From Wikitravel

For other places with the same name, see Manchester (disambiguation).

Manchester is a huge city with several district articles containing sightseeing, restaurant, nightlife and accommodation listings — consider printing them all.

Manchester [1] is located in the north west of England. The city proper has a population of around 430,000, while the larger conurbation, called Greater Manchester, has around 2,500,000 inhabitants.

Manchester is known by some for its influence on the histories of industry and music, and for its sporting connections. It has the largest number of students in Britain outside London.

[edit] Districts

Central Manchester:

• East central Manchester — Covers the area of the city centre bounded by the A57 (M), Oxford Road, and the A62. It covers the locales of Picadilly, the Northern Quarter, Chinatown, the Gay Village, and Picadilly Gardens.

• North central Manchester — Covers the area in central Manchester north of Picadilly Gardens and east of Quay St and Peter St. It covers the locales of the Millennium Quarter, Deansgate, Albert square, and St. Ann's Square as well as the newly developed business district of Spinningfields.

• West central Manchester — Covers the area in central Manchester west of Quay St, Peter St and Oxford St. It covers the locales of Castlefield and St. Peter's Fields.

Further out:

• North Manchester — Covers the area north of the centre as far as the M60. Includes Sportcity.

• South Manchester — Covers the area south of the centre as far as the M60. Includes the neighborhoods of Didsbury, Hulme, Moss Side, and Old Trafford.

• University corridor — Covers the Oxford Rd/Wilmslow Rd corridor from the A57(M) to the bottom of Fallowfield. Includes both universities, Rusholme, and Fallowfield.

• The Quays — The city's uber-fashionable redeveloped docks with award-winning architecture and museums.

Although not actually a district (it is a city in its own right), the city centre of Salford is immediately adjacent to Manchester's city centre, separated only by the river Irwell.

[edit] Understand

[edit] City information

Manchester is located in the Northwest region of England, about equidistant between Liverpool and Leeds. Due to its proximity to the Pennines, which force the prevailing Atlantic Westerly clouds to rise, it receives more than its fair share of wet weather. Manchester once had a negative reputation derived from its industrial past. Things have dramatically changed in the last decade and now the city has a vibrant exciting air. Investment in the city's regeneration following the 1996 IRA bomb and 2002 Commonwealth Games have paid off. Manchester is well worth a visit, even if just for a couple of days, or for longer, if you plan to use it as a base to explore northern England and North Wales.It is becoming more and more a city where people are choosing to settle.It is seen by many as young ,vibrant and cutting edge.Over the years, many have moved to Manchester from London for example.These people are by no means all returning to their northern roots.Some are from overseas ,who stopped off down south on their way to a better quality of life! Many have come in search of a more affordable urban existence! Manchester IS a friendly city too. It is not a myth! Northerners do talk to each other and to strangers.Just compare asking for directions in London and Manchester and the difference is often clear!

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 roots than it is to the Lancastrian or Cestrian of the neighbouring cotton towns.

• Manchester Visitor Information Centre, Town Hall Extension, St. Peter's Square, +44 (0) 871 222 8223 (touristinformation@marketing-manchester.com fax: +44 (0) 161 236 9900) [2] Mon-Fri 10AM-5:15PM (recorded information available by phone outside these times). The Visitor Centre has up-to-date lists of places to eat and sleep.

[edit] History

Manchester was the site of the Roman Fort Mamucium (breast-shaped) in AD 79 but a town was not built until the 13th Century. 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 Medieval town would build its fortune. The presence of an existing cloth trade, coupled with the mechanization of spinning in nearby Bolton, created a thriving cotton industry in Manchester. Though the high and frequent rainfall may lower the spirits of today's inhabitants, the availability of copious supplies of clean, soft, water was of great utility to the various cotton processes particularly in the bleaching, printing, and dyeing of cotton cloth. Water power rapidly gave way here to steam invented by Boulton and Watt in Birmingham and a steam-driven factory was built in the Ancoats Northern Quarter section of the city. By the end of the 19th Century, Manchester was one of the 10 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. And 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 of 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. Both Engels and Marx frequented the city, where the former conducted his famous inquiry into the condition of the working class; the latter seeking to draw universal rules from the particular circumstances of the early industrial evolution with disastrous consequences for the history of the 20th century. 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.

In more recent times, Manchester has 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 unfortunately 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, Joy Division/New Order, The Happy Mondays, Oasis, James, and Badly Drawn Boy.

At 11:20AM on Saturday 15th June 1996, Manchester's city centre was rocked by a huge IRA bomb blast. Although preliminary intelligence managed to clear people from the scene enough for there to be no fatalities, the very heart of the city was ripped to shreds. A huge amount of money and effort was put into regenerating the blasted region of the centre, redubbed the Millennium Quarter. The area has renewed interest in the centre and contains the entertainment and shopping heart of the city.

[edit] Student life

Manchester is home to two of the largest universities in the UK, The University of Manchester (formerly Owens College and subsequently the Victoria University and its Institute of Science and Technology UMIST) [3] and Manchester Metropolitan University (aka 'Man Met', formerly the Polytechnic, itself a conglomeration of municipal colleges), as well as the Royal Northern College of Music. There is 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 compared with Sheffield when competing for 'best student city' titles. 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 don't like hanging around students, there are many places that are not frequented by students, although you may have to be prepared to pay a little extra. Also, some places have a strictly 21-and-over only policy, so take identification with you. Although, the number of bars or clubs that are for 21-and-over is relatively low. When visiting 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.

[edit] Sporting

Manchester is famous all over Europe thanks to its football clubs, including Manchester United (Old Trafford) and Manchester City (City of Manchester Stadium, Sportcity).

Old Trafford is also home to the Lancashire County Cricket Club.

In 2002, Manchester was the host to the Commonwealth Games and a large area of East Manchester was converted into a new Sportcity, the centre-piece of which is the new athletics and football stadium.

[edit] Cosmopolitan

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. Bear in mind, however, that it's not very used to tourists, so you might get the occasional funny look if you're dressed in a backpack and trying to read this guide in a loud voice!

Manchester is also very gay-friendly and liberal minded. 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 Pride festival and Mardi Gras. Most Mancunians have grown up with a tolerant attitude towards sexuality.

[edit] Climate

Manchester has a temperate maritime climate and rarely gets too warm or too cold. It is the UK's 9th wettest city (900mm per year) and has developed a reputation for poor weather. Although, it is not significantly far behind London in terms of the average number of hours sunlight per day (within nine minutes per day, based on the last 100 years data from Met office) it does have considerably more days with rain. However, as a result of relatively mild winter conditions, there is never a period where one should avoid visiting due to extreme weather conditions.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Manchester International Airport (IATA: MAN) (ICAO: EGCC). [4] in the South of the city is the largest airport in the UK outside of London and is in the largest 50 airports in the world. Nearly 100 operators fly to and from hundreds of locations worldwide, including most major cities in Europe, along with services from North America, South America, Africa, and Asia.

Direct trains run from the airport station (reached by Skyway, between terminals 1 and 2) to Piccadilly and Oxford Road stations about every 20 minutes and cost about £3. Taxis are available from outside each terminal, costing about £15 and taking about 30-45 minutes. You can also catch a coach/bus to Manchester Central Coach station.

• Jet2, [5] is one of several 'low cost airlines' that operate between Manchester and a large number of major European cities and resorts.

John Lennon Airport, [6] in Liverpool is served by budget carriers Easyjet [7] and Ryanair [8] and is also relatively conveniently located for access to Manchester. A coach service runs connecting the airport to Manchester's central coach station and takes about 45 minutes. Some airlines will provide this service for free. There is now a direct train link between Liverpool Parkway (i.e. the station at John Lennon Airport) and Manchester Oxford Road Train Station (in the city centre). Services currently run once per hour, but are planned to increase to every half hour in late 2008.

[edit] By train

Manchester city centre is served by two major railway stations, Victoria in the north (the area around the station has recently undergone extensive redevelopment with much more to come) and Piccadilly(transformed in recent years and voted one of UK's most popular stations in 2007!) in the south. These stations are well-connected with the rest of the UK, although it is more likely that you will arrive at Piccadilly as it deals with the most services in and out of Manchester. Fares vary dramatically depending on time of day and rail operator.

Other stations close to the centre are Deansgate/G-Mex, Oxford Road, and Salford Central, but generally only local services will stop at these stations.

Connections from London Euston to Piccadilly are run by Virgin Trains. The journey on the West Coast Mainline takes about 2hrs 15minute Pendolino trains that do not need to slow down when going round bends. Online Virgin Value fares can dramatically reduce the cost of this trip [9] if you book well enough in advance (at least 14 days is advisable), purchase two single tickets (one for each leg of the journey) and/or travel outside of peak times (after 9AM and before 3PM during the day, after 6:30PM in the evening).

[edit] By car

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 the the M61. From the South take the M6 and the M56 (the most direct route from the M6 to the M56 is to take the A556 leaving the M6 at junction 19 — this has a 50mph speed limit for most of its length and can be somewhat congested. It is signed Manchester and Manchester Airport. Another route would be to carry on northbound up the M6, taking you directly to the M6/M56 interchange. This is, however, a longer way round.

Bear in mind that parking in the city centre of Manchester can be very expensive (£10-20 per day). Avoid the multi-storey car parks if you can and look for some open-air car parks. There is a good one by Salford Central station. 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, after the introduction of more and more double yellow lines, which mean no parking at any time.

Ladywell Park & Ride [10] 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 centre and Stretford tram station. A tip worth noting is that 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 in The UK 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.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 in doubt treat a holiday,on the Salford side, as a normal day of the week or ask a warden if you can find one!

Also check out Parkopedia.com [11], a website that allows users to search and compare parking rates and locations for commercial and private parking facilities in Manchester.

[edit] By bus

Chorlton Street Coach Station is the central coach station in Manchester, located 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 [12] is a comfortable and frequent service which runs 24 hours a day from some cities, including London.
• Stagecoach Megabus [13] is less comfortable, but can be very cheap (some cities have buses to Manchester for as little as £1). You must book in advance over the web.

[edit] Get around

Transport in Greater Manchester is overseen and co-ordinated by the GMPTE (Information: 0870 608 2 608) [14]. GMPTE sells a number of tickets which are valid for multiple operators, such as the any bus day ticket or the Wayfarer. If you are planning to do a lot of travelling in one day, these might be your cheapest option. Metromax day tickets are good value if using the tram network. There are tickets for single people and family tickets. The best value are valid after 9:30AM.

[edit] Maps

Dotted around the city centre in all the places you wouldn't look for them are the pedestrian-level street maps. They are usually placed in normal advertising hoardings, which makes them all the more difficult to spot. From a distance, the map looks like a light-brown horse's head on a blue background.

Once found, the elusive maps are very handy for navigating all regions of the centre, even as far south as the universities. Your position is marked by a blue circle.

[edit] By bus

Most of the buses in Greater Manchester are operated by First [15] or Stagecoach [16] and serve most places you are likely to want to go in the conurbation. The main bus station for the south is Piccadilly Gardens and a new state-of-the-art £24 million interchange has been built at Shudehill for the north.

Metroshuttle [17] is a free bus run jointly by the local council and First. It runs three lines that between them cover most of the major areas in the city centre, as well as all the stations and many of the larger car parks.

The number 250 bus [18] goes from Piccadilly Gardens to the Trafford Centre and is much more reasonably-priced and convenient than the tram. There are other bus services from Central Manchester to The Trafford Centre and additional services from other towns and suburbs in the conurbation.

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 minutes to make the relatively short three mile journey from Piccadilly Gardens to Rusholme.

[edit] By tram

Metrolink [19], also known as the tram, is the name for Manchester's troubled local mass-transit system.

Currently, Metrolink runs two lines, Altrincham-Bury (every 6 minutes at peak times, every 12 minutes off-peak. At peak times, trams either terminate at Piccadilly or do not stop at Piccadilly Gardens or Piccadilly at all, there are usually 24 minute delays on most lines for no apparent reason) and Piccadilly-Eccles (every 12 minutes at peak times, every 15 minutes off-peak). A small part of the city centre from Piccadilly to Cornbrook is shared between the two lines. There are plans to extend the system to five lines, with the three new destinations at Oldham/Rochdale, Ashton-under-Lyne/Tameside, and Manchester Airport. This expansion will be carried out in two phases, with work on the first phase expected to commence once the current round of track renewals on the Bury/Altrincham lines is completed.

In part due to its financial difficulties, Metrolink is quite expensive to travel on and does not provide good value for money. If you are going to be using it for more than one journey in a day, your best bet is to buy a Metromax ticket. Tickets must be purchased in advance from the automated vending machines at each station. Press the required destination followed by the required ticket type and then insert your money. Most machines accept notes, but if your note is anything more than even slightly crumpled, it will more then likely be rejected by the machine. Change is not guaranteed over £7 at any machines, or at all, at some machines with the appropriate warning lamp.

There is no point buying a ticket, ticket checks rarely take place and during peak times due to the 'sardine can' nature of the carriages, at quiet times it is unsafe for the ticket inspectors to work. If you do get stopped then the fine is only £10 for the first time you get caught, the tickets are so expensive that it has paid for itself after a couple of journeys.

The following stations might be useful to you:

• Piccadilly and Victoria — The city's two main rail stations are joined only by tram.
• Altrincham — The end of the line is the interchange for buses and trains to Cheshire, avoid at night as there are gangs of hooded youths.
• Harbour City — Closest station at Salford Quays to the Lowry and Imperial War Museum North. When the weather is fine, if coming from the centre, alight at Salford Quays Station, walk just a few yards in the direction of travel, crossing road, turn left, and enjoy the tree lined waterside walk, past the Salford Rowing club, as far as the bridge linking The Lowry with The War Museum.
• Heaton Park — 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. Try to see the pet zoo and Heaton Hall.
• Ladywell — Large, free car park for the Park and Ride service to Salford Quays and the city.
• Old Trafford — For Manchester United and the cricket ground.
• Stretford — Change here for a connecting bus to the Trafford Centre. Joint tickets are available from the usual machines, avoid at night.
• Bury — Catch Bury's market, just 20 minutes from Central Manchester. The market is next to Bury Interchange station.
• G-Mex — Alight here for Deansgate Station, Manchester Central (exhibition centre/concert venue), and The Manchester International Conference centre.
• St. Peter's Square — Alight here for Central Library and for buses down the Oxford Road corridor to the universities and beyond.
• Woodlands Road — Alight here for The Museum of Transport, if using the tram. Not quite the best of areas, so take care or opt for a taxi or a bus up Cheetham Hill Road. The 135, from Victoria, is a safer option. Ask the driver to tell you when to alight. It is just after The "Manchester Fort" Shopping Centre.

[edit] By taxi

Taxis are considerably cheaper than in London. As a general rule, you should be able to get anywhere you need to go within the city for £5-10. You may only flag down 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.

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 back-up plan for getting back to your accommodation. The black cabs with the amber "TAXI" sign illuminated are the ones that are looking for fares.

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

[edit] By train

Local rail services run regularly and to most places in the surrounding area and beyond. Most trains will pass through Piccadilly or Victoria, but it will do to call National Rail Enquiries (08457 48 49 50) [20] to find out which one before setting off.

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

[edit][add listing] See

• The Manchester Wheel, in Exchange Square in the Millennium Quarter. This is a good way of seeing Manchester from an elevated height!

• The futuristic bridge (built in the late 1990's) links the twin cities of Manchester and Salford, leading to the five star Lowry Hotel on the Salford bank. Next to this site will soon tower two new skyscrapers, (one promises an observation deck. There will also be flats and yet another top quality hotel!) This is all a block behind Kendals, near The Freemasons' Hall.

[edit] Cosmopolitan Manchester

• Manchester's Chinatown around George Street and Faulkner Street has been a feature of Manchester since the late 1970s. You'll find people on the streets of Chinatown speaking Chinese to each other and most of the signs are bilingual. It's home to the bulk of Manchester's east-Asian restaurants as well as 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 many eateries to try as well, as all of them have an astounding quality, ranging from Chinese to Japanese; reaching out to a wide spectrum of tastes. There are also a few Chinese shops, for the locals to buy items imported directly from China, such as newspapers, magazines, DVDs, even specialized 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 heterosexual 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), when this part of town is closed to the public for a somewhat expensive and exclusive charity raising weekend for gay and gay-friendly people. Many thousands of Pounds are raised, each year, for various Aids charities. There is a moving memorial service on the Monday evening to round the weekend off. Entrance is by wrist band. These are valid for the whole weekend or part of it, if required.

Check out the restaurants in The Village too. The best and longest established has to be Velvet. Staff are friendly and the food is good. It has a cool vibe on a Sunday afternoon. There is a bar and a new restaurant space to enjoy. Art works are also on display.

• Check out the Curry Mile, a mile long stretch of curry restaurants, sari shops, and jewelery store 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. "The village" 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.On the all too rare,warm and fine saturday evenings, in summer, Didsbury can put on a good show with upmarket restaurants,where you can eat outside, and great pubs and bars. Think London's Hampstead and Islington with similar media types and many others from elsewhere in town ,who want a piece of the action.This was THE place to live in Manchester, for many years, before the rebirth of the centre,and still is, for many, with very high property prices!

[edit] Historical Manchester

• 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 neighboring 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.

• St. Mary's The Hidden Gem, near Albert Square. The oldest post-Reformation Catholic church in the country, dating from 1794. Contains one of the greatest pieces of art in Manchester.

• Manchester Cathedral, near the Millennium Quarter. The widest cathedral in England with important carved choir stalls (school of Lincoln) and pulpitum.

• Manchester Town Hall, near 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. Tours can be arranged and the state rooms are generally open to visitors (and free) when not otherwise in use. The Great Hall contains a series of pre-Raphaelite wall paintings by Ford Maddox Brown depicting historical scenes (some rather fanciful) from Manchester's past. The corridors are often seen on television dramas standing in for the Palace of Westminster, although the Commons chamber itself is usually depicted in a permanent set at Granada TV studios.

• John Rylands Library, on Deansgate. The bequest to the people of Manchester by 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 itself 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.

[edit] Cultural Manchester

There are many theatres and concert venues in Manchester, (The Opera House, Palace Theatre, Royal Exchange, Green Room, Dancehouse Theatre, Library Theatre, and The Contact, not forgetting The Lowry at The Quays). Further afield, The Bolton Octagon, Bury Met, Oldham Coleseum and Stockport Plaza are worth a mention, as are university and RNCM venues. You can catch the likes of Madonna and Kylie at The MEN Arena (the largest of its kind in Europe). Other venues include the Apollo, Bridgewater Hall, and the revamped Manchester Central.

• Central Library & Theatre, near Albert Square. As mentioned above.

• The Cornerhouse on Oxford Road.

• Imperial War Museum North, at The Quays. Great museum with fantastic architecture, located in Trafford Borough, across the water from The Lowry, near Manchester United's Stadium, and designed by Daniel Libeskind, who also designed The Jewish Museum in Berlin. The museum focuses on the people involved in war, whether it's the people who worked in the factories in World War two, or the soldiers who suffered in the battlefield. Displays are updated on a regular basis.

• The Lowry, at The Quays Home to the City of Salford's collection of the paintings of L.S. Lowry. The centre also contains two theatres. Everything from "Opera North" productions to pantomime at Christmas and touring productions of quality.

• Manchester Art Gallery, near St. Peter's Square. Designed by Sir Charles Barry architect of the Houses of Parliament. The city has a particulary fine collection of pre-Raphaelite paintings.

• Manchester Museum, on Oxford Road. Highlights include a fossil skeleton of Tyrannosaurus Rex and Egyptology, including painted mummy masks of the Roman era.

• Gallery of English Costume, in Rusholme.

• The Museum of Science and Industry, in Castlefield.

• 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.

• 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 S.I. 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.

• Urbis, in Millennium Quarter. A "museum of the modern city" in its unmistakable all-glass building. Exhibitions change regularly, so check ahead to see what's on.

• The Whitworth Art Gallery on Oxford Road. 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 Museum of Costume at Platt Fields, near the famous Curry Mile in Rusholme, which is unique in Britain.

• Bridgewater Hall, near St. Peter's Square and Manchester Central Exhibition Centre, was completed 1996 and is the home of the Halle Orchestra, the world's first municipal symphony orchestra. The centre piece 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 also a bar next door down the wide steps, overlooking a pleasant water feature. Look out, too, for the polished stone sculpture outside!

• Manchester Jewish Museum, 190 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester. Open Mon-Thu 10:30AM-4PM, Sun 11AM-5PM. Closed on Jewish holidays. Tells the story of the large Jewish population in Manchester. Adults £3.95, concessions £2.95.

[edit] Sporting Manchester

• Lancashire County Cricket Club, located in Old Trafford.

• Manchester City FC, located in Sportcity.

• Manchester United FC, located in Old Trafford.

• Sportcity is located to the east of the city centre, about 45 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, as well as tallest sculpture in the UK.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Manchester's shopping district may not be quite as diverse as London's , but it is much less spread out and the vast majority of city centre shops are within walking distance of each other. Even in the most upmarket stores you are treated in a friendly manner. The same can not be said of the capital! The recently redeveloped Arndale Centre is a large 1960's city-centre shopping mall, with 280 stores, including the largest Next store in the UK. Although the place still retains it's 1960's concrete charms and STILL some of the infamous yellow tiles that are a testament to bad urban planning of that era.

There are a lot of large shops aimed at lower income families (including the largest Primark in the country and an Aldi) in Piccadilly Gardens, and 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 Triangle, an upmarket shopping centre based in the beautiful old Corn Exchange, worth a visit for the building alone and Selfridges, 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, offer luxury fashions and produce to Manchester's rich and famous, with the old Kendals department store nearby. The centre of Manchester's shopping area has traditionally been St. Ann's Square, and there are many shops nearby. King Street city centre offers a Vivienne Westwood store (a local girl, from the nearby Peak District), Joseph and DKNY, as well as Emporio Armani. Collezione, the former catering for the city's Premiership footballers, soap stars ("Coronation Street" has been produced in the city since the early sixties!), and many media types can also be found in the area!

Deansgate has a fair number of decent shops, 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 Manchester people!) 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. One of central Manchester's few quiet green squares is just behind the store.

There is also an outlet mall at The Lowry, in Salford, near the proposed site of a new media village and BBC development.

The Trafford Centre is a huge out-of-town shopping centre and accessible by car, taxi, or a bus/tram journey. It does not yet have a tram station of its own. It has been designated the Temple to Consumerism, and is the largest centre of its kind to date in Europe. Remember, Manchester prides itself in being a city of firsts! The centre is spectacular, luxurious, and 'posh' inside and out. Look out for the biggest chandelier in Europe, near the eating places! If confused how to get there by bus and not too worried about the cost, opt for a through ticket on the tram and catch the link bus from Stretford station on the Altrincham line, (turn right out of station and take the first right for the bus stop). If you already have a Metromax day ticket for the tram, just pay extra on the link bus. You can catch the same bus back to the station from a couple of stops around the centre. The cinema is also one of the best in the area.

[edit] Of particular interest

• Merchandise from the football club Manchester United is popular with some tourists. There is a dedicated superstore in the stadium at Old Trafford.
• Manchester City FC also has its own dedicated retail outlet at the City of Manchester Stadium in Sportcity, as well as in the Arndale Centre.
• Afflecks Palace in the Northern Quarter is a shopping arcade in a five story Victorian building, featuring a range of 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 April 2008, it is now simply known as Afflecks.
• The Northern Quarter is Manchester's answer to Soho, and there is a mishmash of stores that sell music, art, and clothing. More and more bars and cafes are opening too.
• 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.
• There is a marketplace inside the Arndale Centre, with an excellent small food court. Farmers markets are held in Piccadilly Gardens.
• 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 Chateau Latour, vertical ranges of Petrus, Vega Sicilia, etc. They are still remarkably good value in context, e.g. 1990 Krug Clos de Mesnil 1990, arguably the greatest Champagne ever made and incomparably finer than the footballer's wildly over-rated Crystal is about £150.00 cheaper than usually quoted elsewhere.

• Of late, there is a flower market at the Market Street corner of Piccadilly Gardens during the weekends.

• Also hunt out the Crafts Centre, in the old Smithfield Market Building, in The Northern Quarter.

• If catering for yourself, there is a good Tesco supermarket on Market Street, Marks, and Spencer is next to Selfridges which has a foodhall too.Harvey Nichols has a deli and a range of upmarket food products, on the top floor ,near the restaurant. There are various smaller supermarkets and late night stores around the city centre and in Piccadilly station. Chinatown has many specialist shops. There is at least one 24 hour "Spar" opposite the BBC on Oxford Street. Just out of the centre is a large Sainsbury's, in Salford, off Liverpool Road.

• Not of particular interest maybe, but it is worth knowing where the main public toilets are about town! Clean conveniences can be found at Piccadilly station (less reliable ones are to be found at Victoria) and there are a few pods around the centre (one is on the corner of John Dalton Street and Deansgate). There are pay toilets in the basement and on the top floor of The Triangle Centre, Exchange Square. You can also find FREE toilets in The Arndale Centre and at the following locations;

Kendals/House of Fraser department store,Deansgate. (basement and top floor). Selfridges,Exchange Square. (basement ,in the corner, near TV department). Marks and Spencer, Market Street. (basement, near the food hall). Harvey Nichols. (Near the food hall, bar, and restaurant). Debenhams department store, Market Street. (Near cafe, top sales floor). Royal Exchange Theatre, St. Ann's Square. (by bars and restaurant — not available to public during performances). Town Hall. (entrance opposite Beluga restaurant, on Mount Street, just off Albert Square towards The Midland Hotel).

There is nothing stopping you popping into any busy pub to us their conveniences! At busy times you would hardly be noticed!

[edit][add listing] Do

• Visit the Trafford area and take a 90 minute Tourist Tracks MP3 walking tour (can be downloaded here , £5) of this area of fascinating industrial heritage. Includes information on Old Trafford Cricket Ground and Manchester United FC.

• Manchester has a couple of big multi-screen cinemas located centrally, AMC off Deansgate (as cheap as £3.20 if you're a student), and Odeon in the Printworks show the usual Hollywood fare, The Cornerhouse on Oxford Road tends to show smaller, independent, art house and foreign language movies. There is an IMAX inside The Odeon in the Printworks.

[edit] Arts festivals

• Manchester International Film Festival [21].
• Manchester International Festival [22], a culture and arts festival of new work.
• Manchester Comedy Festival [23].

[edit] Learn

There is no doubting that Greater Manchester's universities continue to be a big draw. More and more language schools are also now opening and offer a more reasonable option than the likes of London and other southern venues.

[edit] Work

There are numerous temp 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. If qualified to work in Britain, work can be found. Many thousands of east Europeans have been drawn to the city in recent years. Many have found work in the building trade, where there has been a boom as of late. Manchester is an important financial centre and the media are also well represented, as can be seen in the BBC's forthcoming partial move to The Media City at Salford Quays and the ITV-Granada presence on Quay Street. Retail, too, is a large employer and there are many gyms in need of trainers for the growing city centre population.

[edit][add listing] Eat

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 find any type of international food. It is also worth exploring some of the suburbs for superb, small independent bistros / restaurants. West Didsbury and Chorlton are noted for their large number of great eateries.

[edit] Free

Revolution on Oxford Road has a policy where your food is either ready within a 15 minutes wait or it's free. Worth going at busy times of the day!

[edit] Budget

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 cafes, though, are still to be found in the back streets of the Northern Quarter. The Little Aladdin cafe at 72 High St (on the corner of Turner St, near Arndale centre) is a tiny little curry house with real charm. They serve a range of delicious curries and kebabs for £3-£4. Here's the menu: [24].

On John Dalton Street, on the left, just up from Deansgate, going to Albert Square, is a gem of a cafe, "Essy's", (imagine a cross between an American diner and an old style British "cafe"). It is run by a group of Iranians, for whom nothing is too much trouble. You can be satisfied for under £5. Clean, welcoming table service. There are a couple of other similar places around town; in the Northern Quarter and one just behind Kendals, on King Street West.

[edit] Chinese

There are plenty of all-you-can-eat buffets in Chinatown for less than £10.00 (€ 13.00). Prices tend to change with the time of day and likely demand.

Wing's Dai Pai Dong in the Arndale Market city centre is set around a sushi counter. It serves a variety of mainstream Cantonese (Hong Kong), Thai, and Japanese dishes. The Hong Kong style roasting dishes are particularly good value and well-made. Typically any mixture of Char Sui, Duck, Belly Pork, Jelly Fish, and Cold Cuts can be paired with Rice, Soup Noodle, or other fried noodles, typically for around £4.50 for a very large and filling bowl/plate. Teamed with a bottle of Asahi Beer, the bill per person will be well under £10. It is difficult to think of anywhere in the city that offers better value.

[edit] Mid range

[edit] Chinese

Amongst the enormous range of Cantonese restaurants in Chinatown, the Great Wall on Faulkner Street 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 decor is rather authentic too and the service charge increases the bill.

• Red Chilli on Portland Street is of a very good standard and is unusual in Manchester in specializing in Beijing and the very spicy Szechuan cooking. It has a large Chinese following.

Outside Chinatown, there is also Moso Moso on Oxford Road and the increasingly esteemed Tai Pan on Upper Brook Street and Brunswick Street.

• Fusion Noodle Bar in Fallowfield has very good noodles.

[edit] Indian

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.

[edit] Korean

• Yechan Foods, 95 Mauldeth Road, Manchester M14 6SR, ph: (0161) 225 4447.

• Koreana Restaurant — A Long established Korean Restaurant on King Street West in city centre just off Deansgate. A regular stop for Man Utd's Korean football star Ji-Sung Park.

[edit] Japanese

• Wagamama's, (located in the Printworks), is one of the chain of Japanese restaurants popping up all over the country. Wagamama's serve the best ramen, ebi gyoza, and many other different Japanese cooked dishes... perfect with a hot flask of sake!

• Samsi, Whitworth Street, city centre. A great sushi restaurant that also caters well for those that don't like raw fish. With a well-stocked, but small Japanese supermarket below (accessed from inside the restaurant).

[edit] Greek

• Kosmos in Fallowfield.

[edit] Splurge

• Search out the upmarket restaurants in the city's top hotels (The Lowry Hotel, The Midland, SAS Radisson, and Hilton, Deansgate to name just four). Less grand, but very popular, is the restaurant in The Malmaison hotel, by Piccadilly station. The restaurant at the top of the Urbis building reopened at the end of 2007 to much acclaim. The" Market Restaurant",in The Northern Quarter, is long established and has an excellent reputation. Heathcote is well represented with a place off Deansgate and a new, modern, Spanish-style venture behind Piccadilly Gardens on New York Street. "Abode" on Piccadilly is also believed to have brought something new to the Manchester scene!

Harvey Nichols restaurant and cocktail bar, with views onto Exchange Square, are 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.

[edit] Chinese

• Yang Sing on Princess Street at the south-western edge of Chinatown has long been considered the best Cantonese restaurant in the country (and perhaps in Europe). It is essential to chef Harry Yeung's deployment of western ingredients into Chinese (not 'fusion') cuisine.

[edit] Spanish

There are the usual chains to be had on Deansgate, but try to search out "El Rincon de Rafa", hidden away behind Deansgate, near St. John's Gardens. This is an authentic Spanish restaurant, established many years, and popular with Spanish and South American people, based in the city. It is a stones throw from The Cervantes Centre!! Good on a Sunday.

[edit] Armenian

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

[edit][add listing] Drink

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. The best of these, of late, has to be the bar on the 23rd floor of the Hilton, Deansgate. Pricey maybe, with attentive table service, yet worth it for the views alone. To avoid the queues, try it during the week!

Famed for its musical past, the University of Manchester Student's Union on Oxford Road hosts almost nightly gigs in its three 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 new-comers like Kasabian. Smaller bands can also be seen at a range of excellent venues in the city including the Roadhouse, Night and Day, both in the Northern Quarter, and Jabez Clegg, off 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 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 Music Box and The Phoenix, both on Oxford Road.

For fans of rock music, Jillys on Oxford Road is something of an institution. On a Thursday, it costs just £1 to get in, while Fridays see them open until 6 or 7AM. It has three rooms incorporating punk, ska, metal, goth, and everything in between. Also check out Rock Kitchen on a Saturday night at the Manchester Metropolitan University Student's Union, again on Oxford Road. More rock can be found at the weekly Caged Asylum night, at Club OHM. Next door to Jilly's is Music Box, home to the very good (and increasingly famous) Mr. Scruff. Come here once a month to have a good dance and a cup of tea!

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 Mon-Fri, at various points in the centre and at some newsagents.

Successful nights that were championed by City Life include Killing Fantasy on the last Thursday of the month at the Retro Bar on Sackville Street, with a play list that includes Blondie, The Ramones, and Le Tigre. Invest in Property at Joshua Brooks on Charles Street is also another of these nights, falling on the last Friday of the month. Again, expect a mix of indie, electro, punk, and rock. Weekly, Smile at the Star and Garter [25] in East Manchester is something of a local indie institution with a great play list. Be warned, it sells out very early and can often be unbearably busy as a result of this. Saturday's 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! However, the best city centre club for indie music is 42nd Street, just off Deansgate. It plays a mixture of classic and modern indie, 60's pop, and 70's 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 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, has recently opened a second venture, Trof North, on Thomas Street in the Northern Quarter.

Although there are still plenty of cafes 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 on Charles Street.
• Salisbury on Oxford Road.
• Peveril of the Peak'.
• Britons Protection.
• Sinclairs.
• Grey Horse Inn.
• The Old Wellington Inn, the oldest pub in Manchester. It was opened in 1552.
• The Marble Arch Inn, Rochdale Road. Real ale brewed on the premises and cask ale from micro-breweries nationwide.

Comedy wise, Manchester has a fair number of offerings: The Frog and Bucket on Oldham Street offers student friendly prices and The Comedy Store at the Deansgate Locks is the largest comedy venue in town. XS Malarkey in Fallowfield is cheap but good.

[edit] Contact

Although you will find a whole bunch of available wi-fi hot spots in central Manchester, they can be very expensive. Until the free municipal wi-fi network comes live in a few years, make best use of the free wi-fi available at:

• Cornerhouse, 70 Oxford Street - art gallery, cinema, bar.
• Oklahoma Cafe, 74 - 76 High Street - coffee shop.
• The Castle Pub, Oldham Street - traditional pub.

[edit] Stay Safe

If you're uncomfortable around thousands of drunk, aggressive and violent 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.

Much of Manchester is safe but caution would be advised in the following areas:

• Longsight.
• Moss Side.
• Parts of Hulme (although this young, trendy, regenerated area would be of interest to many with its new town houses, quirky architecture and blocks of flats; just a stones throw from the centre!)
• Cheetham Hill (not at night maybe, but during the day it is a lively, colourful mixture of cultures: Jewish, Asian, and newer arrivals to the city from various parts of the world!)
• Wythenshawe.
• Ordsall.
• Parts of East Manchester, particularly Beswick.
• 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 does feel much more relaxed, of late, and should continue to improve over time.

[edit] Cope

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

• Australian Consulate, Chatsworth House, Lever Street, Manchester M1 2QL. Tel. 0161 228 1344 Fax: 0161 236 4074.
• Consulate of Belgium, 76 Moss Lane Bramhall, Stockport SK7 1EJ. Tel. 0161 439 5999.
• Consulate General of The People's Republic of China, Denison House, Denison Road, Rusholme, Manchester M14 5RY. Tel.0161 248 9304.
• The Royal Danish Consulate, Century Buildings, St. Mary's Parsonage, Manchester M3 2DD. Tel: 0161 214 4370.
• Trade Commission of France, 24th Floor, Sunley Tower, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester M1.
• Consulate of France, Davis Blank Furniss, 90 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2QJ. Tel. 0161 832 3304.
• Trade Board of Ireland, 56 Oxford Street, Manchester M1.
• Consulate of Italy, Rodwell Tower, 111 Piccadilly, Manchester M1.
• Consulate of Monaco, Dene Manor, Dene Park, Manchester M20.
• The Royal Consulate of the Netherlands, 123 Deansgate, Manchester M3.
• Vice-consulate of Pakistan, 4th Floor Hilton House, 26/28 Hilton Street, Manchester M1.
• Consulate General of Spain, La Brook House, 70 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 2BQ.
• Consulate General of Switzerland, 24th Floor, Sunley Tower, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester

M1.

• Swedish Consulate, Lincoln House, 1 Brazennoze Street, Manchester M2 5FJ. Tel. 0161 834 4814.
• Norwegian Consulate, International Trade centre, Churchgate House,6 Oxford Street,Manchester M60 7HF. Tel. 0161 236 1406.
• Consulate of Iceland, 28 Macclesfield Road, Wilmslow SK9 2AF. Tel. 01625 524133.
• Consulate of Finland, 5 Bramway,High Lane, Stockport SK6 8EN.Tel. 0161 376 4799.
• Consulate of Czech Republic, 20 Stamford New Road,Altrincham WA14 1EJ. Tel(mob).07729834759.
• High Commission of Cyprus, 304-306 Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9NS. Tel. 0161 276 5013.

[edit] Get Out

• Blackpool Pleasure Beach — An education, with some fantastic gay clubs to rival those anywhere! If you want a quiet day by the seaside try Southport, north of Liverpool, and the North West's best kept secret! Lord Street is a must.
• Chester — Direct train from Manchester Piccadilly or Oxford Road stations for this Roman city. It is also the gateway to North Wales and the delights of Llandudno and Snowdonia National Park. In Chester, listen out for all those welsh accents mixed with the voices of nearby Liverpool and beyond!
• Huddersfield — A solid Victorian gem!
• The Lake District — For a bit of greenery in a National Park, go to the north. Of international poetic repute and one of the most beautiful parts of England.
• Leeds — Post industrial city now a major financial centre, home to Leeds United who are traditional rivals to Manchester United. Get there by coach/bus from Manchester Central Coach Station, Chorlton Street (cheaper by far and as many locals will confirm, often more reliable than the train). It is a little under an hour to the heart of this fine Victorian city with shopping and attractions second to none. Don't forget its close neighbour,
• Bradford with the fabulous Alhambra Theatre and National Museum of Film and Photography.
• Liverpool (take a train from Piccadilly, Oxford Road, or Deansgate stations) for The Beatles, Liverpool FC, etc. Liverpool is on the up and seen by many in The North West as a true rival to Manchester, yet still a little in its shadow! Often seen as better and quicker is the hourly coach/bus service to Liverpool from Manchester Central Coach Station, next to the Gay Village on Chorlton Street. A day return is a real bargain and you are in Liverpool in about 50 minutes! This can be a little longer, at times, but the friendly staff at the coach station can advise you how long the trip takes at busier times. The city is a couple of blocks in front of the Station in Liverpool and quite something to behold on a clear day.
• Peak District for grass and hills. About 15 miles to the east of the city. A National Park and one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Buxton and the villages around are worth a look.
• Salford is adjacent to Manchester and home to The Lowry and other attractions. The Roman Catholic Cathedral, here, is well worth a visit, and just minutes walk from Manchester centre. Also of note is the charming village suburb of Worsley.
• Sheffield is compared to Manchester, but in reality, nowhere near as good, mainly due to a poor selection of nightclubs/pubs and a lack of city centre shopping centres and more exclusive retailers. Close to Manchester(under 40 miles), but less well known by many, in Greater Manchester, due to the poor road links. The rail journey is a scenic one if you do want to give it a try.
• York — Direct train from Picadilly to this historic cathedral city. Stop off at Harrogate on the way, if going by car, for a taste of true Yorkshire style. Betty's Tea Rooms in both places!!
• Wigan — On the western edge of Greater Manchester and home to the 1970's Northern Soul. Train from Piccadilly or Victoria.
• Bolton — Another Greater Manchester town with a fine museum, a good theatre, and great shopping. It is the home town of boxer Amir Khan. Train from Piccadilly or Victoria.
• Rochdale — Also within Greater Manchester and home town of Gracie Fields, boasting a Victorian Gothic town hall to rival Manchester's. Train from Victoria or bus from Shudehill Interchange. The Cooperative movement started here and there is a dedicated museum.
• Stockport is in the south of the conurbation and boasts the Hat Museum and the 1930's Plaza cinema/theatre. Fast train from Piccadilly is quicker than the bus if you are near the station. You can also visit the underground, former World War II bomb shelters.
• Oldham, directly north east of the city, has an interesting art gallery, a great theatre, and an ever improving shopping district. Train from Victoria or bus from Shudehill.
• Bury — In the north of the conurbation, you will find the world famous market, Bury Met Theatre and the art gallery. Tram or bus from city centre.
• Ashton-under-Lyne — In the west of the county for its market hall. Bus from city centre or train.
• Altrincham In Trafford Borough, at the end of the tram line, for good shopping and an air of wealth. Nearby Bowdon and Hale are home to some of Greater Manchester's wealthiest people.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!