Manchester, a city in the United Kingdom, is famous not only for being the birthplace of the industrial revolution, the country’s leading cotton and textile manufacturer, but also for the science, art, sport, and political successes over the years. When visiting Manchester, you cannot miss the unique atmosphere it has, the beautiful architecture that forms the city, the lively restaurant and bar scene, and the active event and culture life – the city is packed with adventure and amazing experiences. So let’s dive into the 17 places to visit while in Manchester!
National Football Museum
The National Football Museum in Manchester is one of the best places in England to enjoy and learn about football, and its history, and even play some interactive games. The museum is located in the Urbis building in the city center and 2012 became the place where football fans can escape the vibrant city life and enjoy time in the four galleries, admiring many collections such as FIFA Museum Collection and The Football League Collection as well as attending some thrilling exhibitions.
The museum is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the price for visiting is free for Manchester residents however for visitors from other places it’s £14 for adults and £12 for students. Nevertheless, if buying online, it is a little bit cheaper. You can buy tickets here on the official website: https://www.quaytickets.com/nationalfootballmuseum/
Manchester Cathedral
Manchester Cathedral, located in the city center, just by the National Football Museum, is a fine example of English Perpendicular Gothic architecture. The cathedral is listed as a Grade I building, which in the United Kingdom means that the building holds historical, architectural, or cultural significance, making the Manchester Cathedral one of the total 15 graded building sites in the city of Manchester.
The interior is filled with magnificent carved details and beautiful glasswork. The cathedral is a place to enjoy organ and choir music as well as other musical performances and concerts. The entrance is free but donations are welcome as well as you can visit the cathedral’s virtual tours that you can find on their official website: https://www.manchestercathedral.org/
Manchester Central Library
The Manchester Central Library, located by St. Peter’s Square, is a beautiful building that combines historical architecture with modern-day forms. Designed by Emanuel Vincent Harris between the years 1930 and 1934, is truly a place that is worth visiting and exploring the alluring halls, and rooms and even enjoying a cup of coffee at the cafe.
Notable spots to not miss are the central Wolfson Reading Room, The Shakespeare Hall, Henry Watson Music Library, and seeing the newest collections. The entrance is free and definitely, an amazing opportunity to enjoy the magnificent atmosphere that the library provides.
St. Peter’s Square and Town Hall
St. Peter’s Square, by the Manchester Central Library, is a public square where you will find the statue of Emmeline Pankhurst, the Manchester Cenotaph – a First World War memorial, – a busy tram stop, and a large office and hotel buildings surrounded by cafes and restaurants. The square earned its name from St. Peter’s Church which was located in the square but demolished in 1907, later replaced by the cenotaph.
Town Hall, accessible from both St. Peter’s Square and Albert Square, is the headquarters of Manchester City Council and other government departments. The Town Hall has Victorian-era and Neo-gothic architectural features that create an exquisite charm and adds even more beauty to the center of the city. Unfortunately, currently, the Albert Square and Town Hall are under construction to improve the building’s longevity and modernize the area and completion of the works is planned in 2024.
Manchester Art Gallery
Just outside St. Peter’s Square, you will find the magnificent building of Manchester Art Gallery, filled with different and unique collections and works both of local and international origins. In the museum, you can find artwork from artists that subscribed to the English, Dutch, French, Flemish, Italian, German, or Hungarian schools, statues, silverware and furniture, and other works of art.
The entrance is free and open for everyone, the museum is open every day, except on Mondays. After enjoying the stunning artworks, you can refresh in the museum’s cafe where you will find delicious desserts and foods, or visit the museum’s shop to browse through art books and other museum merchandise that directly supports the work of the gallery.
Chinatown
For a different cultural experience, I highly recommend visiting Chinatown, which is rather a small area but considered as the second largest Chinatown in the United Kingdom, and even the third largest in Europe. In the area, you may find many Chinese businesses there, supermarkets, medicine shops, and even banks and Hong Kong government offices. One of the best things to experience in Chinatown, without a doubt, is the restaurant and cafe scene where you can enjoy many traditional Chinese foods and delicacies.
Alan Turing Memorial
Alan Turing, a British computer scientist, mathematician, and so much more, was a very important figure in the development of theoretical computer science by producing the concepts of algorithm and computation with the Turing machine. Because of that, Alan Turing is considered the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence. During World War II, Turing helped read coded messages that helped to fight against Nazi Germany, especially in the battle of the Atlantic.
In 1948, Turing came from London to Manchester to develop Manchester computers along with other scientists. In 1954, Alan Turing tragically died after he was prosecuted in 1952 for homosexual acts and faced with hormone treatment. Nowadays, the acts of the past towards Turing are greatly regretted and a memorial in Manchester was placed in 2001 to honor his work and achievements. The sculpture is located by the building of the University of Manchester, in the quiet Sackville Park, and certainly is a must-visit spot.
Piccadilly Gardens
Piccadilly Gardens, located in the city center, is a green space surrounded by public transport stops, cafes, restaurants, and shops and is rather a busy spot of the city where a lot of locals and visitors stop by daily for a short rest or lunch break. Historically, the gardens were set up after World War I but over time it earned the water fountain and some other improvements that now are crucial parts of the Piccadilly Gardens. You can find four statues that mark four historically important persons – Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, engineer of the industrial revolution James Watt, Duke of Wellington, and Queen Victoria. In 2021 a design competition was announced by the Manchester City Council therefore the park is planned to go under redesign in the soon future but no definite plans have been made public yet.
Bookshops
If you are a book and bookshop lover, Manchester is full of cozy and exciting bookshops that will capture your attention and will make you get lost in the rows of books and search for something unique. If you are planning on visiting some in the city center, I can recommend Manchester Book Buyers, an open-air bookstore that works only 3 days a week but stores some truly unique options, Anywhere Out of the World that feels like a small, cozy museum than bookstore but also has some interesting collections of books and Paramount Books that store some vintage books and comics but is open only on weekends.
Thrift shops and record stores
Similarly to bookshops, the city is full of quirky and fun stores but what’s more, even on the streets of Manchester you can feel how much individual style and uniqueness dominate the fashion world of the city. Some great thrift shops that I loved were Thrift Shop on 39 Parker Street by Piccadilly Gardens where you can find truly unique and colorful items for very affordable prices as well as Blue Rinse on 29 Oldham Street. British Heart Foundation also by Piccadilly Gardens is always full of chic clothing pieces that can guarantee to brighten your wardrobe. Cow Vintage Manchester can be a bit pricey compared to the previous ones but there you can find some good quality, cool brand items.
But most of all, Afflecks is a place you must visit if you are searching for cool vintage pieces. Located on 52 Church Street, it’s a multi-story center with different shops that sell different types of vintage clothing, accessories, and records, there are tattoo salons and even a small cafe on the top floor. Even if you aren’t searching for cool vintage items, this place is worth just visiting and enjoying the amazing atmosphere.
Coffee shops
Coffee is one of my biggest passions, aside from traveling, and Manchester didn’t disappoint someone so spoiled with coffee as myself. In the city you can find lots of Starbucks, Costa Coffee, or Caffe Nero spots and one of the chain coffeehouses that I love is Black Sheep Coffee which was founded in the United Kingdom in 2013 and serves the best coffee I have tasted in all of Manchester. The first time I went there to get a cup of coffee was by accident when a huge rainstorm hit the streets and as I was searching for a shelter, I found the coffee place that became the spot that I go to when in need of a good coffee.
But besides chain coffee shops, I love the small, independent coffee places so much since the atmosphere can be more cozy and sincere. Some places that I enjoyed were the 200 Degrees Coffee Shop & Barista School by the Manchester Art Gallery, Just Between Friends Coffee, and Bold Street Coffee Manchester.
John Rylands Library
The John Rylands Research Institute and Library is one of the most beautiful libraries that I have ever visited. With the late Victorian neo-Gothic architectural style, both the outside of the building and inside are magnificent. The library is part of the University of Manchester therefore don’t be surprised to find students intensively studying between the mesmerizing interior and bookcases filled with historic books.
John Rylands was one of Manchester’s most successful industrialists and after he died in 1888, his wife Enriqueta Augustina Rylands initiated the construction of the library in memory of her husband. Now the library holds rare collections of books and manuscripts and is one of the best places to visit in Manchester. The entrance is free and the library is open from Wednesday to Saturday.
Castlefield
Castlefield is an amazing place for a calm stroll by the canals in the area where Manchester earned its name from a Roman-era fort. The famous Bridgewater Canal is the world’s first industrial canal that now works as a designated conservation area and the first urban heritage park in the United Kingdom declared as such in 1982.
In Castlefield, you can enjoy outdoor events such as music festivals, and many amazing cafes and restaurants that are widely popular among locals and are a great place to not only enjoy the area but have a memorable meal.
If you want to learn more about the history of this site, the Science and Industry Museum provides dynamic science programs showcasing discoveries and innovations that began in Manchester over 250 years. For art lovers, Castlefield Gallery and HOME Manchester can be the place for you. In HOME Manchester you can find a gallery, theaters, cinema, bookshop, and cafe hence you wouldn’t want to miss this spot.
The Quays
Located in Salford, Greater Manchester area, the Quays is a modern and vibrant waterfront business, media, sport, and leisure hub. Some of the most popular destinations in the area are the Imperial War Museum North, The Lowry with two theaters, a studio, and galleries, being an important art spot in the area, and MediaCityUK where media organizations, including BBC, are located at.
The Quays is a perfect place to enjoy different sports activities, mostly focusing on water sports such as sailing and canoeing, swimming, and diving. In the Quays you can enjoy not only the modern and lively bridges but also a shopping mall and many cafe and restaurant options.
Trafford Centre
The famous shopping center in Greater Manchester, Trafford Centre will take your breath away – it’s a large shopping and entertainment center and is considered the third-largest retail space in the United Kingdom. If you love shopping, this is the place for you.
The shopping center is not only impressive by its measures but by the architecture and interior style where Baroque and Rococo architectural components, merging with the modern-day shops and segments, is not only memorable but an extravagant experience. Apart from architecture, along your way, while exploring the shopping area, you will encounter many unique sculptures in Greek, Roman, and Art Nouveau styles and decors that represent Art Deco and Egyptian Revival details.
If that doesn’t sound compelling enough to visit, in the shopping center you will find The Orient that is Europe’s largest food court, Trafford Palazzo, a shopping section that is connected to the Trafford Centre by a glazed bridge, Great Hall with a selection of restaurants and cafes, and a large cinema, miniature golf, arcade games, bowling, and even an aquarium.
If you travel by car, check out Secret City which organizes drive-in outdoor cinema evenings by the Trafford Centre with the most loved movies and fun activities and props while you are waiting for the movie. We enjoyed a movie there two years ago and I still remember that time as a fun and summery activity.
City center and street art
When traveling to new places and not feeling so overwhelmed while exploring them for the first time, I love to just walk around the city center and soak in the atmosphere of the new place. Manchester’s city center is certainly worth it to just walk around, without a definite plan, and allow yourself to be carried away by the beautiful and lively streets, the never stopping motion, and admiring the architecture.
While wandering through the streets, make time to admire the colorful and stylish street art that the center is filled with. You may find amazing artworks in the most unpredictable places but that makes it even more fun to search for them.
Fletcher Moss Park
I love parks and the calmness and greenery they bring into cities but Fletcher Moss Park without exaggeration is my all-time favorite park that I have ever visited. Located in Didsbury, Manchester, it’s about a 40-minute public transport drive from the center but so worth it. The park is both a botanical garden and wildlife habitat, in result creating a completely different experience than other parks do. The small, narrow paths that lead you through the park take you to a different world, somewhere between fairies, but at the top of the park, you will find a cafe and ice cream stand. Fletcher Moss Park is the perfect destination in spring and summer, and one of my absolute favorite destinations in Manchester.
I have been to Manchester multiple times by now and every time I visit it again, I’m surprised by how much there’s still to see and explore. If you plan on visiting the city yourself, make sure to not miss these 17 places and you will certainly have a memorable and awesome time there that will make a sweet spot in your memory and heart. Manchester may be chaotic at times, there are lots of people every day but the city offers so much beauty, experience, and fun times that it’s one of the best destinations in England.
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