Manchester is the gateway to the northern regions of England, a large industrial center and home to the renowned football team Manchester United, which has won many trophies over its long history. In recent decades, the city has developed into one of the UK's most attractive tourist destinations. There is a rich nightlife here, ample opportunities for good shopping and an interesting excursion program.
The former industrial quarters of Manchester have now become trendy bars, designer showrooms, boutiques and nightclubs. The city was able to adapt to the current requirements of modern tourists and satisfy discerning demands, which is why the interest in traveling to Manchester is only growing every year.
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What to see and where to go in Manchester?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Manchester City Hall
The neo-Gothic building of the town hall was erected in the second half of the 19th century according to the project of A. Watrehaus. The structure is built of hard sandstone, which distinguishes it from the typical buildings of the Georgian era. The façade of the town hall is skillfully stylized "in the Middle Ages", although it lacks decorations to the real Gothic. There is a clock and a bell carillon on the 85-meter high town hall tower.
Castlefield District
In the 1st century A.D. on the territory of modern Castlefield, the ancient Roman fort Mancunium was founded, from which the history of Manchester began. In the 18th-19th centuries, industrial factories were actively built within the region, as the city experienced a construction boom. Nowadays, the former industrial Castlefield is a quiet area for walking and relaxing. The factories houses museums, galleries, lofts and bars.
Chinatown
The area is located in the eastern part of Manchester, closer to the center, it is considered the second largest Chinatown in the UK. Chinese settlers emigrated to Manchester in the 20th century. In a fairly short time, they managed to build for themselves a "city within a city" with restaurants, supermarkets, numerous shops selling things and products familiar to the Middle Kingdom.
Manchester Cathedral
The temple was built at the end of the 15th century. Construction work was carried out under the leadership of D. Stanley, who was related to the royal Tudor dynasty. The first large-scale reconstruction of the cathedral was carried out in the 19th century during the era of Queen Victoria, the second - after the Second World War. Many parts of the building have been restored. For example, the unique stained-glass windows were redone only in the 90s. XX century.
Manchester Central Library
The Central Book Collection brings together the funds of 22 city libraries. It houses rare and valuable books on medicine, philosophy, politics, history, science, art and other spheres of human activity. The oval library building was designed by E. W. Harris in the 1930s. XX century. The building is built in a neoclassical style, so it seems that it is from an earlier historical era.
John Rylands Library
The book collection is housed in a picturesque neo-Gothic building from the 19th century. The building was erected at the expense of the widow of the textile industrialist D. Rylands. At first, a collection of theological literature was kept in the library, later books of other genres began to appear. The most significant exhibit is considered the Gutenberg Bible - a rare copy of the first printed book.
Chatham Library
The library is considered one of the oldest in Great Britain, it was founded in the middle of the 17th century at Chetham Hospital. The library funds number over 100 thousand volumes, of which about 60 thousand were published before 1851. In addition to books, newspapers, documents and valuable archival materials are kept here. The Chetham Library was created as a worthy competitor to the book collections of Cambridge and Oxford.
Manchester Art Gallery
The museum is housed in a monumental building of classical architecture. It contains an extensive collection of works by British artists. The gallery was opened in 1924, since then, thanks to the efforts of generous patrons, its funds have grown by tens of thousands of works of art - paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs, ceramics, furniture and other items. In 2002, two additional buildings were purchased for the gallery.
Whitworth Art Gallery
The gallery is part of the University of Manchester. The museum was opened with donations from D. Whitworth, the engineer who created the sniper rifle. The gallery exhibits works of art of the XIX-XX centuries, a special place is occupied by works by Van Gogh, Gauguin and Picasso. In 2003, these valuable paintings were stolen from the museum, but the police quickly found the thieves and returned the paintings to their place.
Opera House of Manchester
The building of the musical theater was erected in 1912 by a group of architects. For several decades, the theater did not have its own troupe, so visiting groups performed here. In 1979, the opera was turned into a playing hall, but after 5 years it was returned to its original purpose. Today Opera House is one of the most visited theaters in Great Britain.
Royal Exchange Theater
The stage is located in the building of the former cotton exchange, which is located on St. Anne's Square. Once there were trades here, but by the 60s. In the 20th century, the trade in cotton and textiles gradually disappeared, and a theater was housed in the building. Performances of various genres are held on the stage, stand-up comedians perform, concerts and festivals are held. The spacious theater hall is designed for 700 people.
Palace Theater
Palace is considered the main theater in Manchester. It is located on Oxford Street. The scene is also known informally as "The Grand Old Lady of Oxford Street." The theater was built at the end of the 19th century under the direction of A. Derbyshire. At the beginning of the 20th century, a reconstruction was carried out, as a result of which the auditorium was expanded to 2600 seats. In terms of popularity, Palace is second only to London theaters.
Lowry
Lowry is a full-fledged concert complex, which is located on the banks of the city canal. The main hall of the building can accommodate up to 10 thousand spectators, and there are also two additional stages for chamber performances. Lowry has art galleries displaying the work of the artist Lawrence Lowry, after whom the complex is named. Due to its versatility, the complex is capable of hosting large-scale concerts and performances with complex decorations.
Museum of Science and Industry
In the museum you can learn about the formation and development of industry in Manchester. In the 70s. XX century, the building housed a railway station. A distinctive feature of the museum is a large number of interactive elements. Visitors can view industrial equipment in operation or watch a natural imitation of the manufacturing process.
Manchester Museum
The museum is part of the University of Manchester, therefore, in addition to storing collections, it is engaged in serious research activities. The museum was founded in the 19th century, during the 20th century there was an active replenishment of the funds. At the moment the number of exhibits has exceeded 6 thousand. The Manchester Museum has a rich archaeological, natural science and anthropological collection.
People's History Museum
The exposition of the museum is quite interesting, it covers various aspects of the political life of the city and the country.Here you can learn about the development of democratic consciousness, the life of workers in factories of the 18th - 19th centuries, the history of trade union movements. The museum contains posters, photographs, leaflets and even personal diaries of workers. The exposition is located in a modern architecture building designed by C. Henry.
Urbis - museum of urban life
A modern exhibition center that opened in 2003. It was originally a museum of urban life, but later changed its format due to low attendance. Since 2012, the National Football Museum has been located on its territory, where, in the Hall of Fame, you can get acquainted with the biographies of the greatest football players, see their personal belongings and numerous awards. The museum organizes interactive attractions that simulate a real football game on the field with the involvement of visitors.
Beatham Tower
Skyscraper of 47 floors, built by J. Simpson. The building is 168 meters high (the tallest skyscraper in Manchester). The construction was completed in 2006, preceded by a long debate about the need for such a construction for the city. But in 2007, the skyscraper was named the "best high-rise in the world." The Beetham Tower houses residential apartments, a hotel and a nightclub.
One angel square
A unique office building, an example of "green" architecture, which uses 50% less energy than standard urban buildings. This allows you to save up to 30% of the budget for its monthly maintenance. The secret lies in the special materials from which the facade is built. Free space is organized inside the building, which allows for individual layouts.
Baths Victoria
An architectural structure of the early XX century, built in the style of "English" Baroque by G. Price. The building attracts attention with its colorful and unusual color. The facade is made of red and yellow bricks. Window openings are decorated with beautiful colored stained-glass windows. The building may well pass for the old town hall. Initially, it housed a laundry room, swimming pools and a Turkish bath.
Fletcher Moss Botanical Garden
The garden was opened in 1917 at the expense of the philanthropist F. Moss, who donated all his land and money to the city. The park covers an area of 4 hectares, there is an excellent infrastructure for recreation of the townspeople - there are tennis courts, a rugby and regular football field, as well as cafes and relaxation zones. The flora of the Botanical Gardens is quite rich - traditional for England species, tropical plants, numerous conifers and many others grow here.
Heaton Park
A park in the northern part of Manchester, adapted for walks, excursions and active pastime. Here you can ride a boat, retro tram or horse, visit a farm with farm animals, as well as a bee apiary. There are three reservoirs in the park where you can swim, but the water in them is cold almost all the time due to the peculiarities of the local climate.
Manchester Arena
The sports arena, which was being built for the 2000 Olympics. As a result, the Games were held elsewhere, and the stadium eventually became one of the most popular and visited venues in the world. The arena accommodates about 23 thousand spectators. Basically, concerts are held on its territory. Many world-famous performers and bands have performed here - Madonna, U2, Lady Gaga, The Rolling Stones and others.
Etihad stadium
The stadium is designed for 55 thousand spectators, it is home to the football club "Manchester City". During the time when the arena does not host football competitions, it is used for musical concerts. The name of the stadium "Etihad" is a tribute to Etihad Airways, which has been the main sponsor of Manchester City for many years.
Old Trafford Stadium
The arena ranks second in size and capacity after London's Wembley. According to the UEFA classification, the stadium has a five-star status. Its capacity is over 75 thousand people. Old Trafford is the home arena of the legendary Manchester United club. The team settled here back in 1910. In the 90s and 2000s. the reconstruction and expansion of the stadium were carried out, as a result of which the capacity increased significantly.
