The sprawling mass of Manchester in north west England is perhaps the second most visited city in the country after the capital of course. With national parks and attractive countryside at every turn on the outskirts, this cosmopolitan city is widely regarded for its significant contributions to music and industry and offers a whole host of things to do during a visit here. Take a look at our pick of 5 things to do in Manchester… What’s your opinion of Manchester?
John Rylands Library
Literature lovers, architectural addicts and history hounds look no further than John Rylands Library. The building itself is a great place to start as it is widely considered to be the best late Victorian Gothic building in the UK; take a look at the literature it holds and it gets better! Inside you will find one of the best collections in the world, ranging from the oldest fragment of the New Testament to the first edition of Shakespeare’s Sonnets and plenty more in between. Visit the exhibition room downstairs as well as the main reading room upstairs and small exhibition housed within. As you can see, it’s not to be missed for innumerable reasons. Chetham’s Library is also one to track down!
Museum of Science & Industry
A real crowd pleaser, the Museum of Science Industry takes visitors on a trip through Manchester’s industrial past. On the surface it may sound a tad dull but you will likely find yourself pleasantly surprised, plus, entry is free of charge. Wander through the Air and Space hall, Underground Manchester and the Power Hall plus much more and uncover Manchester’s outstanding contributions!
Shopping
The shopping district in Manchester is one the largest in the UK so you really can shop ’til you drop. There are more shopping centres than you can count on your hands and most of the city centre shops are within a 15 minute walk of each other. The diversity of shops, many of which are located within historical buildings, is wide indeed with both bargain hunters and big spenders catered for. If you have a purchase in mind, save it for when you go shopping in Manchester! Is shopping on your city break itinerary or do you avoid it altogether when somewhere new?
National Parks
Escape the limits of Greater Manchester and breathe in the fresh air of the surrounding countryside. Pick up car hire in Manchester and journey north to the Yorkshire Dales National Park or travel to the Peak District National Park just a hop, skip and a jump south east of the city. The Yorkshire Dales boasts limestone hills, rolling valleys and hidden caverns whilst the Peak District is not as extreme as its name suggests and is mainly characterised by green rolling hills and pretty villages. Both are extremely picturesque however so you’ll find it hard to choose which to visit!
Music Festivals
Over the years, Manchester has churned out many successful musicians and bands, several of whom have gone on to achieve worldwide success. It’s no surprise therefore that the music scene is alive and truly kicking and so is the festival scene! Immerse yourself in the music culture and catch some of the upcoming musicians on stages across the city at festivals like Music Festival in the City in October, FutureEverything in May or Parklife weekender in June plus many more.
Leave any prejudices at the door; Manchester is a vibrant, exciting city with a lot to say for itself.
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