Manchester is one of the UK's most vibrant cities. It's high on any tourist's list of locations to visit because of its amazing contributions to the UK music scene, its two highly successful English Premier League teams, and its historical and cultural reputation. This article will give you a brief introduction to Manchester and the important things about visiting there.
The first recorded instance of Manchester came in AD 79 when it was the home of a Roman fort called Mancunium. Since then, and with the advance of the industrial revolution, Manchester expanded from a town into a thriving metropolitan area, achieving its city status in 1853. In modern times, Manchester is the third most visited city in the UK, after London and Edinburgh. Manchester's huge popularity comes from its significant influences on art, culture, and sport across the world.
Manchester has been very influential in the music scene, giving rise to musicians such as The Smiths, Oasis, Joy Division, and The 1975 (among others). These bands often make reference to various sites across Manchester, so if you're a big music fan you will love walking around the Manchester streets! Furthermore, there is always some cultural event on in Manchester, allowing you to visit the iconic locations of the Manchester Apollo, the Albert Hall, and the Manchester Academy.
Manchester is also home to two of the biggest football clubs in the world - Manchester City and Manchester United. You can visit both stadiums (or only one if you're a big fan of either club) and visit the National Football Museum. If you're a football fan, you cannot miss out on a visit to Manchester!
Additionally, Manchester is a magnificent cultural and social hub in the UK. If you're a fan of beautiful architecture, you should check out the John Rylands Library, Manchester Cathedral, or the Manchester Art Gallery.
Finally, Manchester is often considered the gateway to the North of England. This means that it is easy to expand your visit to the North of England by staying in Manchester as it is easy to visit other parts of Northern England from here. For instance, you can visit the Lake District, the Peak District, or cities such as Newcastle, Leeds, Chester, or York.
Airlines flying to Manchester
Manchester is one of the UK's major cities, so most of the major airlines fly from Australia to Manchester.-
- Cathay Pacific
- Singapore Airlines
- Qantas Airlines
- British Airways
- Etihad Airlines
All of the above airlines fly from Australia to the UK very often, so you should have no issues with finding a flight from Australia to Manchester!
Getting to and from the airport
Getting to and from Manchester Airport is very simple and quick. There is a train that runs from the Airport to the Manchester Piccadilly train station in the city centre in twenty minutes. These trains run every ten minutes, seven days a week!
Getting to Manchester
Perhaps one of the best ways to get around Manchester, at least for your first day, is the Sightseeing bus. The Manchester Sightseeing bus allows you to get on or off at any point on its journey and has a valid ticket for 24 hours. This means you can get around Manchester while taking in the most picturesque parts of Manchester.
In addition, Manchester also has a free bus (formerly the Metroshuttle), which links all major rail stations and shopping districts.
However, if you want to travel on any bus in Manchester you should pick up a System One travel card. This will allow you to travel across Manchester, whether it be via tram, train, or bus in a seamless manner.
What to do in Manchester
Manchester is a great city with countless attractions depending on your own interests. If you're very interested in the culture of Manchester, you can visit the Manchester Museum, Art Gallery, or the Imperial War Museum. If you want to have some entertainment and adventure, you can visit Legoland, the Museum of Science and Industry, or even take a skiing lesson at the Chill Factore!
Manchester truly has something for everyone, so regardless of what your perfect holiday is, Manchester will have it!
What to eat in Manchester
Manchester is a modern cosmopolitan city with countless options for food and drink. You will not be bored by the food on offer in this amazing city. One of the more iconic places to eat is Mackie Mayor's, a Grade II listed building in the North of Manchester. Mackie Mayor's offers several different vendors in a market-style area, giving you an amazing choice of food in a fantastic location. In addition to this, we also recommend the Corn Exchange, or the modern pub, The Pilcrow at Sadler's Yard.