them are a good bet and much safer now with all the new housing developments. There you are just a short walk from Deansgate.

Problems are rare as long as you take the usual precautions and do not leave valuables on display. Try not to put things in the boot (trunk) after a shopping spree if people are watching. Avoid parking under the bridges at all costs, and try the main roads, just off one or next to one of the many new blocks of flats where it is well lit. Watch out on bank holidays around here. Sometimes these are treated like a Sunday in the centre, but people have been known to get parking tickets on the Salford side. If unsure, treat a holiday, on the Salford side, as a normal day of the week or ask a warden if you can find one!

By motorbike [ edit ]

There are several free parking bays for motorbikes around Manchester city centre. The locations are on the Council's website .

By bus [ edit ]

Chorlton Street Coach Station is the central coach (long distance bus) station in Manchester, close to the centre, between Chinatown and The Village on Chorlton Street. Coaches run from all over the country and are generally the most reasonably-priced way to get into Manchester. London to Manchester on the coach can take about four hours, but it depends on the time of day and number of stops.

• National Express is a comfortable and frequent service which runs 24 hours a day from some cities, including London and Birmingham.
• Megabus run services to/from London, Scotland, South Wales and the West. Fares also start at £1, and must be booked in advance online. Megabus services start from the Shudehill interchange .
• Flixbus run services to/from London, Birmingham, Bristol, Scotland. Fares vary according to demand and can be booked online. Services start from the Shudehill interchange .

By boat [ edit ]

The nearest cruise terminal is Liverpool Cruise Terminal , opened in 2007.

The independent Bridgewater Canal enters Manchester from the west. The Canal & River Trust Rochdale & Ashton Canals enter the city from the north-east to join the Bridgewater canal at Castlefield.

The Manchester Ship Canal can only be used on the Mersey Ferry cruise from Salford to Eastham between April and October.

Get around [ edit ]

Transport in Greater Manchester is overseen and co-ordinated by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) ( Information: 0871 200 22 33 ).

TfGM operates a multimodal journey planner which is a great help in planning getting around the Greater Manchester area.

TfGM (& transport operators) sell a number of tickets which are valid for multiple operators, such as the any bus day ticket aka System One . If you are planning to do a lot of travelling in one day, these might be your cheapest option. If using Metrolink There are tickets for single people and family tickets. The cheapest fares are after 9:30AM.

Maps [ edit ]

Dotted around the city centre on main streets including Deansgate, Oxford Road, and Market Street, are the pedestrian-level street maps . They are usually placed in normal advertising hoardings, which can make them difficult to spot from a distance. The maps have been updated with different colours for each district area of the city centre. Your position is marked by a dark circle. They cover the whole centre down to the university district and also central Salford up to Salford University. You can obtain a similar map from the tourist information centre or download one from here.

Most smartphone owners use Google or Apple Maps but if you are more "Old School" A-Z maps are still available. These street maps, in book form, are available from newsagents or bookshops and, depending on size, cover everything from the city centre to the whole Greater Manchester conurbation.

On foot in the city centre [ edit ]

Manchester city centre's many attractions are easily reached on foot, and walking provides the perfect opportunity to take in the architecture of the city.

Unless a car is absolutely essential, you should avoid bringing a car into Manchester. City Centre parking is expensive: during the day, you can typically expect to pay up to £6 for two hours inside the inner ring road. However there is often free (or cheap) parking in suburban or out-of-town shopping areas - for example, the Trafford Centre (off Junction 10 on the M60) has 11,500 free parking spaces.

TfGM travel shops are found in Shudehill and in Piccadilly Gardens and timetables, maps and information can be found for all services here.

Piccadilly Gardens bus station is generally for services to the south of Greater Manchester along with Wigan and Bolton. Shudehill Bus Station has services to the north of Greater Manchester.

The free bus routes were changed on April 2023. It runs on two main routes starting from Piccadilly station.

Route 1 runs a circular route towards the south and west of the city centre passing Deansgate(-Castlefield) station(s), every 10 minutes M-Sa from 7AM, until 7:30PM, every 10 minutes on Sundays and public holidays, between 10AM and 6:30PM.

Route 2 runs a circular route towards the North of the city centre, linking Piccadilly, Shudehill bus interchange, Victoria railway stations ); this route operates every 10 minutes M-Sa from 7AM to 7:30PM (from 10AM on Sundays and public holidays, until 6:30PM).

Areas on the fringes of the city centre (such as Spinningfields, Petersfield, Oxford Road Corridor, Millennium Quarter) are now easier to access from other parts of the city. Due to the volume of pedestrian priority around areas such as Deansgate, traffic in the city centre is often slow at peak times.

Most of the buses in North Manchester are operated by First (towards Oldham), Go North West (towards Bury & Salford) & Diamond North West (towards Bolton & Wigan) whilst Stagecoach operate in South Manchester and serve most places that you are likely to want to go in the conurbation. The main bus station for the south is Piccadilly Gardens and Shudehill Interchange serves the north. However buses for Wigan, Leigh, Lowton and Bolton can be found at Piccadilly Gardens as well as for Altrincham and Droylsden at Shudehill. You are advised to consult the Transport for Greater Manchester website for operator independent information.

The South Manchester corridor that begins with Oxford Road and Wilmslow Road is the most-served bus route in Europe. Buses connect the centre with the universities and Rusholme, as often as every one minute. The general rule on this street is to get on any bus that is not operated by Stagecoach and your fare is likely to be under £1. Some buses have a student fare, which they will charge you if you look like a student, regardless of whether you ask for it or not. Be warned, though, during peak hours it can take as long as 30 min to make the three-mile journey from Piccadilly Gardens to Rusholme. The 42 (operated by various companies) is usually the most frequent service, operating through the night from Piccadilly, Oxford Road, Wilmslow Road, Rusholme and beyond.

The number 43 bus runs all day and night to the airport and at regular intervals. Train services from Piccadilly also serve the airport all night.

Buses to the Trafford Centre include the Stagecoach-operated Route 250 , from Piccadilly Gardens to the Trafford Centre and the First-operated Routes 100 and 110, from Shudehill, via Blackfriars (the stop is just off Deansgate) and Eccles, to the Trafford Centre. The quickest, most direct option is the Stagecoach X50 bus route. They run every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and take only 25 minutes. There are other bus services from Central Manchester to The Trafford Centre and additional services from other towns and suburbs in the conurbation. Metrolink trams also now serve the Trafford Centre.

Bus tickets are usually purchased directly from the driver.Single Journey fares are now capped at £2 for adults and £1 for children A 1-day Anybus Adult pass costs £5 (Anybus & Tram pass off-peak costs £7.60) (October 2022). These "System One" tickets can be used on any bus and details of prices are available at their website. Remember to ask for an Anybus ticket, other day tickets issued by bus companies are valid on that company's buses only. From 2023 Greater Manchester will be moving towards a franchising model for buses using the name BEE NETWORK with yellow buses and an intergraded fare structure. If arriving in Manchester by train from outside Greater Manchester PlusBus tickets are available, see By train.

By tram [ edit ]

Manchester Metrolink trams all run through central Manchester via St Peters Square, Deansgate / Castlefield and Cornbrook, except for the yellow line . The lines then fan out:

Trams normally run every 5-12 min between 6AM and midnight.

See TfGM Metrolink website for fare deals, service updates and travel planner; you must buy your ticket before boarding or see below for contactless options.

Tickets [ edit ]

The Metrolink system, when used to its optimum, can provide good value for money. If you are going to be using it for more than one journey in a day, the best ticket to buy is a 1-day Travelcard (either peak, if travelling before 9:30AM on weekdays, or off-peak if travelling at other times) as return tickets are no longer issued. 7-day, 28-day, and annual travelcards are also available. However, Metrolink can work out expensive for short peak-time journeys.

Tickets must be purchased in advance from the automated vending machines available at each station, or you can buy travel cards from the Get Me There smartphone app. Every ticket machine has a map of the system on it. Choose the required destination followed by the required ticket type on the touch pad and then insert your money or debit card. Ticket machines can be operated in English, French, German, Spanish or Polish. Tickets do not have to be validated on board but must be produced if requested by Metrolink staff.

Visa, Mastercard & Maestro contactless debit, credit cards & mobile payment can be used (one card or device per passenger). You must “touch in” and “touch out” on the yellow smart readers on each platform at the start and end of your journey. If your card reports transactions to your phone instantly, you’ll notice that 10p is debited when you first “touch in” in a day, the rest of your charge will be debited in the next few days once it’s known how much you’ve travelled in the day; daily fare caps apply. Failure to buy a ticket or “touch in” before travel can lead to a £100 fine. If you fail to "touch out" you will be charged a £4.60 incomplete journey fare. When you first "touch in" you should see a Green Tick OK on the display if your card is working. Full instructions here.

A zonal fare system applies, with the City Centre being “Zone 1” and surrounded by concentric Zones 2 to 4. Passengers must be in possession of a ticket valid in all the zones they are travelling through, for example, Manchester Airport and Bury are both in Zone 4, but travel between them involves travelling through Zones 3, 2, 1, 2, and 3, therefore you need to have either a single ticket for Zones 1+2+3+4 (£4.60 in 2023) or a 1-day Anytime travelcard (valid M-F before 9:30AM) (£7.10 in 2022) or a 1-day Off-peak travelcard (valid M-F after 9:30AM, and all day at weekends and public holidays) (£4.90 in 2022) for zones 1+2+3+4. Two- and three-zone tickets involving travel in Zone 1 are more expensive than ones that do not. Certain tram stops are on the border of two zones, and for ticketing purposes can be considered to be in either zone, so only a ticket for the smaller number of zones needed to reach them is needed. Single-ticket journeys must be completed within 2 hours of buying the ticket. If you buy a ticket using a smartphone you must be able to display it if requested, so make sure your battery won't run out before your ticket does, otherwise, you will be liable for the £100 standard fine.

Peak fares apply M-F before 9:30AM (except public holidays).

Off-peak Family Travelcards are available, covering groups of 1-3 children (under 16) travelling with 1 or 2 adults. Weekend Travelcards are valid from 6PM on Friday until the last tram on Sunday (2022: Adult £6.80, Family Weekend Travelcards: £9.50).

Full details of all Metrolink zonal prices can be found here.

‘Get Me There’ : Transport for Greater Manchester has a ‘touch on – touch off’ smartcard system for Metrolink & Bus. The Smart Readers are installed at each stop, but are only used with concessionary passes and when using debit/credit cards. It will be expanded to all public transport within the boundaries of Greater Manchester.

Use the following Zone 1 stations for:

• Victoria — for the Main Line Railway Station, Urbis, Chethams Library, Manchester Cathedral visitors' centre, The Triangle and the Northern half of Deansgate.
• Exchange Square - for Arndale Shopping Centre, Royal Exchange Theatre, Urbis, Chethams Library, Manchester Cathedral visitors' centre, The Triangle and the northern half of Deansgate
• Shudehill — for Bus Interchange, The Printworks, Manchester Arndale and parts of the Northern Quarter.
• Market Street — for the main shopping area, including parts of Manchester Arndale and Affleck’s Palace.
• Piccadilly Gardens — for bus station, Coach Interchange from Chorlton Street Coach Station, Chinatown, the Gay Village, Manchester Art Gallery, Cube Gallery and parts of the Northern Quarter.
• Piccadilly — for Rail Interchange and Metroshuttle and Oxford Road Link buses. Manchester Apollo is a 10-minute walk from here.
• St. Peter's Square — for Oxford Road Station, Central Library, the Library Theatre, Bridgewater Hall, the Midland and Radisson Hotels, Manchester Art Gallery, the Town Hall and Albert Square. Buses down the Oxford Road corridor to the Palace Theatre, the Green Room, Dance House and Contact Theatres and to the universities and beyond.
• Deansgate-Castlefield — for Rail Interchange from Deansgate Station, Manchester Central (exhibition centre/conference & concert venue), Beetham Tower, Great Northern, MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry), the southern half of Deansgate and the beautiful and vibrant canal side area of Castlefield.

Other interesting destinations:

• MediaCityUK (Zone 2) — Around 15 minutes from the City Centre on the MediaCity/Eccles line. The closest station to the Lowry, Lowry Outlet Mall and Imperial War Museum North, the MediaCityUK home of the BBC, and University Of Salford. Cross over the Manchester Ship Canal/River Irwell by one of the footbridges to visit the Imperial War Museum or ITV's Granada studios
• Etihad Campus (Zone 2) — Next to Manchester City Football Club's Etihad Stadium, this stop is particularly handy for football matches as well as the concerts and exhibitions that the stadium plays host to. (If you are going to the academy stadium, where Manchester City Women and Manchester City Academy play, alight at Velopark as it is much closer and not as busy. It is also closer to some parts of the south stand and the east stand but doesn’t really have the matchday buzz)
• Heaton Park (Zone 3) — Around 10 minutes from the City Centre on the Bury Line. Alight here for Manchester's chief parkland. This is the biggest municipal park in the country and a great day out in summer. It has seen much investment of late. Inside you will find a pet zoo, tramway museum, boating lake, stables and golf centre with pitch and putt. The former stately home Heaton Hall is in the park and is open to visitors in the summer months.
• Old Trafford (Zone 2) — Around 10 minutes from the City Centre on the Altrincham Line. For Manchester United Football Club and the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club.
• Stretford (Zone 2/3) — Around 10 minutes from the City Centre on the Altrincham Line. Take care at night.
• Ladywell (Zone 2) — Around 15 minutes from the City Centre on the Eccles Line. There is a large, free car park for the Park and Ride service to Salford Quays and the city.
• Chorlton (Zone 2) — Around 15 minutes from the City Centre on the Manchester Airport and East Didsbury Lines. This area of South Manchester has lots to do in summer including the Unity Festival in Chorlton Park, the Big Green Festival, and the Chorlton Arts Festival. Many creative people such as artists, writers and actors have come to live in Chorlton. Until 2009 Chorlton was the location for the Cosgrove Hall animation studios where the children's series Chorlton and the Wheelies and Dangermouse were created. Parts of the area are used by film crews for TV locations, such as The Second Coming .
• Altrincham (Zone 4) - For food-related experiences and a nice market.
• Bury (Zone 4) - East Lancashire Railway. Preserved steam (and diesel) trains most weekends and other days in school holidays. Excellent fine dining trains on Sundays.

For anyone who wishes to combine tram travel with sightseeing, there is a book by local author Barry Worthington called The Metrolink Companion which gives a detailed description of what to see as you journey along all of the lines.

By taxi [ edit ]

Taxis are considerably cheaper than in London. As a general rule, you should be able to get anywhere you need to go within the core of the city for £5-10. Because of the nature of the tight local authority boundaries within the conurbation, taxis easily cross these, and there are few problems as long as your journey stays within Greater Manchester. As a general rule, taxis are required to put the meter on for journeys within the M60 ring road (and sometimes a little farther). If you are to travel farther, it is best to agree on a price in advance. You may flag down only the black cabs (London-style Hackney carriages): other taxis must be booked in advance over the phone and are marked with the yellow Manchester City Council sign on the bonnet and the firm's phone number (again on a yellow strip) on the sides. These are often called minicabs or private hire cars.

Avoid rogue mini cabs at all costs. Even if the car has a Manchester City Council plate or one from one of the other metropolitan boroughs, you are not insured if the cab was not booked in advance.

You may find it difficult to get a black cab after the pubs shut on Friday and Saturday nights in the city centre, so it serves to have a backup plan for getting back to your accommodation. Larger groups are most likely to be able to "flag" down a taxi on the road. If you are struggling for a taxi after midnight and don't mind waiting around drunk people, it can often be easier to join a queue outside larger clubs, such as those in The Printworks, as black cabs often stop here. The black cabs with the amber "TAXI" sign illuminated are the ones that are looking for fares. Otherwise, buy something at a takeaway and then ask for a taxi: the employees do that all the time.

There are taxi ranks in the city centre, staffed by security/logistical staff during busy periods. These ranks are serviced only by black cabs, but there are also private hire taxi/minicab companies that you can walk to and then wait (inside or usually outside) until a car becomes available.

The online taxi App Uber is now becoming more predominant in the city, and you should be able to request an Uber taxi within 10 minutes from anywhere in the city.

Local rail services run regularly and to most places in the surrounding area and beyond. All trains pass through either Piccadilly or Victoria, but you may wish to call or visit the website of National Rail Enquiries ( 03457 48 49 50 , this is no longer a premium rate number) to find out which one before setting off. If you plan to take several off peak journeys within Greater Manchester, you could consider a "Rail Ranger" ticket, which, as of October 2022, costs £7.70 per day for adults and £3.85 for children under 16 (accompanied children under 5 are free). This is a large area and means you could travel as far north as Bolton and Rochdale, as far south as the airport and Stockport, as far west as Wigan and as far east as Glossop. They also include free travel on the Metrolink within the central zone. These can be bought at ticket offices or on the train. Off-peak hours are between 9:30PM and 4:01PM then after 6:29PM.

TfGM has a "London tube-style" map of the Greater Manchester rail network, including Metrolink.

As all Manchester stations now have either automatic ticket barriers or ticket inspectors before platform (track) access so you will need to purchase a ticket first. In most stations there are both ticket machines and ticket windows. All the train operating companies have web sites and smart-phone apps which sell tickets for any of the train operating companies. e.g. Northern

Train services from Piccadilly serve the airport all night.

See and do [ edit ]

Cosmopolitan Manchester [ edit ]

• Manchester's Chinatown around George Street and Faulkner Street has been a feature of Manchester since the late 1970s. It is home to the bulk of Manchester's east-Asian restaurants and many traders in Chinese food and goods. As night falls upon Chinatown, the neon lights come on, adding to the ambient feel of the area. There are many eateries to try too. They range from Chinese to Japanese; reaching out to a wide spectrum of tastes. There are also Chinese shops for the locals to buy items imported directly from China, such as newspapers, magazines, DVDs and medications.
• The Village , also known as the Gay Village , has built up around Canal Street out of the many cotton warehouses in the area. It is home to one of the oldest and most-established gay communities in Europe and is known for its tolerance toward all kinds of people. Many of Manchester's most famous bars and clubs are to be found here, most of which are as popular with straight party-animals as they are with the gay crowd. The Village hosts a major Pride festival every year (August Bank Holiday; the last weekend of the month).
• Manchester's Northern Quarter has developed massively over the last few years and is brimming with restaurants, bars, live music venues and independent shops.
• Check out the Curry Mile , an 800-metre-long stretch of curry restaurants, sari shops, and jewellery stores in Rusholme .
• If you have time and want to mix with trendy, monied residents try an evening out in the very upmarket southern suburb of Didsbury . This is a popular nighttime destination for many from across the conurbation. "The village" (not to be confused with the Gay Village in the city centre) as it is known is too far from East Didsbury station for comfort, but a taxi is possible from the city centre or there is a good bus service.

Historical Manchester [ edit ]

• Castlefield is the site of the original Roman settlement Mamucium and has been known as Castlefield since Medieval times. The walls that still stand over two metres high are from as late as the 16th century. It is the centre of Manchester's canal network and a transport nexus of unique historical importance. The Castlefield Basin joins the Rochdale and Bridgewater canals, the latter being the first cut canal in Britain. The nearby Museum of Science and Industry contains Liverpool Road station, the first passenger railway station in the world. Very important in industrial times, it became run down in post-war times until it was completely regenerated in the 1990s and designated Britain's first Urban Heritage site. These days the area is like a small country oasis in the heart of the city, with regular events and a handful of great pubs around the canals and the neighbouring streets. It is also the only place to see wildlife in Manchester's centre.
• The University of Manchester , on Oxford Road , where amongst other things, the atom was first probed by Rutherford, the first computer was built, and where radio astronomy was pioneered. It was here too that the element Vanadium was first isolated. The architectural style of the new curved visitor's centre contrasts with the old buildings on the opposite side of Oxford Road, within which Manchester Museum is to be found.
• Manchester Cathedral , in the Millennium Quarter . The widest cathedral in England with important carved choir stalls (school of Lincoln) and pulpitum. A visitors' centre provides an intimate experience for newcomers to the cathedral. This is near to Harvey Nichols, Urbis and Victoria Station.

• Manchester Town Hall , on Albert Square . This imposing and beautiful neo-Gothic masterpiece by Alfred Waterhouse is a symbol of the wealth and power of Manchester during the Industrial Revolution. The building is closed to the public until 2026 because of renovation work. The Town Hall is on the wide cobbled area of Albert Square, which is all accessible from St Peter's Square Metrolink station.
• John Rylands Library , on Deansgate . The bequest to the people of Manchester by who was once the world's richest widow, Henriquetta Rylands, in memory of her husband John, but now administered by the University of Manchester. It contains the 'Manchester Fragment' the earliest known fragment of the New Testament, part of St. John's gospel found near Alexandria and dating from the first part of the second century, shortly after the gospel was first written. Tours can be booked around lunchtime. The library was designed by Basil Champneys and is the last building built in the perpendicular gothic style. There is a good cafe on the ground floor.
• St Ann's Church is on one side of St Ann's Square and offers a quiet refuge from the noise of the city. There is always a warm welcome inside. It is very popular for weddings on Saturdays.

Cultural Manchester [ edit ]

There are many theatres and concert venues in Manchester: The Opera House, Palace Theatre, Royal Exchange, HOME (Arts Centre), Dancehouse Theatre, The Contact, and The Lowry at The Quays (which has three theatre spaces). Further afield, The Bolton Octagon, Bury Met, Oldham Coliseum, the lovingly restored 1930s Stockport Plaza with a wonderful 1930s tearoom overlooking Mersey Square are worthy of note. The Plaza shows films and hosts theatre productions and stages what are becoming very popular pantomimes at Christmas. The Garrick in Stockport as well as The Gracie Fields Theatre in Rochdale are all worth a mention too, as are university and RNCM (Royal Northern College of Music) venues.

You can catch the likes of Ariana Grande and Ed Sheeran at the Manchester Arena, which is the largest of its kind in Europe and seen as one of the best such venues in the world. Other such venues include the Apollo, Bridgewater Hall, and the revamped Manchester Central.

• Central Library , near Albert Square . As mentioned above. A beautiful, round, civic building from the 1930s, Central Library has just reopened following a major renovation and now offers a beguiling mix of old and new and showcasing its extensive collections.
• Manchester also has a couple of big multiplex cinemas located centrally: Odeon off Deansgate (as cheap as £3.20 if you're a student) and the Vue in the Printworks show the usual Hollywood fare. The latter is home to an 'IMAX' screen. See also entry for HOME below.
• Imperial War Museum North at the Quays . Great museum with fantastic architecture, in Trafford Borough, across the water from The Lowry, near Manchester United's Stadium, and designed by Daniel Libeskind. The museum focuses on the people involved in war, whether it's the people who worked in the factories in World War II, or the soldiers who suffered in the battlefield. Tours are offered and displays are updated on a regular basis.
• HOME 2 Tony Wilson Place, Arts Centre with a 5 screen cinema showing foreign & art-house films, two theatres, art gallery, restaurant & bar.
• The Lowry , at Pier 8 on the Quays Home to the City of Salford's collection of the paintings of L.S. Lowry. The centre also contains two theatres and a drama studio which put on everything from "Opera North" productions to pantomime, local works and quality touring productions.
• Manchester Art Gallery , near Chinatown. Designed by Sir Charles Barry architect of the Houses of Parliament. The gallery has a particularly fine collection of pre-Raphaelite paintings.
• Manchester International Festival , a biannual event; generally in July - check website, is a major landmark in Manchester's annual calendar of events, the Manchester International Festival (MIF) offers one-of-a-kind, world-class events and cultural experiences across the city. Highlights of previous years include Sir Kenneth Branagh's performance of Hamlet in a de-consecrated church and concerts in a disused railway depot.
• Manchester Museum , on Oxford Road . Highlights include a fossil skeleton of Tyrannosaurus Rex and Egyptology, including painted mummy masks of the Roman era.
• Science and Industry Museum in Castlefield is very popular with families and school groups and holds a vast collection of exhibits. The first ever passenger railway station is part of the museum, whilst a reconstruction of 'Baby', the first ever stored-program computer, created by Manchester University, is also on display.
• People's History Museum , on Bridge Street between Deansgate and the now much improved Salford Central Station. On Bridge Street, to the left, fans of modern architecture should look out for the new Manchester Civil Justice Centre. It is slowly becoming known to Mancunians as "the filing cabinet". You will see why! For a better view, take it in from the new square, on the other side, into the Spinningfields district, itself worth a detour. There is a good cafe on the ground floor of the museum with a view of the river. Look out too for the now renovated Doves of Peace Statue outside the museum. This was first erected in 1986 to celebrate Manchester's decision to promote itself as a nuclear free city.
• National Football Museum , in Millennium Quarter . It opened as a "museum of the modern city" in its unmistakable all-glass building. 'Urbis' is now the National Football Museum after all the exhibits were transferred from Preston. Well worth a visit if you're interested in "the beautiful game".
• The Whitworth Art Gallery on Oxford Road . This gallery houses modern and historic art, prints, and a collection of rare wallpapers. During the summer, forget the bus and walk down Oxford Road through the University area, looking out for The Aquatics Centre (a legacy of The Commonwealth Games) and The Royal Northern College of Music. Walk even further and seek out the above mentioned Gallery of English Costume near the famous Curry Mile in Rusholme, which is unique in Britain. At the Whitworth The Gallery Café was declared "Best Family Restaurant" by the "Which?-Good Food Guide 2009". The menu is simple with an emphasis on seasonal, local produce.
• The Bridgewater Hall , near St. Peter's Square and the Manchester Central Exhibition Centre in Petersfield , was completed 1996 and is the home of the Halle Orchestra, the world's first municipal symphony orchestra, and also hosts travelling famous musical acts. The centrepiece of the hall is the 5,500-pipe organ by Rasmussen. An elegant bistro and restaurant are open at normal meal times to the general public. There is a bar next door down the wide steps, overlooking a pleasant water feature. Look out, too, for the polished stone sculpture outside!
• The Manchester Jewish Museum in Manchester North .
• Factory International new performance space and home to the Manchester International Festival opening in 2023.

Sporting Manchester [ edit ]

• Watch cricket at Old Trafford . This is home to Lancashire County Cricket Club, one of the 18 "First Class Counties", the top tier of English cricket. County matches normally last 3-4 days. The stadium also frequently hosts international or "Test Matches", lasting up to five days. The stadium is off Talbot Road leading southwest from the city.
• Manchester City FC , Etihad Stadium , Rowsley Street M11 3FF, play in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. Long regarded as Manchester's second team, since the early 2010s City have overtaken United. Their stadium, capacity 55,000, is in Sportcity 2 miles east of city centre. Their women's team play in the Women's Super League, with home games at Man City Academy.
• Manchester United Matt Busby Way, Stretford M16 0RA, play in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. Their fans' most heated rivalry is not with neighbouring Man City, but with Liverpool FC. Another important rivalry for them is with Leeds United, which stems from the historic animosity between Lancashire and Yorkshire that has existed since the Wars of the Roses. Their 75,000-capacity stadium is two miles west of city centre at Old Trafford . Their women's team play in the Women's Super League, with home games at Leigh Sports Village.
• Sportcity is the "largest concentration of sporting venues in Europe." It is to the east of the city centre, about 30 minutes walk from Piccadilly Station. It was built to host most of the events for the 2002 Commonwealth Games and is home to the National Cycling Centre, Manchester City FC, and other important sporting venues.
• Ice hockey: Manchester Storm play in the Elite Ice Hockey League, the UK's top tier. Their home rink is Planet Ice in Altrincham .
• Belle Vue Aces race at the National Speedway Stadium and host Premiership speedway .

Hidden Manchester [ edit ]

• Chetham's Library is Manchester's best kept secret - even most residents of the city are largely oblivious to its existence. Europe's oldest English language Public Library is tucked away next to the futuristic Urbis just off Millenium Square. One of Manchester's oldest buildings, it still has the original collection of books, all chained to their shelves. This is where Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels would visit while in Manchester and where Engels wrote the world-changing book The Condition of the Working Classes in England , a key influence on the development of Communism. You can still sit in the window seat where they would talk. The 15th-century structure is part of Chetham's Music School - there are no signs: ask at the security hut and they will happily let you in for free.
• St Mary's, The Hidden Gem , near Albert Square . The oldest post-Reformation Catholic church in the country, dating from 1794. It contains one of the greatest pieces of art in Manchester, and the altar is quite magnificent. This is a quiet refuge from the noise of the city.
• The futuristic Trinity Bridge , designed by the Spaniard Santiago Calatrava, who was heavily involved in the designs for the Olympic village in Barcelona, is in the Chapel Wharf Area. This links the twin cities of Manchester and Salford, leading to the five star Lowry Hotel on the Salford bank. It is all a block behind Kendals, near the Freemasons' Hall. A nice pleasant view.
• The Hulme Bridge in Hulme and the Merchant's Bridge in Castlefield, by Catalan Square, are also worth a look.
• Parsonage Gardens is at the back of the House of Fraser (Kendals) Department Store. This is a quaint garden. Nice to relax in when the weather is fine and to read a book. Nearby there is also an observation platform which looks over the River Irwell and is ideal for taking photos of Trinity Bridge and The Lowry Hotel. This does also serve as a carpark, on an overhang, for one of the office blocks, but you may use it. It is a little hidden away but you access this to the right of 20 St Mary's Parsonage, which runs along one side of the gardens.
• Portico Library and Gallery , near Piccadilly Gardens . Home of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical society. Speakers here have included Dalton, the father of atomic theory and describer of his own colour blindness, the Salford physicist Joule for whom the metric unit of energy is named and Roget (who compiled his celebrated Thesaurus here). The Austrian philosopher Wittgenstein here claimed to have attempted to repeat Franklin's celebrated kite and lightning experiment in the Peak District while employed at Manchester University.
• 100 King Street (was the King Street branch of HSBC) is a domineering piece of architecture from 1928, reminiscent of Dublin's General Post Office. Go inside for a look if you can - its banking hall is now a restaurant owned by Jamie Oliver. It is at the upper end of King Street near Armani and Vivienne Westwood, towards Mosley Street.
• The Cloud 23 Bar on the 23rd floor of the Hilton, Deansgate, within the Beetham Tower, offers a sublime view across Greater Manchester. Whilst the bar may be pricey, the view from even half-way up the gleaming skyscraper is magnificent. If you're not feeling thirsty you can also visit the bar and enjoy the vista for free. Just ask in the lobby.

Buy [ edit ]

Manchester's shopping district is one of the most diverse shopping districts in the UK and the majority of city centre shops are within reasonable walking distance of each other (15 minutes at most) and most are served by a metroshuttle service.

Even in the most upmarket stores you are treated in a friendly manner. The Arndale Centre is a large 1970s city-centre shopping precinct with 280 stores. Although renovated, the place retains some of its 1970s concrete charms and still some of the infamous yellow tiles that are a testament to the urban planning of that era. It is connected via link bridge to the Marks and Spencer and Selfridges department stores adjacent in Exchange Square.

There are large shops aimed at bargain hunters, including the largest Primark in the country, which is great for a bargain and much loved by visiting cabin crews, and an Aldi food hall on Market Street (just off Piccadilly Gardens ).

The Millennium Quarter (at the back of the Arndale Centre) is now quite smart and good for shopping. There's The Corn Exchange , an upmarket shopping centre based in the beautiful old Corn Exchange, worth a visit for the building alone and Selfridges , spread across 5 floors with its large Louis Vuitton concession and fantastic food hall in the basement. You will find everything from sushi to fine chocolates, kosher foods, to a juice bar, etc. Harvey Nichols , opposite the Triangle, offers luxury fashions and produce to Manchester's rich and famous. The centre of Manchester's shopping area has traditionally been St. Ann's Square , and there are many shops nearby.

King Street and Spring Gardens to the immediate north of the city centre offer a Vivienne Westwood store (a local girl, from the nearby Peak District), Joseph, DKNY, Emporio Armani and Collezione; these catering for, amongst others, the city's Premiership footballers, soap stars ( Coronation Street has been produced in the city since the early 1960s), and the many media types who can also be found in the area.

Deansgate has a fair number upmarket stores, as do some of the roads off it. The House of Fraser store, considered by many to be the top people's shop, (still known as "Kendals" to most Manchester people and "Kendal Milne's" to an even older generation) is on Deansgate and has been on roughly the same site since the mid-19th century. It is somewhat old school and the eating places are worth a visit. There is a champagne bar, on the third floor. One of central Manchester's few quiet green squares is just behind the store. This is Parsonage Gardens. Deansgate is also home to Ed Hardy, the General Store, Edwards as well as some high-end restaurants.

Just off Deansgate is The Avenue a luxury designer shopping destination in the Spinningfields district of the city centre. It is the home to stores such as Flannels, Mulberry, Emporio Armani and Armani Collezioni, Brooks Brothers, Ermenegildo Zegna, Oliver Sweeney and Joseph. Combined with cafés and restaurants this is a top retail and leisure venue in the city centre.

There is also an outlet mall at The Lowry, in Salford Quays , near the Media City: UK development which houses the BBC's northern presence and Salford University's school of Media and Performance.

The Trafford Centre is a huge out-of-town shopping centre and accessible by car, taxi, bus or tram. It was linked to the Metrolink tram system in March 2020. Dubbed by many a Temple to Consumerism , it is one of the largest, and possibly the grandest of such centres in Europe. It has its own branches of Selfridges, Debenhams and the best of Greater Manchester's two John Lewis stores. The other is in suburban Cheadle. The centre is spectacular, luxurious, and 'posh' inside and out. Look out for the biggest chandelier in Europe, near the Great Hall! The cinema is also one of the best in the area and has even hosted some UK premières in the past. The centre is now also linked to an annexe offering homewares and furniture, built in an Italianate style around a very large outdoor fountain. With supermarkets and DIY outlets nearby, Mancunians can buy everything in this area without venturing into the city or any other town centre.

Of particular interest [ edit ]

• Merchandise from the football clubs Manchester United and Manchester City is available from many locations including dedicated superstores in Old Trafford and Sportcity , respectively.
• Afflecks Palace in the Northern Quarter is "an emporium of eclecticism, a totem of indie commerce," and a shopping arcade in a five-storey Victorian building, featuring a range of more than 50 independent stalls catering to a young alternative crowd. It's a lot of fun: strange costumes, lots of goths, punks, and teenagers. Saved from closing in 2008, it is now known as "Afflecks".
• The Northern Quarter is Manchester's answer to Soho, and there is a mishmash of stores which sell music, art, and clothing. More and more bars and cafes are opening too. At night look out for the illuminated, public art attraction on top of the Church Street car park. It is lit from 9PM to 1AM.
• Every Christmas time, continental style Christmas markets take place in Albert Square , in St. Ann's Square , and along both New Cathedral Street and Brazennose Street. You can buy all the usual Continental and British Christmas curios as well as various foodstuffs. Good fun and very atmospheric at night when it's all lit up.
• Also at Christmas, into the new year, there are open air skating rinks in Spinningfields as well as a snow slide and other attractions at Piccadilly Gardens. There is also a winterbar at the Spinningfields location.
• The small but perfectly-stocked food section of Harvey Nichols has a particularly fine wine department. Wines range from relatively inexpensive to the highest levels, e.g. Château Latour, vertical ranges of Petrus, Vega Sicilia, etc. They are still remarkably good value in context, e.g. 1990 Krug Clos de Mesnil 1990, one of the greatest Champagnes ever made and incomparably finer than the footballers' wildly overrated Crystal is about £150 cheaper than usually quoted elsewhere.
• There is a flower market at the Market Street corner of Piccadilly Gardens Thursday through Saturday from 10AM-6PM. Some food stalls and craft stalls can be found there too.
• Also hunt out the Craft and Design Centre, in the old Smithfield Market Building, in The Northern Quarter. The complex is full of artist studio space and boutiques, as well as a cafe.
• There are regular events in Albert Square, St Ann's Square and on New Cathedral Street, all year around, where you can buy art, listen to music and sample foods from far and wide.
• If catering for yourself, there are several Sainsbury's Local stores around the city centre, at Oxford Road, Mosley Street, Quay Street, Bridge Street, Piccadilly Station. Tesco Metro supermarkets can be found on Market Street (the largest supermarket in the centre), on Piccadilly and on Quay Street, which is near the Sainsbury's and Granada TV. M&S food outlets are within the M&S store next to Selfridges, and there are also M&S Simply Food stores at Piccadilly Gardens and within Piccadilly Station. You will find increasingly popular Co-op food stores near both Victoria, by the movement's headquarters, opposite the Arndale Market, at Piccadilly Gardens and just outside Piccadilly station. For more upmarket food products, Harvey Nichols has a deli and foodhall as does Selfridges . There is a Waitrose store opened near The Avenue development in Spinningfields . At the other end of the spectrum there is the Arndale Market and a large Aldi store in the Arndale Centre, which is, in common with most UK outlets, much more upmarket than the stores in Germany. This is also accessible from Market Street. There is also a Lidl and a Tesco on Oxford Road near Manchester Royal Infirmary.
• For something a little bit different, the Manchester Arndale Market features many food stalls, including a rather large fish store and a butchers. Chinatown has many specialist shops and the landmark Wing Yip superstore on Oldham Road in the Northern Quarter is excellent for everything oriental.
• There are various other mini-markets and late night stores around the city centre and in Piccadilly station. There are three 24-hour Spar's , one in Piccadilly gardens, one on Piccadilly station approach and the third opposite the former site of the BBC Studios on Oxford Road. Just out of the centre is a large Sainsbury's , in Regent Retail Park, Salford, an Asda store in Hulme, and a Tesco Extra hypermarket in Cheetham Hill.
• Free copies of The Manchester Evening News are given out around the city and at the airport on Thursday and Friday, as well as inside and outside some selected newsagents in town. There is a charge of 70p for the other days of the week including Saturday's edition. This is very good for listings, especially on a Friday, with the City Life pull out section. The free Metro newspaper is handed out in the mornings. This too has some listings. Online sites such as Live-Manchester.co.uk also provide Manchester gig listings, information about theatre shows and arts and museum exhibitions.

Learn [ edit ]

There is no doubt that Greater Manchester's four universities continue to be a big draw, and Manchester claims to be the UK's most popular student city. The University of Manchester receives more applications than any other UK university, whilst Manchester Metropolitan University also offers a wide variety of courses. Over the border in Salford is the third university near Manchester city centre, The University of Salford . The fourth university in Greater Manchester is the University of Bolton and is several miles from the city centre.

More and more language schools are also now opening and offer a more reasonable option than the likes of London and other southern venues. The average price for a 1-hour English (A1 to B2 Level) lesson in a class of 8 to 10 students is about £5.

Work [ edit ]

There are numerous temporary agencies in the city and there is work in the hospitality industry to be had. There have been reports, of late, of teacher shortages (though not quite on par with London), and this could be of interest to overseas candidates with the relevant qualifications. Manchester has the highest job ratio of the eight English Core Cities and is therefore a very good place to find work. It could also be seen as a good alternative to London for employment opportunities.

Manchester is an important financial centre and the media are also well represented, as can be seen in the BBC's relocation of many of its departments to the Media City at Salford Quays and ITV-Granada (makers of Coronation Street )'s move to the same site. MediaCity UK is home to many BBC studios.

Retail is a large employer, in and around the city, and there are many gyms in need of trainers for the growing city centre population.

Eat [ edit ]

As you would expect from such a cosmopolitan city, Manchester has a huge selection of restaurants and eateries that serve a vast array of cuisines. Look hard enough and you will be able to find any type of international and British food. It is also worth exploring some of the suburbs for superb, small independent bistros and restaurants. West Didsbury and Chorlton are noted for their large number of great eateries. If you can get there, the quaintly named and somewhat trendy village of Ramsbottom , just north of Bury, directly north of Manchester, is said to be "the new Chorlton", in regards to restaurants, and the place to eat. The usual, well-established UK chains like Café Rouge, Pizza Express, and Nando's are all to be found in Manchester city centre and out of town too.

Budget [ edit ]

There are hundreds of kebab and pizza shops on Oxford Road and in Fallowfield and Rusholme . In Rusholme, in particular, locals speak of the £10 curry, where if you bring your own drinks into the curry house, you should leave with change from a ten-pound note.

Some of the cheapest, long-established curry cafés, though, are still to be found in the back streets of the Northern Quarter and Central Deansgate offering a novel twist on the traditional British café.

Chinese [ edit ]

There are plenty of all-you-can-eat buffets in Chinatown for less than £10. Prices tend to change with the time of day and likely demand. If you eat earlier in the day, you can have a full all-you-can-eat meal, including soup, starter, and dessert for around £5. Salford is also a good option to look for Chinese food, as a particularly high concentration Hongkongers have settled there.

Mid-range [ edit ]

British [ edit ].

Sam's Chop House on Chapel Walks is popular with visitors looking for a British dining experience (not an easy feat in the UK's big cities), as well as Sinclair's Oyster Bar at Cathedral Gates. Many hotels offer menus that tend towards national dishes.

Amongst the enormous range of Cantonese restaurants in Chinatown , the Great Wall at 52 Faulkner St offers authentic, reasonably priced food, including many one bowl/plate dishes (Roast pork and roast duck in soup noodle is particularly popular). The only downside is that the service charge increases the bill.

Indian [ edit ]

Rusholme's Curry Mile is, as the name suggests, home to a lot of Indian restaurants! Due to the high concentration of curry houses, and all the competition, you should be able to get a really good curry in just about any restaurant.

Also upmarket is a new venture by the side of the Museum of Science and Industry. This is Akbar's on Liverpool Road and they claim, on the side of buses, to be "probably the best Indian restaurant in the North of England". Also popular in town are the two EastZEast ; the original is under the Ibis Hotel, behind the former site of the BBC building (now a car park), and the new, very luxurious one is on Bridge Street, opposite the Manchester Central Travelodge, off Deansgate. Look out for the doorman at the riverside location. There they also offer free valet parking to all guests. These two are classy but not overpriced. Some have claimed the menu could be a little more adventurous, in view of all they seem to have invested. The riverside branch seems popular for Asian weddings, lately, which must say something about the quality of the venue.

Also just off Oxford Road on Chester Street is an Indian restaurant which has won lots of awards Zouk Tea Bar & Grill . They have a good mix of people dining there and it is open for lunch as well as evenings.

Further out, Moon in Withington and Third Eye in Didsbury, both in south Manchester , are excellent. Individual takes on traditional dishes are served alongside local specialities, and cost about £6 a dish.

In Chorlton , you should be able to find Coriander Restaurant, Azid Manzil and Asian Fusion. They are all on Barlow Moor Road.

Japanese [ edit ]

• YO! Sushi A sushi bar with conveyor belt in the Arndale Centre (1st floor), Piccadilly Station (1st floor) and Trafford Centre Selfridge's store. They also serve many hot rice and noodle based dishes as well as deserts.
• Sapporo Teppanyaki Manchester's flagship Japanese restaurant offering Teppanyaki cuisine with a contemporary twist and sushi known for being at its culinary best. The restaurant prides itself in offering a unique and at times highly dramatic dining experience through the established Teppanyaki chefs and their combined culinary skills.

Seasonal [ edit ]

During the period leading up to Christmas from November, there is a Christmas Market stretching from the Town Hall towards St Ann's Square and New Cathedral Street. By the Town Hall section there is a spectacular range of international cuisine. Those not to be missed are the crepes (£3.50-4.50 each, but they are really large) which are some of the best in Europe and the paella (£4.50 a box) which is genuinely Spanish. Other popular stalls include German hotdogs and Dutch pancakes. There is also a stall selling German salamis. If you go there nearer Christmas, you may be able to get a bargain packet of 7-8 salamis for just £10.

Splurge [ edit ]

Search out the upmarket restaurants in the city's top hotels (including the Lowry Hotel, the Midland, SAS Radisson, and the Hilton, Deansgate). Less grand, but very popular, is the restaurant in the Malmaison hotel, by Piccadilly station. The Market Restaurant , in the Northern Quarter, is long established and has an excellent reputation. Heathcote is well represented with a place off Deansgate whilst the Grill on New York Street (which, as its name suggests, is on New York Street) provides good, honest food in modern surroundings. Abode at 107 Piccadilly is also believed to have brought something new to the Manchester dining scene.

Harvey Nichols , the upmarket department store, has a traditional-style restaurant and cocktail bar at 21 New Cathedral Street, with views onto Exchange Square, and is hard to beat if you like rubbing shoulders with Manchester's wealthy set. When the store is closed there is a dedicated entrance and lift at the side of the building. Their afternoon tea is worth a try, but you may prefer the older style version at the Midland Hotel or a new take on the theme at the Lowry Hotel .

At the top of King Street, in what was once Karim's Indian restaurant, the footballer Rio Ferdinand has invested heavily into Rosso an upmarket Italian, which has so far had good, if not excellent, reviews in the local press which praised the décor and very professional waiters more than the food.

The Armenian restaurant , very long established, hidden in a basement on Albert Square (by the Town Hall) is good, and full of atmosphere. It's to the left with the Town Hall facing you.

Spanish [ edit ]

There are the usual chains to be had on Deansgate, but try to search out El Rincón de Rafa , hidden away behind Deansgate, near St. John's Gardens. This is an authentic Spanish restaurant, established for many years, and popular with Filipinos, Spanish and people from the Americas, based in the city. It is a stone's throw from the Instituto Cervantes.

On Deansgate, opposite the Cervantes Centre at number 279, is Evuna another Spanish tapas establishment. This newish venture has had very good reviews.

Patisseries and tearooms [ edit ]

In common with a number of provincial towns and cities, Manchester now has its own branch of "Pâtisserie Valérie"; that of Soho fame! It is on Deansgate, opposite House of Fraser, on the corner of St Ann's Street. Gets very busy, but well worth the wait for a table. Service is attentive and the choice is exceptional.

Leckenby's, on King Street, near the House of Fraser (Kendal's) car park entrance, is a welcome addition to the Manchester cafe scene. This more traditional cafe/tea room is open even quite late into the evening and offers a pleasant, upmarket alternative to meeting up in a pub.

There are other tearooms, in the Northern Quarter, and even one on Richmond Street in the Gay Village.

Drink [ edit ]

Manchester has a diverse nightlife and can offer a wide range of night-time activities. It has a vibrant and varied nightlife scene, including numerous clubs as well as a huge range of drinking establishments from traditional pubs to ultra-chic concept bars. Very high-profile, of late, is the Cloud 23 bar on the 23rd floor of The Hilton, Deansgate . A bit pricey, but with attentive table service, and worth it for the views alone. By the way, the personnel is very friendly and won't kick you out if you just want to have a look - you can go up for free . To avoid the sometimes 2-hour long queues, try it during the week. The bars in The Radisson Blu and The Aurora Hotel are also upmarket. For other upmarket venues (there are some very discreet ones catering for the most privileged in town), your hotel concierge should be of help in pointing you in the right direction.

For a slightly more quirky place to have a drink, The Temple of Convenience is aptly named as it is a converted underground public toilet in the city centre. The bar receives many high reviews although it's quite small and may be crowded.

Famed for its musical past, the University of Manchester Student's Union on Oxford Road hosts almost nightly gigs in its four venues on Oxford Road ranging from local unsigned bands to international superstars. The Manchester Apollo in Ardwick is a slightly bigger venue having boasted appearances from Blondie to Kasabian. Smaller bands can also be seen at a range of excellent venues in the city including the Night and Day, in the Northern Quarter , and Albert Hall just off Deansgate, O2 Ritz & Gorilla near Oxford Road .

The club scene in Manchester is varied with the dance-orientated clubs you'd expect from a city setting alongside indie, rock, and gay clubs. For the commercial dance music fan, the "place to be" would be Deansgate Locks (four bars and a comedy club in a converted railway complex) in Peter's Fields where the clubs and bars can be expensive, but are always full of fashionable types and members of the local student population. More eclectic dance music styles are played at The Phoenix, both on Oxford Road .

The offerings for fans of rock music are fragmented. Satan's Hollow (off Princess St), with its every-night-is-Halloween decor, plays pop-punk and emo on Tu, F and Sa. If you are interested in Rock and Metal paired with cage dancers and a lap-dancing lounge, try the monthly Caged Asylum night at the Ruby Lounge, the self-proclaimed craziest place to be in Manchester at 28-34 High Street. For fans of indie and alternative music, there are a whole host of new exciting clubs opening. Any late evening walk up Oxford Road should enable you to collect a variety of fliers for club nights. The Friday edition of The Manchester Evening News has a good listings section, which is handy for the weekend. Papers are handed out free of charge Thursday and Friday, at various points in the centre and at some newsagents.

The Retro Bar on Sackville Street , hosts live acts upstairs and a club downstairs with playlists that include Blondie, The Ramones, and Le Tigre. Joshua Brooks on Charles Street is also another club where you can expect a mix of indie, electro, punk, and rock in a budget-friendly, student atmosphere. Weekly, Smile at the Star and Garter near Piccadilly Station is something of a local indie institution with a great playlist. It sells out very early and can often be unbearably busy as a result of this. Saturdays also play host to Tiger Lounge near the Town Hall . This plays more in the way of lounge alongside experimental and indie sounds.

If you want to hear music by Manchester bands like The Stone Roses, visit Fifth Avenue on Princess Street , often brimming with students — unsurprising when you see the cheap drinks prices! They also feature themes such as toga and foam parties. The other, rival centre club for indie music is 42nd Street, just off Deansgate . It plays a mixture of classic and modern indie, 1960s pop, and 1970s funk and soul.

To enjoy Gay Manchester, it is probably best to visit Canal Street with its concentration of bars and clubs and visit places that appeal along the way. Just off Canal Street, the most popular gay clubs are Essential, a multi-floor super-club open until the early hours (sometimes as late as 8AM), Cruz 101 (Manchester's longest-running gay club) and Poptastic, a two-room pop and indie club held at Alter Ego every Tuesday and Saturday night. Although entry can be expensive, this is usually reflected in a reduced-price bar inside the club.

For bars, try the cocktail lounge Socio Rehab in the Northern Quarter (ask a taxi driver where it is) and Tribeca on Sackville Street (in the popular Gay Village). Trof, a funky student bar in Fallowfield . It has a second venture, Trof North, on Thomas Street in the Northern Quarter .

Although there are still plenty of cafés and traditional pubs in Manchester, bars and restaurants with much more bohemian and cosmopolitan feels to them are now dominating. The better traditional pubs include:

• Lass O'Gowrie at 36 Charles St .
• Salisbury at 2 Wakefield St off of Oxford Road.
• Peveril of the Peak . Behind The Bridgewater Hall at 27 Great Bridgewater St.
• Britons Protection , 50 Bridgewater St . Behind the stage door entrance of the Bridgewater Hall. It is here where many a poor mug "took The King's Shilling" and found himself press-ganged into the army. Largest selection of whisky in the city.  
• Sinclairs . This is just by the Harvey Nichols store at 2 Cathedral Gates.
• Grey Horse Inn , 80 Portland St .  
• The Old Wellington Inn , the oldest pub in Manchester. It was opened in 1552, and is in the fantastic Tudor-era Shambles Square . Along with Sinclair's the whole place was moved a couple of hundred yards down the road at number 4, as part of the development of New Cathedral Street, after the IRA bomb of 1996.
• The Marble Arch Inn , 76 Rochdale Rd . Real ale brewed by their own brewery Marble and cask ale from micro-breweries nationwide.  

Comedy wise, Manchester has a fair number of offerings: The Frog and Bucket at 96 Oldham Street offers student-friendly prices and The Comedy Store at 1a-3 Deansgate Locks is the largest comedy venue in town.

Sleep [ edit ]

There are thousands of hotel beds in Manchester, ranging from 5-star establishments to bed and breakfast, via youth hostels and serviced apartments. Most accommodation is focussed in the east of the city centre with easy access to the InterCity Piccadilly Station . If in doubt, consult the tourist office, in Piccadilly Gardens. See City Information section for contact details and address.

Hotels [ edit ]

Despite its obvious industrial heritage, Manchester is home to a great number of very fine hotels, including the grand old Midland Hotel , where Rolls met Royce and the Hilton Manchester Deansgate , housed in the 47 story Beetham Tower (both in Castlefield - Petersfield ).

Manchester Airport is also home to several hotels, which offer easy access to both the airport itself and Manchester City Centre.

For those on smaller budgets, there exists a great number of smaller, chain hotels, throughout the city, including the seemingly ubiquitous Premier Inn and others of its ilk, offering clean, pleasant accommodation for lower tariffs.

Self-catering [ edit ]

Self-catering apartments in Manchester are now becoming popular alternatives to 'traditional' hotel stays. There are thousands of self-catering apartments available throughout the city centre and outskirts - providing accommodation for up to 8 people at a time, for stays of anything from one night to 1 year. You can expect noisy neighbours at weekends!

Take care of the place you are staying in as, according to the local press, there have been some horror stories of people being charged for breakages, etc., for which they were not responsible.

There are various serviced apartment options for business travellers around the city:

• La Reserve Aparthotel , Ducie St

Connect [ edit ]

Manchester city centre has 5G from all UK carriers.

_FreebeeMcr Free Wi-Fi is available free for 30 minutes on the streets and _BusybeeMcr is available in public buildings.

Make best use of the free Wi-Fi available at:

• Home , 2 Tony Wilson Place - art gallery, theatres, cinema, bar.
• Oklahoma Café , 74 - 76 High St - organic, vegetarian and fair trade coffee shop.
• The Castle Pub , 66 Oldham St - traditional pub.
• Revolution , 90-94 Oxford Rd, M1 5WH - trendy vodka bar. The Wi-Fi is also reachable from the Starbucks on the other side of Oxford Rd.
• any Wetherspoon pub, e.g. The Waterhouse 61-67 Princess St or The Moon Under Water, 67-78 Deansgate.

Free Wi-Fi is available on most trains & stations, although you will need to register.

Stay safe [ edit ]

If you're uncomfortable around thousands of intoxicated young people, then you should probably avoid Friday and Saturday night taxi queues in the city centre. You should also avoid any conflict with door staff at bars, clubs and pubs.

All pubs, bars and clubs are best avoided on days where the Manchester derby football match is taking place. Relations between the two sets of supporters have never been amicable, to say the least, but things seem to have deteriorated. What starts out as "banter" quite commonly gets out of hand. Wearing Liverpool or Leeds Utd shirts while you are in Manchester may also draw some unwanted attention to yourself. If you do attend a football match at Old Trafford , or watch a game with fans in a pub, be careful not to raise the issue of the 1958 Munich Air Disaster , especially if you are openly identifying as a supporter of a rival team. While the disaster was more than 60 years ago, "Munich chants" and related slurs still cause deep anger and hostility, and could provoke a violent response. Similarly, talking about "oil money" around Man City fans - or accusing them of "buying success" - will cause hostility. As a general rule, on match days, if you want to openly show support for Man Utd, do so in the areas around Old Trafford in Salford and the Quays, and if you want to do the same as a Man City supporter go to the Etihad . If you want to openly support a rival club from another city (especially Liverpool or Leeds), go to those cities!

Persistent begging is an irritation in Piccadilly . There is also a problem with people walking up to you with a story like "I've lost my wallet and need 50p for the bus home". These people often say the same story for years. This is usually a ruse to get money from you or, in some cases, in the hope that you will get a wallet/purse out of your pocket so it can be stolen.

Piccadilly Gardens has become a place where drug addicts and dealers gather, with the open sale of drugs leading to a nasty atmosphere and gang activity. While the area is always very busy - being in between the main Piccadilly train station and Arndale shopping centre - and you are unlikely to be a victim of crime yourself here, quite violent crime can happen at any time. Most of this is between drug gangs or the ever growing groups of homeless people (drawn to the area by the easy access to drugs) but scary things do happen here. In January 2020 several people were hospitalised after a series of armed robberies and muggings during the same evening, while in February 2020 two people were stabbed outside the Travelodge hotel at lunchtime in what the police said was a ‘targeted attack’.

It is often impossible or impractical to avoid this area: it is a major transport interchange for the city, and several attractive areas (like Chinatown and the Northern Quarter) border here. The police tend to have high visibility in this area but they cannot be everywhere at all times. The best advice is to be very cautious in this area, especially with mobile phones and money. The city council regularly puts on events in the area (like street markets) to try to encourage a more salubrious atmosphere, and given the sheer number of people who have to pass through this area every day you will likely find no trouble here, but be careful. Attempting to buy or take drugs here will bring you into contact with dangerous criminals or the police, so do not be tempted to do that under any circumstances.

Sellers of The Big Issue magazine are not beggars. The magazine is published by the Big Issue in the North, a social enterprise, and sold to the homeless for resale on the streets. All of the vendors are genuinely homeless and are forbidden from begging whilst selling the magazine. Vendors can be found around the city and visitors may want to buy a £3 copy. Please buy only from badged, official vendors.

Manchester is generally quite a safe place, especially in commercialised and tourist-oriented areas. If you wander into a less desirable area you should be very wary of street gangs hanging around.

Should you encounter a group that looks suspicious, either avoid them all together and walk the other way, or try to walk past them quickly (at a distance if possible) and behave in a way that they do not perceive as disrespectful or confrontational. This can include eye contact or accidentally brushing past them with your shoulder.

Most of the areas in Manchester where tourists venture are safe. The following areas are very much "off the beaten path", with little to tempt the average visitor. Nonetheless, should you choose to go, then caution would be advised:

• Longsight . This is a somewhat rundown residential area in the shadow of the city centre, which has as yet avoided the gentrification of nearby Hulme.
• Moss Side . This area constitutes the heart of Manchester's African and Caribbean community and is worth a visit if you are looking for something different. It is an area that has been associated with gang related violence but is no worse than other inner-city areas in Manchester, with such crime having been greatly reduced by police and community efforts. It is adjacent to some pleasant parks, including the small Whitworth Park and larger Platt Fields Park. Catch the Caribbean Festival of Manchester in Alexandra Park every July/August.
• Parts of Hulme but this young, trendy, regenerated area would be of interest to many with its new town houses, quirky architecture and blocks of flats and is next to the centre.
• Cheetham Hill . Avoid at night; but, during the day, this suburb, to the north of Victoria Station, is a lively, colourful mixture of cultures: Jewish, Asian, and newer arrivals to the city from various parts of the world! The shopping area around "The Village" is very much like an inner London high street.
• Wythenshawe . Much of this is a vast public housing district. The area out towards the airport should be avoided.
• Ordsall . This area is on the up and following the example of Hulme with lots of new developments.
• Parts of East Manchester , particularly Beswick and the residential streets of Openshaw.
• Salford . Unless you have good reason, do not wander too far, on foot at least, over the river Irwell into Salford from the city centre. With the great number of new residential developments in the area, it has improved. The straight route from Manchester centre, via Salford Cathedral along Chapel Street to Salford University, is very safe up to Pendleton.

Cope [ edit ]

Many countries have consulates and commissions in Manchester, the most in the UK outside London. For others, you may have to travel to London .

• UNESCO Creative Cities
• Previous Destinations of the month
• Has custom banner
• Huge city articles
• Has map markers
• Has mapframe
• Maps with non-default size
• Drink listing with no coordinates
• Has routebox
• Greater Manchester
• All destination articles
• Has Geo parameter
• Guide cities
• Guide articles
• City articles
• Cities with categories
• Pages with maps

Navigation menu

Manchester Visitor Information Centre

Manchester’s award winning tourist information centre for sightseeing guides, hotel information and maps of the region.

By using the site you agree to our use of cookies on this website. For more information visit our privacy policy.

21 Top Attractions & Places to Visit in Manchester, England

Written by Bryan Dearsley Updated Dec 26, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Author Bryan Dearsley traveled to England in the spring of 2022 where he spent eight weeks exploring towns and cities, including Manchester.

The city of Manchester is a celebrated center for the arts, media, and higher education. Like the neighboring city of Liverpool, Manchester has undergone something of a renaissance in recent years. Spearheading the city's transformation have been the introduction of initiatives such as the Castlefield project, with its many canals and restored warehouses, and the city's vibrant museum complex on Liverpool Road .

The extension of the city's entertainment and sports facilities has also considerably enhanced its appeal for tourists. Things to do like attending the excellent Opera House, with its roster of theatrical and music performances, and the thrilling Chill Factore , Britain's longest and widest indoor ski slope, have made it one of the best places to visit in northern England.

Manchester has also become a favorite for shoppers with an enormous range of retail opportunities. Some of the best include the elegant shops of St. Anne's Square , King Street, and the Royal Exchange , as well as the large covered market halls of Bolton Arcade .

To learn more, be sure to read through our list of fun things to do in Manchester.

See also: Where to Stay in Manchester

1. Explore the Canals of Castlefield

2. get technical at the science and industry museum, 3. visit imperial war museum north, 4. take a tour of manchester cathedral, 5. john rylands library & manchester central library, 6. get your game on at the national football museum, 7. go back in time at the manchester museum, 8. pop inside st. mary's catholic church, 9. visit britain's oldest public library: chetham's library, 10. see the paintings at manchester art gallery, 11. the whitworth art gallery, 12. take a wander through chinatown, 13. visit manchester town hall & st. peter's square, 14. visit the people's history museum, 15. explore salford quays, 16. take a trip to heaton park, 17. enjoy the blooms at fletcher moss park, 18. platt hall: gallery of costume, 19. university of manchester, 20. tour manchester's historic victoria baths, 21. museum of transport, greater manchester, where to stay in manchester for sightseeing, manchester - climate chart.

Designated an Urban Heritage Park, Castlefield is an excellent place to visit to begin exploring Manchester. A walk among the carefully restored Victorian homes, storehouses, and former factories along the old canals or through the reconstructed Roman Fort is time well spent.

Be sure to explore the Bridgewater Canal . It was constructed in 1761 to transport coal from the mines at Worsley to Manchester. The many old warehouses that line the canal have been restored and turned into offices, shops, hotels, and restaurants. A trip on one of the Bridgewater tour boats is highly recommended.

Other interesting tourist attractions include the Castlefield Art Gallery , with its exhibitions of contemporary art, and Bridgewater Hall , home to the Hallé Orchestra and first-class concerts. The Castlefield Bowl hosts regular pop and classical concerts and is also worth a visit.

Location: Castlefield Basin, Manchester

The Science and Industry Museum is situated on the site of the world's oldest railroad station. Its 12 galleries include the Power Hall, with water and steam-driven machines from the golden age of the textile industry, as well as vintage made-in-Manchester cars, including a rare 1904 Rolls Royce.

The history of the city from Roman times through the Industrial Revolution to the present day is documented in the Station Building. The Air and Space Gallery is another must-see. Here, you'll see numerous historic aircraft, including a replica of Triplane 1 by A. V. Roe, the first British plane to successfully fly.

Address: Liverpool Road, Manchester

Imperial War Museum North (IWM North) is also worth visiting, especially if you have an interest in the history of warfare. Opened in 2002, this branch of the Imperial War Museum is a popular attraction for its collections of fighting vehicles and aircrafts.

Highlights of a visit include audiovisual presentations and exhibits dealing with the history of warfare and its role in shaping civilization. There are also numerous static displays of large machines such as tanks, aircraft, artillery, and handheld weaponry. A shop and café are located on the premises.

Address: Trafford Wharf Road, Trafford Park, Stretford, Manchester

Located close to the city center and the River Irwell, Manchester Cathedral dates mostly from 1422 to 1506 and was raised to cathedral status in 1847. Known officially as the Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St. Mary, St. Denys, and St. George, it's particularly popular among visitors for its attractive chapels on both sides of the nave and choir.

The cathedral was built between 1486 and 1508, and further additions and alterations were undertaken in almost every subsequent century. Of particular note are the choir stalls, which boast some of the most richly decorated misericords in the country.

St. John's Chapel is the chapel of the Manchester Regiment, and the little Lady Chapel has a wooden screen dating from 1440. The octagonal chapterhouse, built in 1465, has murals that include a figure of Christ in modern dress.

Address: Victoria Street, Manchester

Literary buffs and lovers of the printed word are spoiled for choice when it comes to historic libraries in Manchester. In addition to being the home of Britain's oldest public library, Manchester is also home to two of the country's other most important libraries: the John Rylands Library and Manchester Central Library.

Founded in 1888, the John Rylands Research Institute and Library was established to further the cause of research in humanities, using as its foundation the broad collections of manuscripts and archival material belonging to the University of Manchester Library. Rated one of the top free things to do in Manchester , a visit to this spectacular neo-Gothic building is certainly worthwhile.

While not as old (it opened in 1934), Manchester Central Library is every bit as architecturally pleasing. Set overlooking St. Peter's Square, the design of this impressive domed structure, with its large columns, is reputedly based on the Pantheon in Rome. Grab some photos of its exterior before popping in for a look inside. Highlights include a number of attractive stained-glass windows, the ornate ceiling of the dome, as well as a number of interesting statues.

Address: 150 Deansgate, Manchester

Home to two of Europe's top football teams – Man City and Man United – Manchester is a great place to pay homage to the country's favorite sport. Your first stop should be the National Football Museum . This football shrine features fascinating memorabilia related to the sport, including such gems as the very first rulebook, as well as historic trophies and clothing.

A variety of great short movies show the history of the sport, while fun hands-on (and feet-on, for that matter) displays provide plenty of additional entertainment for youngsters. Check their website for details of special events and programs. It's also worth paying a visit to one (or both) of the Manchester teams' home stadiums.

Manchester City's Etihad Stadium offers a variety of fun tour options, including behind-the-scenes and deluxe dinner tours. Old Trafford , home to Manchester United, offers guided tours that allow access to private boxes and the chance to tread the field itself.

Address: Urbis Building Cathedral Gardens, Todd Street, Manchester

Manchester Museum is another of the city's excellent university museums to include on your itinerary. Established in 1888, the museum is notable for its displays relating to natural history, archaeology, and anthropology, with its oldest collections dating back to 1821.

Notable as the largest university museum in the UK , its sizable collection of over 4.5 million artifacts includes examples from all over the world. It's also well known for its large Chinese cultural collections.

Editor's note: The Manchester Museum is closed for major renovations until February 2023.

Address: Oxford Road, Manchester

Another religious site worth visiting, St. Mary's Catholic Church is something of a well-kept secret in Manchester. Built in 1794 and located next to the historic Market Hall, it's also known locally as "The Hidden Gem." But don't let the structure's rather plain exterior stop you from popping in for a look inside.

St. Mary's is one of the city's newer churches, built during the Industrial Revolution, and the interior reveals numerous fine Victorian carvings. Highlights include the marble high altar, statues of saints, and a unique Expressionist-style stations of the cross. Guided tours are available.

Address: 17 Mulberry Street, Manchester

Chetham's Hospital, just north of Manchester Cathedral, dates in part to 1422. Originally a residence for priests, it's now home to a music school and Chetham Library , the oldest public library in England.

In continuous use since 1653, the library has more than 100,000 books , more than half of them printed before 1850. Chetham's is also famous as the meeting place of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels during Marx's visit to Manchester. Guided tours are available.

Other libraries of note are the Manchester Central Library located next door to the Town Hall , and the Portico Library, which houses the literary collection of Dalton and Joule, founders of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society.

The Victorian John Rylands Library , now part of Manchester University, is also worth seeing. Among its many important collections are medieval texts, a Gutenberg Bible, and collection of early printing by William Caxton.

Location: Long Millgate, Manchester

The Manchester Art Gallery possesses one of the largest art collections in Britain outside of London. The gallery includes works by the pre-Raphaelites; Flemish masters of the 17th century; French impressionists, including Gauguin, Manet, and Monet; and German artists such as Max Ernst.

There are also pieces from well-known English artists, including Stubbs, Constable, and Turner. The gallery's impressive sculpture collection includes works by Rodin, Maillol, Jacob Epstein, and Henry Moore.

For more arts and culture tourist attractions, check out HOME , Manchester's international center for contemporary visual arts and independent film. Located at 70 Oxford Street, the venue is noted for its regular performances of everything from musicals to comedies.

Address: Mosley Street, Manchester

Fresh from a major redevelopment, The Whitworth Art Gallery features over 55,000 artworks in its vast collection. Named after the surrounding park, the gallery's very modern facilities are housed in a mix of old and new buildings overlooking a very pleasant green space.

The oldest collections themselves date back to 1889, and its stellar collections of sculptures and mostly modern artworks have seen it consistently ranking in lists of top attractions in Manchester. Other notable collections include watercolours, textiles, and even wallpapers. Works by the likes of Francis Bacon, Van Gogh, and Picasso can all be enjoyed, along with a sizable collection of outdoor art.

A café and shop are located on the premises, and a variety of fun events and activities for individuals as well as families are available.

The colorful home of one of the largest Chinese communities in Britain, Chinatown is only a stone's throw from the Manchester Art Gallery and is fun to explore on foot. The richly decorated arched gateway leading into the district is especially striking.

The many shops and restaurants here offer a wide range of culinary delicacies from Hong Kong and Beijing. Interested in shopping? Unique Chinese handicrafts and artworks can be found at the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Art (CFCCA).

Address: 13 Thomas Street, Manchester

The imposing façade of the neo-Gothic Town Hall (1877) graces pedestrianized Albert Square , and the tower offers excellent panoramic views of the city. Inside, the Council Chamber merits special attention, along with the cycle of Ford Madox Brown murals that depict the history of the city.

While there, visit the Free Trade Hall, opened in 1951. Editor's note: Manchester Town Hall is currently undergoing major interior and exterior renovations due for completion in 2024.

Allocate some time to also explore St. Peter's Square. This large public square is where you'll find the Manchester Cenotaph commemorating the city's war dead, as well as plenty of great opportunities to get in some people watching.

Also worth a visit, the centrally located Manchester Central Convention Complex , one of the largest such sites in England, hosts many musical performances throughout the year. The building is unique in that it was constructed amid the former Victorian railroad station on Windmill Street.

Location: Albert Square, Manchester

The People's History Museum is the national center for the collection, conservation, interpretation, and study of material relating to the history of working people in Britain.

Located in a former pumping station, the museum showcases the history of British democracy and its impact on the population. Also of interest are the extensive collections of artifacts relating to trade unions and women's suffrage.

Another museum that's close by and worth visiting is the Manchester Jewish Museum . This interesting attraction features a unique collection dealing with the city's Jewish community.

Location: Left Bank, Manchester

While there are enough fun things to do in Salford for those wanting to make a day trip out of it , those crunched for time would do well to visit one or two attractions in this pleasant university town. The Salford Quays, usually referred to simply as "The Quays," should definitely top your list.

An easy 25-minute, five-kilometer ride away from Manchester city center by public transit, this much revitalized area straddles the banks of the city's ship canal and is a delight to explore on foot.

In addition to such popular attractions as the Imperial War Museum North and Old Trafford, home to Manchester United Football Club, you'll find the Lowry Arts Centre. Dedicated to the life and work of local artist L.S. Lowry, it contains numerous unique pieces, as well as a performing arts center.

Covering some 600 acres, Heaton Park is the biggest park in Greater Manchester and one of the largest municipal parks in Europe. Heaton Hall , built in 1772, lies in the very heart of the park and although not all of it is open to the public, it remains an impressive sight.

Some buildings, such as the charming Orangery, are open seasonly to the public, so check the official website for closures. The park has been extensively restored and retains many of its original buildings and vistas.

Sports enthusiasts will enjoy its 18-hole golf course, driving range, mini putt, and tennis courts, while families can explore the boating lake, animal farm, woodlands, ornamental gardens, observatory, and adventure playground. There's even a volunteer-run tramway and museum.

Address: Middleton Road, Manchester

Also worth visiting is Fletcher Moss Park . Founded in 1917, this large green space, part botanical garden and part wildlife habitat, is an engaging contrast to the busy city center. There are numerous walking trails on the property, as well as regular guided "health" walks.

Popular things to do here include enjoying a stroll or picnic, or opting for more strenuous activities, such as tennis, rugby, or football. There's also a pleasant café located within the grounds. Dogs are welcome.

Address: 18 Stenner Lane, Didsbury, Manchester

Platt Hall , an elegant Georgian house built in 1764 and now part of the Manchester Art Gallery, presents an excellent overview of English fashion and costume from 1600 to the present day. It is perhaps the only collection to rival London's Victoria and Albert Museum .

Strengths of the museum include its many examples of everyday dress, with the Gallery of Costume containing one of the largest collections of costumes and accessories in Britain.

Location: Platt Hall, Fallowfiield, Manchester

Manchester's educational precinct, encompassing the University of Manchester , includes a variety of institutes and halls of residence.

Opened in 1851, the university can claim three Nobel prizewinners: Ernest Rutherford (1871-1939), who laid the foundations of modern atomic physics; physician James Chadwick, who in 1932 proved the existence of the neutron; and Sir John Cockcroft (1897-1967), one of the leading physicists in British and Canadian atomic research.

Housed in the university, the Whitworth Art Gallery is famous for its collections of British watercolors, drawings, prints, modern art, and sculpture, along with the largest textile and wallpaper collections outside London. Also close by is the Manchester Museum, with its extensive scientific collections and Egyptian exhibits.

Known to locals as Manchester's "Water Palace," the Victoria Baths are well worth a visit. The building is a perfectly preserved example of a Victorian-era bath, a feature once relatively common in many large urban areas in bygone days.

Although not unlike modern public swimming pools, it was built in 1986 and is unique for the change facilities that line the pool's perimeter. Also noteworthy is the ornate steelwork that holds the structure up.

Open seasonally from April through to November, it can be toured and makes for a pleasant outing. Be sure to check the official website for dates and availability. The facility also serves as a venue for concerts and movies, as well as special family events. A tea shop and gift shop are located on-site.

Address: Hathersage Road, Manchester

A visit to the Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester is a fun activity for all ages. Located in the city's Cheetham Hill area, this impressive collection of vintage transportation consists of over 80 buses, many of them still working. Other historic modes of transport housed here include an original city tram dating from 1901, as well as old trolleybuses.

Displays describe not just the vehicles, but also deal with the development and evolution of public transit in Manchester. A quaint tearoom is located on the premises, as is a gift shop.

Address: Boyle Street, Cheetham Hill, Manchester

As in any big city, it's hard to find a hotel that is near all the main attractions. But many of Manchester's points of interest at least cluster in three areas: the Urban Heritage Park and museum complex on Liverpool Road in the Castlefield neighborhood; the shopping district between King Street and the cathedral; and Chinatown to the south, where you'll find the Manchester Art Gallery. These highly rated hotels in Manchester are convenient for sightseeing:

Luxury Hotels :

• With a good-sized pool and a spa, The Edwardian Manchester sits between Chinatown, the Liverpool Road museums, and the smart shopping district north of King Street.
• Another great accommodation option that's close to Chinatown and the Manchester Art Gallery is The Alan . This hip 4-star design hotel features industrial-chic rooms and suites set in a historic red brick building.
• The chic and charming Great John Street Hotel , in the new museum district, has a hot tub on the roof.
• The Midland , opposite the library and well located for visiting museums and the City Hall, has a gym and spa with a small pool, Jacuzzi, and steam room.

Mid-Range Hotels:

• Beautifully furnished rooms, thoughtful amenities, and superior service make Velvet Hotel a luxury choice with a mid-range price. It's located between Chinatown and Piccadilly rail station, where trains arrive from London.
• Right next to Chinatown, Roomzzz Aparthotel Manchester City has stylish, well-designed rooms with rain showers and good soundproofing.
• DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Piccadilly is directly across the street from Piccadilly Station, a 10-minute walk to the central attractions, and near the free shuttle bus stop.

Budget Hotels:

• Premier Inn Manchester City Centre (Piccadilly) Hotel is excellent value, with well-furnished rooms less than a five-minute walk from Piccadilly Station.
• Travelodge Manchester Central has plain but comfortable rooms just across the bridge from the cathedral and shopping district.
• At the edge of Chinatown with plenty of restaurants nearby, Ibis Manchester Centre Princess Street Hotel offers comfortable rooms with few frills.

More on England

Tourist Information

Tourist Information Manchester has all you need to know when visiting the city.  Select link to enter site: www.visitmanchester.com

Who to contact

Where to go, get directions to m2 5pd using google maps, last updated.

Last updated: 21/06/2022

Send details by text

This will send details from this page, to your mobile phone using our SMS service. You will not be charged for this message.

Are you able to provide us with feedback about your experience of using Help & Support Manchester?

Feedback form.

Your feedback is important to us. It will help us improve your experience of using Help & Support Manchester in the future.

1 being very easy, 4 being very difficult

If you have noticed outdated information, or a service is no longer running, please let us know using the 'is this information correct?' button on the service entry.

Manchester Visitor Information Centre

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

• St Peter's Square • 1 min walk
• Mosley St • 6 min walk

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travelers

Manchester Visitor Information Centre - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Inspiration
• Destinations
• Places To Stay
• Style & Culture
• Food & Drink
• Wellness & Spas
• News & Advice
• Partnerships
• Traveller's Directory
• Travel Tips
• Competitions

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The ultimate guide to Manchester

By Rick Jordan

It’s no Florentine oil painting, but there are moments of beauty in Manchester . A grapheneblack cormorant breaking the surface of the Irwell, the thick terracotta tiles of the Refuge building that you want to break off like toffee and eat. Earlier this year, I found a fresh view, from the Castlefield Viaduct: a miniature High Line where clematis and ferns sprout amid the girders. Looking across, I could see both the ruins of the Roman fort and the four towers of Deansgate Square, flashing sunlight like beacons marking out new territory. Manchester’s a little greener these days, a little softer. In Mayfield Park, conjured from rail-yard dereliction, I walk over cast-iron beams, half-buried in the grass like fossils.

The River Medlock has been uncovered, kingfishers have returned. People, too. Hard to believe that in the late 1980s, when I was a teenager going to clubs and gigs (an era the city’s self-mythology is far too reliant on; I don’t need to hear “Fools Gold” ever again), only a few hundred lived in the centre. “The shutters slammed down at 5pm; you couldn’t buy a pint of milk,” says Tom Bloxham of architecture studio Urban Splash, which has played a part in the city’s regeneration, most recently with the marina and townhouses of New Islington. “Joined-up thinking has really reinvented Manchester." Right now, it's brimful of confidence: the ambitious new Aviva studios, which opened in October, is an emblem of this – but so is the evolving food and drink scene.

How to get to Manchester

Manchester has the UK's third busiest airport, with flights to 199 destinations. Trains into the city centre run every 10 minutes, seven days a week and take around 20 minutes. Manchester Piccadilly is the city's main train station, with connections from most main train stations throughout the UK. The city has good bus, train and tram services.

The best hotels in Manchester

There are so many empty warehouses to fill… Peacock-coloured Forty-Seven opened in a Peter Street one, while Malmaison Manchester Deansgate has bagged the best views over the refurbished Town Hall. Soho House will land later in 2024 in the former Granada Studios, with motel rooms below the club and its optimistic rooftop pool (would a young Ken Barlow have been allowed in?). Opening in the summer of 2024 is  Treehouse Manchester , a sequel to the London debut that’s just as playful (stepping stones in the lobby) but more locally minded: Bury-born chef Mary-Ellen McTague brings a zero-waste approach to the ground-floor restaurant; Belzan chef Sam Grainger will head up the 14th-floor restaurant with a South-East Asian menu, while DJ-restaurateurs Justin Crawford and Luke Cowdrey are fiddling the knobs on the music and live acts. Of recent-ish arrivals, I like The Alan : nudging Chinatown, it’s an exercise in upcycling, with bare plaster walls in the bedrooms and an ethereal, mosaic-floored lobby that appears almost Balearic, linking workspaces, bar and dining room (with Cumbrae oysters and crab cavatelli on the menu, it’s a rare Manchester hotel for eating in at). Leven , meanwhile, may feel familiar to Posh and Becks, who came here when the building housed Mash & Air, the 1990s restaurant where Jason Atherton cut his teeth. Different vibes now, with an art-filled cocktail bar (Black Forest martinis, rhubarb sours) that’s a little pocket of calm amid the Canal Street head rush, and loft-style suites with huge crittall windows. Manchester has a fair few frictionless, hit-the-ground-running hotels, but this is one of the best.

By Rachel Everett

What to do in Manchester

Last summer, I went daytime raving with mummies in New Century Hall ; well, actually lace-wrapped performers cavorting to hypnotic techno: a dance piece called “R.O.S.E”. The hall was a new one on me, a black-framed mid-century survivor that hosted Hendrix and acid house, now restored with the original sprung dance floor. Unlike in other cities, there has been a boom in live-music venues, from the intimate Blues Kitchen (head upstairs for an eclectic line-up) to the incoming Co-Op Live arena. Most hyped, though, is the £242-million Aviva Studios , metal origami home to Factory International , the outfit behind the biennial festival. Unlovely on the outside, but inside is a hangar-like space that can be adapted to accommodate any artistic vision. Last summer it was filled with Yayoi Kusama’s giant polka-dot inflatables; in October it saw Danny Boyle’s Matrix reboot, Free Your Mind, a dance spectacular with giant rabbits and lots of PVC. The remit is to bring experimental works to as large an audience as possible – thus continuing a rich Mancunian tradition of culture for all. Over at Manchester Museum , meanwhile, a new gallery showcases the South Asian diaspora, curated by the community and giving a voice to historically marginalised cultures. It’s full of vivid storytelling, none less so than the strikingly witty 55-foot mural by The Singh Twins, which recasts Britannia as an Indian woman, trident held aloft while surveying her Anglo-Asian “Greater Britain”.

By Charlotte Davey

By Jessica Puckett

By Karthika Gupta

By Harry McKinley

The best street food in Manchester

At some point, Manchester swapped disco biscuits for tacos, and now it seems as if nomadic bands of carpenter-gatherers roam the streets, throwing up food-hall shanty towns amid the bones of industrial hulks. Freight Island sprawls across the Mayfield railway depot next to the new park, midway between fairground and festival, with lazy Sunday sessions where parents reminisce about nights at Sankeys over IPAs. But lo, like a steampunk Godzilla, Diecast has risen in a metalworks nearby, with glitching, avant-garde dancers on walkways, daiquiri machines and rum caravans for hire. Who will win the battle of the giant food halls? See also the smaller, sleeker Society and Kargo MKT , just opened on Salford Quays.

The best restaurants in Manchester

Simon Martin’s Mana may have won the city its only Michelin star , but Erst won the hearts of northern food lovers when it opened in 2018 – a neighbourhood restaurant in the best New York sense. It’s still my favourite place to eat – sit at the counter with a beef-fat flatbread and glass of orange moscatel, and everything feels right in the world. But there’s competition. Higher Ground opened in 2023, from a trio who met at Stone Barns in New York State, testing the terroir with pop-ups and their Flawd wine bar. The Brit-bistro flavour combinations are compelling – pork loin cured in cuttlefish ink, celeriac paired with salted blueberries – with many ingredients grown on its Nantwich market garden. There’s a real sense of an ecosystem taking root here: the farm supplies other restaurants, including the wine-forward Climat from Chester’s Covino team. Speakeasy-elusive at the top of an office block, it serves painstakingly prepped small plates that include hash browns topped with twirls of taramasalata and vol-au-vents sporting quiffs of duck-liver parfait. Elsewhere, lockdown hit 3hands Deli has flexed into Another Hand – caff by day, sharing plates by night – with picks including lion’s mane mushroom in a chocolate mole. Just off Albert Square, meanwhile, Maray is an example of the sort of indie hangout Manchester does really well: punchy street food (in this case Middle Eastern – try the king prawns with white-bean messabecha) with a strong vegan line-up and a free-flowing cocktail list. For a coffee and bhaji buttie, my insider tip is SeeSaw , a coworking space and café down a cobbled alley off Princess Street.

By Ben Arnold and Cathy Toogood

The best bars in Manchester

As soon as you arrive in Manchester, head straight to Schofield’s Bar , sit at the counter and order a Tuxedo No 2. Gin, dry vermouth, maraschino and bitters. It’ll set you up for the day but also introduce you to one of the best cocktail bars in the UK, sat behind a lovely ironwork deco frontispiece. Bury-born Daniel and Joe Schofield may well be there,  wearing white aprons and the sort of faces that peer out of sepia photos from the 1920s. The brothers bring a wealth of experience, picked up at Little Red Door in  Paris  and Singapore’s Tippling Club; no gimmicks here but classic cocktails, making this part of a new generation of grown-up bars along with Speak in Code (closed-loop, new-wave tiki), Red Light (LGBTQ+) and Sterling , the Schofields’ basement bar in the Stock Exchange Hotel. The margaritas, meanwhile, are excellent at Public on Stevenson Square, the latest from Rusholme curry scion Sax Arshad (Gooey, his NY-styled doughnut joint, inspired Lizzo to post “Manchester got the good good” after sniffling its tofu sando).

There’s a statue of Vimto in Manchester, an oak-carved bottle and berries, but maybe one should be sculpted of a bottle of pét-nat: the city’s awash with natural wine. A bar-hopping tour might start at Flawd for an Austrian rosé before an English Sov’ran Ortega at The Jane Eyre on Cutting Room Square, moving onto Ad Hoc . Out in Levenshulme is Isca , co-owned by Caroline Dubois, sommelier at Where the Light Gets In. “There’s a real feeling of possibility right now,” she says. “Manchester’s food and drink reputation is a recent thing – but it’s drawing in people from around the world with serious experience.”

By Ben Arnold

Your browser is not supported for this experience. We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.

Family Friendly

Restaurants, buy the visit manchester pass.

Discover Manchester with the Visit Manchester Pass - Entry into 13 of Manchester's top attractions plus over 30 discounts and offers.

Six Tours to Discover Manchester’s Music History

Manchester's music scene is fuelled by the incredible live performances taking place in its venues – up-and-coming artists and global superstars sharing a city that buzzes with the history of those who came before them. Widely regarded as the capital of music in the UK, Manchester’s musical history is ingrained into the streets and buildings, some that have long since been transformed to keep up with the ever-changing landscape. But the stories of Madchester, Hacienda and the local bands that took over the world remain – and you can discover them all through these six enlightening tours.  

1. Wonderwalk through Manchester

Wonderwalk through Manchester

Explore Manchester in a ‘Wonderwalk’ with the entertaining and knowledgeable Nic, who will guide you through the different genres found around the city – from raving at the Hacienda to reggae at the Thirsty Scholar and the classical scene at the Royal Northern College of Music. Join the tour and explore lesser-known places as Nic shares insight from his own musical and life experience. The tours are one of a number from Invisible Cities , who train people affected by homelessness to become expert tour guides, showing you their unique perspective of the city. 

2. Manchester Taxi Tours

Manchester Taxi Tours

A more comfortable way to see Manchester, John Consterdine’s Manchester Taxi Tours are popular amongst visitors. The tours can be customised to the guest’s interests, and John offers a bespoke music tour that will take you to some of the most iconic venues in the city, from the Free Trade Hall to Salford Lads’ Club. During the 3–4-hour tour, your friendly guide will drive you through the history that inspired the artists of today. 

3. Manchester Music Trail

Manchester Music Trail

If you’d prefer to explore the city in your own time, check out the Manchester Music Map. Curated by Hayley Flynn, the mind behind the alternative Skyliner tours, this trail gives you interesting facts on historical venues in the city centre, from Aatma in the Northern Quarter to Mayfield Depot, now home to the Warehouse Project, with an easy-to-follow trail which can be downloaded to your phone. 

4. The Manchester Music Walkabout

The Manchester Music Walkabout

Starting from the 1960’s, through the exciting 90’s, all the way to modern day, Manchester expert guide Jonathan Schofield will bring you along on his Manchester Music Walkabout as he tells you the stories and anecdotes of the past, with a special curated playlist of iconic bands including The Smiths, Oasis, Joy Division and many more, so you’ll get vibing to the sounds of Manchester before you embark on this 1.5 hour journey. 

5. Manchester Music Tours

Manchester Music Tours

Discover the old hangouts of your favourite Manchester bands on this dedicated bus and walking tour led by Rose Gill. Manchester Music Tours was founded by Craig Gill, Inspiral Carpet’s drummer, and after his passing his wife continued his work to celebrate Manchester’s music legacy. Having experienced ‘Madchester’ in its prime, Rose runs dedicated band tours, or a Manchester Music Special for anyone wanting a broader history session. 

6. Manchester Music Walking Tour

Manchester Music Walking Tour

Organised by Brit Music Tours , this Manchester Music Walking Tour lasts around 1 hour 45 minutes and is led by an experienced guide that will share his vast knowledge of the city’s musical history while taking you around the hipster-haven of the Northern Quarter and past fascinating venues and landmarks of the punk and post-punk scenes that emerged in Manchester. 

More information

Unmissable Music in Manchester

From Parklife to Warehouse Project and Pride to ground-breaking performances in offbeat venues including the White Hotel and Hidden, Manchester is the home of Unmissable Music. 

You might also be interested in

Six Tours to Discover Manchester’s Music History

• 3 minute read

Manchester's music scene is fuelled by the incredible live performances taking place in its…

Outdoor Music Venues within Greater Manchester

• 2 minute read

Manchester is home to some of the best outdoor music venues in the country, from holding large…

Unmissable Music in Manchester: June 2024

• 4 minute read

From Parklife to Warehouse Project and Pride to ground-breaking performances in offbeat venues…

Salford celebrates the city’s musical heritage with new immersive trail

Salford’s rich musical heritage is now at your fingertips with the Echo Salford app…

Manchester’s Unmissable Year of Music Roundup

• 11 minute read

Every genre has made its mark on Manchester in one way or another, and the city continues to be a…

Visit Manchester

Share and follow visit manchester on instagram.

Ratings Powered by

The Visit Manchester Pass

Get 20% off ALL passes. Use Code: MCR20

Discover Manchester With The Official Sightseeing Pass For Manchester

Unlock the full potential of your Manchester adventure with the Visit Manchester Pass. This essential digital ticket provides access to the city’s iconic attractions, including Manchester City Football Club, Coronation Street – The Tour, RHS Bridgewater and the National Football Museum. You’ll also get access to exclusive discounts at hotels, restaurants, shops and experiences.

The Visit Manchester Pass is your ticket to making the most of Manchester while keeping your budget in check. Buy your Visit Manchester Pass and experience Manchester like never before.

What is Included?

We’ve created the Visit Manchester Pass to make your visit to our city as convenient, exclusive and cost-effective as possible. Take a look through the huge array of specially curated experiences, discounts and offers to suit all interests.

View All Attractions »

How does it work.

The Visit Manchester Pass is designed to help you make the most of your trip, so you can visit the city’s top attractions and redeem exclusive experiences and offers hassle-free from your mobile phone.

The Visit Manchester Pass is available as a one, two or three day visitor pass for both for adults and children. With your digital Visit Manchester Pass, you can visit all attractions, restaurants and places of interest included in the visitor pass – just by showing it on your mobile phone.

To gain access into attractions, simply show your Visit Manchester Pass on your mobile phone at the ticket counter for them to scan your QR code and provide you with entry, your discount and/or their exclusive experience.

Some of the attractions will allow you to walk in on the day, but some need to be booked in advance. Make sure you check the pass booking app before travelling to see which attractions require pre-booking and for instructions on how to book.

Your Visit Manchester Pass is activated when you first use it and is then valid for consecutive days (not 24-hour periods) for either one, two or three days depending on which pass you have purchased. Ensure that you plan your day accordingly to get the most out of your pass! The Visit Manchester Pass is not a fast track pass and passes can only be used once at each attraction.

How much can you save?

The Visit Manchester Pass offers great value and huge potential savings over standard entry prices. Check out this 2-day example itinerary!

Attractions

Normal Prices

Coronation Street Experience

Normally £33.00

National Football Museum

Normally £14.00

Sightseeing Manchester

Normally £12.00

The Spirit of Manchester Distillery

Normally £25.00

Manchester City Stadium Tour

Normally £28.00

SEA LIFE Manchester

RHS Garden Bridgewater

Normally £19.85

Saving per Person

Choose Your Pass

Save 20% on ALL passes with code MCR20

What's Included?

What Is Included?

How Does It Work?

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Privacy Overview

• Northern Ireland
• Southern England
• Northern England
• Other Regions
• Shopping Guides
• Restaurant Guides
• Historic Attractions
• Theme Parks/Adventure
• World Heritage Sites
• Top UK Attractions
• UK National Parks
• England Airports
• Scotland Airports
• Wales Airports
• Northern Ireland Airports
• UK Airport Hotels
• North America
• Travellers Tips
• UK Travel Tips & Advice
• Articles & Inspirations
• Holiday Packages
• Hotel Reservations
• Travel Tools
• UK Holidays
• Manchester Attractions
• Restaurants
• Entertainment
• Local Events
• City Facts & Figures
• Travel & Transport
• Maps/Local Search
• Travel Videos

Accommodation

• Manchester Hotels

Manchester Guides

• Manchester Shopping

Manchester Airports

• Manchester Airport

Manchester Tourist Information Centres

Related articles, hertfordshire tourist information centres, pembrokeshire tourist information centres, buckinghamshire tourist information centres.

• Website Terms
• Site Disclaimer
• Privacy Policy

Welcome to Manchester

Plan your adventure to the Eastern, Kentucky through the mountain gateway - Manchester.  Enjoy eclectic restaurants, charming trails, gorgeous lakes and all that we have to offer.

Music Events

Come experience all that Manchester, Kentucky has to offer! Our famous Manchester Music Festival (the largest free music festival in Kentucky) brings an eclectic mix including local and national acts.  Walk the streets of Manchester and delight in all the delicious flavors provided by a great selection of food and beverage vendors. Street vendors and local merchants provide lots of great shopping opportunities as well.  

Shaping Clay Jubilee features nationally renowned southern gospel quartets.  Indulge in a wide range of bluegrass tunes with a great selection of food and craft vendors.  

Ponderosa Pines is a locally owned and operated music venue providing opportunities to see local, regional and national acts from Spring to Fall.  

Adventure Tourism

Manchester Trail Town offers a host of outdoor adventure opportunities including our waterways and the Daniel Boone National Forest.  Travelers can experience ATV's, hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing and horse back riding.  

Make Memories That Last Forever

We have everything you need to plan your family's adventure to our area.  Check out our website for full details and give us a call with any questions! 

Community Events 

Community events provide opportunities for our locals as well as travelers to enjoy all the city of Manchester has to offer.  Events are spaced out throughout the year to allow people to enjoy the scenic views of our mountains throughout all the seasons.  

Peak Experiences

In Manchester, Kentucky you will find music and outdoor experiences like no other.  As the gateway to Appalachia, our mountains are beautiful and our people are fun.  Plan your adventure today! 

Clay County ATV Club

The great outdoors abound here in Manchester, Kentucky.  Clay County Off Road Club offers a Spring and Fall event each year along with numerous other rides.  

• Industry Login
• Industry Members
• Work Together
• 2024 NH Tourism Summit

New Hampshire Tourism Anthem Video:

FY23 Year In Review:

NH Travel and Tourism Update

Click here to download NH Travel and Tourism Update.  

Manchester-Boston Regional Airport Air Service Update

Summer 2024 campaign information.

• Departments

Visiting Manchester

Located in the heart of New England, Manchester, New Hampshire, is a spectacular combination of a vibrant urban center and the famed natural beauty and abundant recreational opportunities that abound throughout the Granite State. This city’s location is prime—Boston, the Atlantic Coast, and New Hampshire’s scenic White Mountain and Lakes Region are all within an hour’s reach, and thanks to our exceptional highway access and the first-class Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, Manchester is accessible from just about anywhere.

This city has fast become a first-rate entertainment hub in the Northeast, playing host to the hottest concerts, top acts, and biggest events. We’ve got anything from theatrical performances to highly-charged sporting events. The Palace Theatre and recently renovated Rex Theatre sit just blocks away from the SNHU Arena, while our riverfront professional baseball stadium overlooks a bustling and vibrant downtown. When one lives in Manchester they will certainly work hard, but undoubtedly have a lot of fun as well.

Manchester has a wide range of shopping and dining options available to them throughout the community. In recent years, Manchester has emerged as the premier dining and tax-free shopping destination north of Boston.

Manchester also has beautiful parks throughout the city, and Lake Massabesic, which is set in the heart of the city, offers boating, gorgeous picnicking locations, and hiking and biking trails. Visit Arms Park for a view of the breathtaking Merrimack River. In the winter, McIntyre Ski Area offers skiers and snowboarders snow-lined trails, while ice skating rinks are located on both the east and west side of the city. The Derryfield Country Club offers 18 holes of golf on expansive greens right in Manchester.

Manchester's location allows for easy access to ski resorts, NASCAR races, beaches, state parks, camping, mountains and dozens of other attractions.  Discover what's within our city's reach.

Visitor Related Links

• Alert Notifications
• Area Profile
• City Announcements
• City History
• Election Results
• Email Notifications
• Events Calendar
• Leisure & Entertainment
• List of Parks
• Public Records Request
• Shopping & Dining
• Transportation

Money blog: Subway drastically changing how you order

Subway is following in the steps of some of its fast-food rivals with the introduction of self-service kiosks and its own dedicated app. Read this and the rest of today's consumer and personal finance news below - and leave your thoughts in the comments box.

Wednesday 5 June 2024 20:43, UK

• Five switching offers launch in quick succession offering up to £200 - and this is best time of month to do it
• Ed Conway : Claim of £2k tax rise under Labour is over four years - same maths suggests Tories have raised taxes by £13k in last four years
• Subway rolling out self-service kiosks and brand new app
• Ian King : Why European rates decision could impact global economy - and your holiday money

Essential reads

• Shopping addict reveals how she landed in £40,000 debt
• Top chef shares his take on an Italian classic - and Warwickshire Cheap Eats
• Women in Business : 'I quit well-paid job while seven months pregnant after men said I didn't understand - now I'm a CEO'
• How much are student loans, when do you start paying back and what is the interest?
• Your rights when deliveries or returns don't arrive - and why leaving instructions could jeopardise them
• Best of the Money blog - an archive

Ask a question or make a comment

Subway is following in the steps of some of its fast-food rivals with the introduction of self-service kiosks and its own dedicated app.

Customers will be able to place orders via digital screens sent to the kitchen instead of making their way along the chain of ingredients.

The self-service kiosks will be in all UK stores before the end of the year,  The Grocer  reports.

The sandwich shop chain is also launching a new app which will enable online orders - and offer customers points towards its "Subway Rewards" loyalty scheme, it said.

The points can eventually be converted into "Subway Cash" to spend on menu items.

Dan Holm, digital leader at Subway, said: "As we think about Subway's future, we're doubling down on our global digital commitment to streamline and simplify the guest experience from start to finish."

P Diddy has sold off his stake in the media company he founded more than a decade ago. 

The rapper, whose real name is Sean Combs, released his shares of Revolt with the company saying the have been fully redeemed and retired. 

Revolt has not disclosed how much Combs was paid for his stake in the hip-hop news and entertainment company, which he founded in 2013.

It also announced a new ownership structure that will give its employees an equity stake in the company. 

The move comes after several lawsuits were filed against Combs , accusing him of sexual assault and rape. 

In November, he was sued by R&B singer Cassie, who said he subjected her to a years-long abusive relationship that included beatings and rape.

Combs settled the lawsuit with Cassie, whose full name is Casandra Ventura, a few days after it was filed.

Three in five secondary school teachers and nearly 80% of primary school teachers are spending their own money on supporting students, according to new research.

A report by the National Foundation for Educational Research, based on a survey of 1,282 teachers and senior leaders, found a quarter of teachers had already spent £100 of their own cash on their pupils or school this academic year.

Some 79% of primary school teachers and 62% of secondary school educators reported spending their own money at some point.

And nearly one in five primary and 17% of secondary teachers said they were spending money on meeting pastoral needs such as providing food or clothes.

Jude Hillary, the NFER's co-head of UK policy and practice, said the report "clearly highlights the high level of need among young people".

She said teachers were "going above and beyond to meet pupils' pastoral needs using their personal funds" and the "unrecognised" support was coming at a time when staff themselves are facing their own cost pressures.

Tesco has started re-stocking its packs of a dozen eggs online, after lengthy supply issues forced them to stop selling them.

The supermarket had already re-started selling them in stores, but online shoppers had to buy two packs of six eggs if they wanted 12, costing them very slightly more.

The shortages began in the autumn of 2022 as farmers left the industry or pulled back on production due to rising costs.

An outbreak of bird flu last year also impacted the sector.

Customers of Loveholidays have had their travel plans thrown into chaos after the parent company of two of its partners unexpectedly went bust. 

In a post on Facebook, the holiday firm said FTI Group, which owns YouTravel and Meeting Point, had filed for insolvency. 

As a result, the accommodation and transfer arrangements of some travellers have been affected. 

A "small number" of hotels have already started contacting Loveholiday travellers, asking them to pay for their rooms again.

In the comments of the post, one person said they had been "threatened to be removed by police" for refusing to pay again. 

"We are supposed to go home Thursday evening and worried our transfers and flights might be affected because we are refusing to pay again," Scott Love wrote. 

"Shambles this and has ruined our holiday for me, my partner and three children." 

Several other people commented, asking the provider to tell them if their trip had been impacted. 

Loveholidays said it was "working hard" to honour its customers bookings and "minimise disruption" to any holiday. 

It also said it was "absolutely committed" to covering costs and was working with affected customers, and the hotels involved, to make sure that happens.

Those who are on holiday and need support have been advised to contact the holiday support team by calling the number on their booking documents. 

"If you're travelling with us soon and are wondering if your holiday is affected: Please don't worry. There is nothing you need to do - our team is working hard to honour any impacted bookings with another partner," Loveholidays added. 

Sky News has contacted the company for comment. 

Chef Tom Brown has announced he is closing his high-end Hackney restaurant Cornerstone due to high costs of the tasting menu format and changing diner preferences.

The seafood-focused restaurant first opened in 2018 and earned a Michelin star in 2021.

In a statement, Brown said Cornerstone had been his "proudest moment" and his "home for the last six years", and added that his focus would now be on his nearby Pearly Queen site.

First Direct is ending its text message banking service after 25 years, according to a report.

An email seen by This Is Money said the service - which texts customers mini bank statements and alerts them to their balance dropping below a certain amount - will be stopped on 10 August.

First Direct told the outlet that customers could get "more detailed and up-to-date information" by logging onto its app or online banking.

Tesco has partnered with Virgin Red to offer Clubcard holders the chance to turn points into experiences.

Those signed up to the supermarket's loyalty scheme will get twice the points value when they turn points earned on their shopping into Virgin Points.

A bonus 5,000 points is available for anyone who signs up to auto-exchange all their Clubcard points to Virgin Points for the first time.

McDonald's has lost the EU trademark for "Big Mac" when it comes to chicken sandwiches after a long-running dispute with an Irish restaurant chain. 

The European Court of Justice upheld a complaint from Galway-based Supermac's against the US fast food giant. 

The trademark for the words "Big Mac" was initially registered with the EU International Property Office (EUIPO) in respect of meat, fish and chicken sandwiches as well as a range of restaurant services by McDonald's in 1996.

Generally, the rights of a holder to an EU trademark are revoked if it has not been put to genuine use within a continuous period of five years.

Supermac's argued McDonald's had insufficiently used the contested trademark in relation to "chicken sandwiches".

McDonald's and the EUIPO put forward examples of advertisements and display boards relating to "Grand Big Mac Chickens".

However, the court found the evidence was not sufficient to prove McDonald's had used the contested trademark enough in relation to poultry products.

Supermac's complaint was upheld and McDonald's protection of the phrase for such purposes was overturned. 

Rishi Sunak's claim in last night's debate that Labour will raise everyone's taxes by £2,000 comes from a "dossier" published by the Tories last month, which purported to calculate their tax and spending plans. 

The headline "finding" was that over the course of the next four years, Labour had roughly £59bn of spending plans but only £20bn of revenue-raising plans.

That leaves a £39bn hole. Divide that by the number of households in the country (18.4m) and you get a figure of just over £2,000.

Now, there are all sorts of objections to the way the Conservatives have carried out this exercise. 

For one thing, they deployed a weapon Labour don't have: because they're the party of government, they were able to ask Treasury civil servants to cost some Labour policies.

Today there has been a backlash - including from the Treasury's permanent secretary himself - about the way the Tories have portrayed these sums. 

The £2,000 figure isn't really a Treasury calculation or an "independent" one, as Mr Sunak called it last night. It's a Conservative figure - but it was put together in part with figures commissioned from civil servants. 

Labour also says many of the policies in that Tory dossier won't cost half as much as the Conservatives claim. 

Regardless, while £2,000 sounds like a big number, it's actually a cumulative total from four years. A far more representative figure to take from the dossier is £500 - the annual figure. 

And while that's not to be sniffed at (if you believe it - which you probably shouldn't) it's far, far smaller than the tax rises we've all experienced under this Conservative government since 2019.

They amount, all told, to an average of around £3,000 a year per household or, if we grit our teeth and tot it up as the Tories did in their dossier, over £13,000 over the course of the parliament. 

Which rather dwarfs that £2,000 figure.

Current account holders looking to make a quick bit of cash can benefit from a flurry of new switching incentives being offered by banks at the moment.

Several providers are fighting for new custom with offers ranging from £100 to £200 upfront plus other rewards.

Now is actually a good time if you're considering switching - as everything should be wrapped up in time for payday at the end of the month, when many people also have bills coming out of their account.

Anyone looking to make the move to a new provider and qualify for the switching offer will need to do so through the  Current Account Switch Service .

The latest data from CASS found Nationwide set a record for UK current account switches in the last three months of 2023.

Switchers can get £175 by opening up a Santander Edge current account. The incentive also offers 1% cashback on household bills paid by direct debit and 7% AER on a linked savings account.

To get the bonus, you'll have to complete the full switch, set up two active direct debits and pay in £1,500 within 60 days of telling Santander to switch your account.

The offer is only available to those who've never had a switching bonus from Santander.

Similarly to Santander, Lloyds is offering £175 for people who switch to its Club Lloyds, Club Silver or Club Platinum accounts.

Customers can also choose an extra reward of a year's Disney+ subscription, six cinema tickets, a Coffee Club and Gourmet Society membership or magazine subscription.

The switch has to include the transfer of at least three direct debits, and you won't be eligible if you've switched to Lloyds, Halifax or the Bank of Scotland since April 2020 or the switch occurs after 30 July.

Existing Nationwide current account holders can make £200 by switching a non-Nationwide current account with at least two direct debits to a new or existing FlexDirect account.

To be eligible, you'll need to have held an eligible Nationwide account on 31 March, and you can't have received a switching bonus from the building society since 18 August 2021.

Those who choose to switch to TSB will get a £100 bonus and up to £60 in cashback, plus a reward if they stay until January 2025.

To qualify for the £100, switchers will need to make a minimum of five debit card payments before 5 July. For up to £60 cashback, you'll need to make at least 20 debit card payments each calendar month. 

Eligible customers can also choose an extra reward in January, such as a night away, monthly cinema tickets or a NOW Entertainment membership.

Similarly to previous offers, you can't have benefited from a TSB switch bonus since 1 October 2022.

First Direct

Customers will get a £175 welcome bonus if they switch to a First Direct 1st Account, including access to a linked 7% AER regular saver account and a possible interest-free £250 overdraft.

You can't have had any account with the bank before or have opened a current account with its partner company HSBC since 1 January 2018. 

To get the bonus you'll have to pay in £1,000+ within 30 days of opening the account and use the debit card five times.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free