Destination Guide

Manchester

England

Location and History Most people associate Manchester with football . Whilst the city is a great place to watch an exciting game of football, there is so much more to the city!

Manchester lies within one of the United Kingdom's largest metropolitan areas; the Greater Manchester Urban Area which has a population of 2.2 million. The City itself has an estimated population of 498,800.

Image via Google Maps.

Manchester facts:

• Manchester was the site of the world's first railway station.

• Manchester is where scientists first split the atom and developed the first stored-program computer.

• Manchester is the third-most visited city in the UK by foreign visitors, after London and Edinburgh.

• Manchester is served by two universities, including the largest single-site university in the UK.

Tourist Attractions • The Manchester Wheel: This is a great

way to get some pictures of the city.

• Old Trafford: Is a “must see” attraction for football fans.

• Chinatown: Manchester hosts the second largest China towns in the UK, so it’s definitely worth a visit.

• Manchester Cathedral: There has been a cathedral on this site for 1000 years! And it’s free to visit.

• Manchester Art gallery: Check the website to see which exhibitions are on whilst you are in Manchester.

• Trafford Centre: If you are looking to do some shopping on your trip then head to the Trafford Centre, the city’s largest indoor shopping centre and leisure complex.

• Theatres: There are lots of theatres in Manchester so you are bound to find a show to suit your tastes!

Consider a walking tour, a bus tour or even a boat cruise along the River Irwell on your first day in Manchester to help your get your bearings.

Then browse some of the top attractions we have selected:

Accommodation and Travel Staying in Manchester:

To make good use of your time in Manchester stay close to the city centre so you are close to all the main attractions. Check out hotels in Manchester which have good transport links, so that you can get around the city hassle free.

Traveling to Manchester by:

• Train: There are four key train stations in Manchester city centre - Deansgate, Piccadilly, Oxford Road and Victoria. Of these, Piccadilly attracts the most visitors' and is the main arrival point into the city centre.

• Air: From Manchester airport, trains to the city centre run every 10 minutes into Piccadilly train station; the average journey time is 20 minutes.

• Road: Manchester is well connected to the rest of the UK. However, make sure you pay attention to on-street parking rules.

When travelling around Manchester, the easiest methods are Tram, Bus or foot.