Manchester does not look back. The city that powered the Industrial Revolution has reinvented itself as a cultural powerhouse of music, art, and sport. The red-brick mills and cotton warehouses still stand, but they now house galleries, apartments, and tech startups. The curry mile of Rusholme fills the air with cumin and coriander. The Northern Quarter buzzes with independent record shops, street art, and craft breweries. Old Trafford draws football pilgrims from every continent. The Manchester rain falls just as reliably as ever, but locals barely notice. They are too busy queuing for gigs, exploring museums, and filling the city’s legendary pub gardens.
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Manchester is one of the main hubs of North England and as such, is a spectacular cities to tour. From cultural attractions to outdoor activities, there’s something for everyone in this gem of a town. Here are just a few of the sights to take in during a visit there.
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\nManchester City Hall, England, UK by Iris Chase
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In This Article
Manchester Museums and Cultural Attractions
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Manchester is home to some of the finest museums in northern England, many of which are free to enter. The Manchester Museum houses a collection including a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton, Egyptian mummies, and the largest collection of amulets in Europe. The Science and Industry Museum traces Manchester role in the Industrial Revolution through working steam engines and textile machinery. The People History Museum tells the story of democracy and social change in Britain. For football fans, the National Football Museum offers exhibits on the history of the sport including the original rules and the ball from the 1966 World Cup final.
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Music and Theatre
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For both fans of engineering and classical music, Bridgewater Hall is a must see. The state of the art concert hall has paid every attention to acoustic detail, right to its very foundations. To prevent outside noise and vibrations from transmitting through the ground, the floor floats above the foundation on 300 earthquake proof springs. Meanwhile, theatre aficionados can make a stop by the Royal Exchange Theatre, which features some of the best of the old classics as well as a number of new plays (125 premieres in the theatre’s history!) The theatre’s circular stage means guests are never too far from the action, while the building within a building design makes the structure an interesting stop all on its own.
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The Manchester Museum is definitely worth a visit, with a palaeontology collection and Eqyptian artefacts on display. For something more niche, the Greater Manchester Police Museum is a brilliant look into policing during the Victorian days, particularly the “Rogues Gallery” which looks at the types of crimes Mancunians were prosecuted for in the past. Football fanatics will also want to stop by the National Football Museum, which holds the title of being the world’s biggest football museum. Visitors will be delighted with the collection, which features, among other things, the first hand-written football rule book and the ball from the 1966 World Cup final.
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A Walk Outside
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While in Manchester, visitors should be sure to take a walk around the Fletcher Moss Park and Botanical Gardens to take in the city’s greener side. This complex of gardens has something on show year round, even in the winter. For somewhere a bit closer to the city centre, Castlefield Urban heritage Park retains much of Manchester’s Victorian built heritage in a beautifully tended environment. Take a walk to see the canals, wrought iron gates and industrial viaducts.
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Looking for a UK experience outside of the everyday treks to London and the countryside? For visitors, this Northern town is a must-see. With the multitude of restaurants, shops and hotels in Manchester, the city is an easy choice for planning anything from a weekend break to a longer stay.
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Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article links back to https://www.premierinn.com/en/manchester-hotels.html\n
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Shopping and Dining in Manchester
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Manchester offers shopping experiences ranging from high-street brands to independent boutiques. The Trafford Centre is one of Europe’s largest shopping malls, with over two hundred stores, a food court, and a cinema. For something more distinctive, the Northern Quarter is home to vintage clothing shops, vinyl record stores, and craft shops selling locally made products. Afflecks Palace, a multi-storey emporium in the Northern Quarter, houses dozens of independent traders selling everything from custom jewellery to alternative fashion. When it comes to dining, Manchester’s diversity shines. Rusholme’s Curry Mile offers some of the best South Asian cuisine outside of Asia, with restaurants serving everything from biryani to kebabs. The city centre has a thriving food scene with modern British restaurants, Italian trattorias, and Japanese ramen bars. For a true Manchester experience, visit a traditional pie and mash shop or try a Manchester egg, a local twist on the classic Scotch egg wrapped in sausage meat and black pudding.
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What comes to mind when you think of Manchester? 🏙️
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