The city that grew great off the back of the Industrial Revolution, Manchester in the northwest of England is unquestionably one of the country’s premier cities from the perspective of business, infrastructure, cultural wealth, architecture, social scene and modern facilities. Long gone are the days when the name of this high profile city evoked images of grey industrial doom and gloom; a reputation as a modern, cosmopolitan and indeed international city has replaced this former stigma.
Football has been largely responsible for giving Manchester international exposure and indeed it’s hard to dispute the effect that its prestigious football team, Manchester United FC, has had on popular global culture. Visitors with an interest can take tours of the famous Old Trafford football ground and gain some background on the history of the team. In the city center, the Natural History Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Manchester Museum of Transport and the National Museum of Labour History are on hand for those looking for history and cultural heritage.
Manchester is home to some of the finest shopping facilities in the country with the city center offering the massive Arndale indoor shopping center as well as smaller and more select arcades such as the Royal Exchange and Key Street. The mighty Trafford Centre sits a 20-minute drive from the center and is an impressive mall with shopping, dining and entertainment facilities. When night falls, the city comes alive, offering what is commonly considered some of the best nightlife outside of the capital with venues to suit all tastes and age ranges.** **
Highlights
The Lowry Centre: this popular arts and entertainment center is named after the famous artist LS Lowry; located just outside of the city it offers theater and gallery spaces.
The Trafford Centre: 280 shopping outlets, fine restaurants, a giant food court, a bowling alley, bars and a 20-screen cinema complex can all be found in this large and stylishly presented out-of-town mall.
Old Trafford Tours: the Legends Hall of Fame, the Trophy Room and the Club History room are among the areas that visitors can access on tours of what is one of the world’s best known football grounds.
Chinatown: a small homage to the east is paid by Manchester’s Chinatown, the predominant attraction of which is its large selection of great Chinese restaurants. Thai, Korean and Japanese restaurants can also be found here.
Shopping: Market Street, the Arndale Centre, the Northern Quarter, Piccadilly, St. Anne’s Square, the Triangle etc; city center Manchester is a shopaholic’s paradise offering everything from chic boutiques to big name chain stores.
The Manchester Aquatic Centre: built for the city’s hosting of the 2002 Commonwealth games, this modern water center features an Olympic sized swimming pool, several smaller pools, water slides and children’s activities as well as sauna, steam room and gymnasium facilities.