Manchester is a metropolitan borough within Greater Manchester and is key to England’s cultural backdrop. The city is located in the north-west of England and is characterised by its sporting associations, culture and music scenes. Looking south, Manchester is bordered by the Cheshire Plain and by the Pennines to the north-east and since the turn of the 19th century it has continued to thrive as one of the most visited places in the UK.

Manchester’s unexpected urbanisation is owed mainly to a boom in ‘textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution’ whilst becoming the world’s first industrial city. The city’s tendency to ‘pioneer’ continued, as it brags to be the site of the first railway station and it is also the place where scientists first split the atom. Manchester’s architecture stretches the spectrum: with red brick equally balanced with contemporary buildings, and with two major universities, Manchester is a vibrant part of the British landscape.

A two-day break:

Two days will present opportunities to grasp the cultural significance and diversity of Manchester. If football is an interest, where better to spend a couple of hours by taking the Old Trafford stadium tour to acknowledge the worldwide appeal of Manchester United. Chinatown’s rich aesthetic offers something different from this otherwise traditional English northern city. These popular spots are very close to the Campanile Manchester Hotel .

A week-long stay:

There are an abundance of museums peppered around the city – ranging in theme from ‘costume’ to ‘war’ – but the Museum of Science and Industry , located under five minutes from Campanile Manchester Hotel, is in the world’s oldest passenger railway station and is packed with interesting galleries. The Lowry is visually stunning and has art galleries, shops and theatres to name just a few, and visiting this rarely fail to impress.

A family holiday:

Manchester is also geared towards a family break with such locations as Airkix and the Treasure Hunt Trail. The former is great family fun and is suited for those who want to experience all the thrill of skydiving but have yet to take that plunge. With clues provided and answers strategically placed on monuments and street signs etc, the Treasure Hunt Trail is a different way to explore the canal side of the city.

Transport:

Complementing major roads (M62, M602 and numerous A-Roads) taking you into Manchester, the city has both the busiest airport and railway station outside of London . Their airport is England’s third busiest and trumps the total number of destinations offered by London Heathrow. Northern Rail and First Transpennine Express offer connections across northern England meaning Manchester is easily accessible.

Gastronomy:

When the renowned Pierre Marco White left the then named River Room in 2005, Manchester sighed, but new head chef Eyck Zimmer picked up the reins of the newly named River Restaurant and restored food harmony - his menu should not be overlooked. There are plenty of alternative cuisine options ranging from French, Greek through to European restaurants.

Events:

With Manchester’s rich musical and sporting positioning there are events all year round if your interests match. Footballing rivals Manchester United and Manchester City play their season from August to May. But to avoid football and music, the Southport Flower Show takes place in August, and in July, Royal Lytham and St Annes hosts the Golf Open Championship.

Interesting Fact:

Manchester has a thriving gay community, and with public houses in the Canal Street area having gay clientele since 1940, this now forms the centre of the city’s gay community. Furthermore, owing to the area attracting 20,000 visitors each weekend - after the council’s infrastructure investment produced more bars and clubs - the UK’s first gay supermarket was subsequently opened.

Useful Links
Trafford Centre
Visit Manchester website