Manchester is a city in northwest England, famous for being the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and for being very significant in the sports world.
It has a proud history filled with innovative progress, scientific breakthroughs, music and art, and, of course, football.
Visitors will enjoy exploring Manchester’s history, much of which has been carefully preserved to this day, as well as the many modern attractions on offer.
Here’s a list of some of the top things to do in Manchester…
Science and Industry Museum
Manchester was the world’s first industrial city, and as such, you’ll find the Museum of Science and Industry proudly situated in the city centre. The museum has some fascinating exhibits, including the oldest surviving railway station and warehouse in the world, dating back to 1830.
Interactive exhibits bring the collections of textiles and machinery to life, giving visitors a real feel of what life was like during the Industrial Revolution. The Science and Industry Museum is a great place to start your tour of Manchester, as it sums up the city’s history and culture perfectly.
John Rylands Library
The John Rylands Library is part of Manchester University, and is home to one of the world’s finest collections of rare books and ancient manuscripts. You will also find a variety of exhibitions on specialist subjects, such as Chinese art, the history of the Guardian, and the history of the library itself.
It’s not just the books that make this library worth a visit. The Gothic architecture is absolutely stunning, with grand interior designs, spiral staircases, and luxurious reading rooms that will make you feel like you’ve just stepped into the set of a Harry Potter movie.
Manchester Cathedral
The Cathedral was first built in 1421 when Henry V granted permission for a collegiate church to be built. In 1847 a new church was built, and the original one became a Cathedral. The Cathedral is open seven days a week, and visitors can enjoy free entry to look around this beautiful building.
A tour of the Cathedral is the perfect ‘rainy day’ activity, especially if you don’t want to travel too far away from the city centre. The Cathedral isn’t overly large, so it won’t take you more than an hour and a half to explore.
Fletcher Moss Park
The Fletcher Moss Park and Botanic Gardens are a lovely escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. If you’re tired of looking at historical buildings, then this natural oasis will be perfect for you.
The park spans 90 acres, and is home to every kind of plant species and shrub imaginable, from heather gardens to Alpine houses. In summer, Fletcher Moss Park also serves as the venue for the much anticipated annual Park Play Performance.
Palace Theatre
The Palace Theatre is one of Manchester’s most popular performing arts venues. It can be found on Oxford Street and belongs to the Ambassador Theatre Group, which also owns the Opera House Theatre on Quay Street.
First built in 1891, the Palace Theatre has a seating capacity of 1,400 and is regularly fully booked. Recent shows have included Footloose, The Book of Mormon, 9 to 5 The Musical, Beauty and the Beast, and The Addams Family.
Heaton Park
Heaton Park covers over 600 acres and includes the grounds of Heaton Hall, a Grade I listed Neoclassical building from the 18th century. There is also a large lake and a mini-golf course, which are especially popular in the summertime.
Heaton Park is also home to Manchester’s extremely popular and award-winning Lightopia Festival. Lightopia is an immersive visual experience that focuses on magical lights, interactive lanterns, colourful water features, and more. The unique installations will delight adults and children alike, so if you’re visiting Manchester over the winter be sure to check them out.
Albert Square
Albert Square is located in the city centre, and is definitely worth a visit, as it’s home to an impressive collection of statues and monuments. You’ll see statues to commemorate Prince Albert, John Bright, Oliver Heywood, James Fraser, and William Gladstone.
You can also see the beautifully ornate Jubilee Fountain, which was designed by Thomas Worthington to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
Whitworth Art Gallery
The Whitworth Art Gallery is again part of the University. It is home to some excellent examples of paintings, textiles, and fine prints, from classic works to modern art. There is also an exhibition devoted to a rare collection of wallpapers.
Visitors will enjoy the variety of displays, whatever your taste in art is, you’re sure to find something here that you like.
Etihad Stadium
Etihad Stadium (named after the airline that sponsored it) is a must-see for all Premier League Football fans.
The stadium tour includes an immersive audiovisual guide, access to all the backstage areas, the press conference room, and of course the classic photo opportunity coming out of the tunnel.
Manchester Distillery
The Manchester Distillery was the first licensed distillery in the entire city and is now home to a range of award-winning experiences, including the Original Gin Experience, The Gin School, and the Rum and Vodka Experiences.
Visitors will learn all about the history of different spirits as well as the distillation process and, of course, the all-important tasting and sampling. There’s even an option to create your very own barrel or bottle of booze to take home as a souvenir.
The National Football Museum
The National Football Museum is a specialty museum that is dedicated to all things football. Here you can explore the history of how football became the world’s biggest game, unearth the origins and discover who the first players that started off the legacy were.
It’s a fascinating exhibition, and fans will definitely want to come and see the world’s largest football museum in person.
Manchester Monastery
The Monastery was designed by architect Edward Wilby Pugin and is described by historians as his masterpiece work.
The building was actually derelict for many years before a charity stepped in to preserve and restore this majestic piece of history to its former glory. Today, visitors are able to look around free of charge every day except Fridays and Saturdays, which are reserved for private events and ceremonies since the Monastery is now a popular wedding venue.
Manchester Art Gallery
Another destination for art fans is Manchester Art Gallery. The gallery has a wonderful collection of works from every historical era. It is particularly famous for its selection of pre-Raphaelite 19th-century British works.
The gallery’s aim is to ‘bring fresh perspectives, encourage conversation and spark debate’ so, basically it’s guaranteed to be interesting.
Victoria Baths
The Victoria Baths are a Grade II listed building. They first opened to the public in 1906 and closed in 1993. In 2007, a multi-million pound project was undertaken to restore the pool inside.
The Victoria Baths are open usually for one Sunday a month, and they also have tours available every Wednesday. They are well worth a visit to see how the original design and ambiance has been perfectly preserved.
Alan Turing Memorial
The Alan Turing Memorial is a moving tribute to the late father of modern computing, who was based at Manchester University after his work during WWII with the British Intelligence Service ended.
The memorial can be found in Sackville Park, where you’ll see a carefully placed bench and a sculpture of Turing, along with an information board giving you an overview of his life and work and contributions to society.
