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Places Of Interest in Manchester |
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Manchester has
a fantastic mix of historic buildings and contemporary
architecture giving visitors a unique chance to step
back in time while looking into the future. Perhaps the city’s most imposing building, and certainly the best single monument built to High Victorian taste in the whole of Britain, is the gothic-style Town Hall [map] . With its fabulous sculpture of Sir John Barbirolli, the Ford Madox Brown murals and the mesmerising Great Hall ceiling, the Town Hall is a symbol of Manchester’s great history. You are welcome to take the regular tour on Saturdays and most Wednesdays or sign in at the reception and take yourself around. After taking in the wonders of the Town Hall why not marvel at some of Manchester’s other famous landmarks, such as the Cathedral [map] or the John Ryland’s Library [map]. With many superb features and the best medieval woodwork in northern England, the Manchester Cathedral tour is a must. See if you can spot the Rabbits cooking the Huntsmen, discover why there is a Fire Window and find the monument that Robert Lever put up as a tribute to his dead children in the 1600s. A short walk away on Deansgate you’ll find the John Ryland Library, a superb late Victorian Gothic building which houses one of the greatest collections of manuscripts and printed works in the world. In addition to the oldest fragment of the New Testament, it also has the Guttenberg Bibles, most of Caxton's works, the first edition of Shakespeare's Sonnets and Audubon's birds. Another library worth visiting for its architecture is the Central Reference Library [map] on St Peter’s Square. This circular neo-classical building has a magnificent reading room, books on almost every subject, including law and local history, and frequently hosts exhibitions of local interest. Hiding in the basement is the Library Theatre and a wonderful little café. Another historical building worth a visit is the Royal Exchange [map], which helped to shape Manchester’s status as the first industrial city. The stylish building, which was once the centre of the global cotton trade, houses gift shops, restaurants and the Royal Exchange Theatre under three impressive domes. For more of Manchester’s breathtaking architecture take a look at some of the city’s new designs, such as the Bridgewater Hall [map] and the Urbis [map]. Situated on the waterfront in the heart of the city centre, the Bridgewater Hall is an architecturally striking concert hall and home of the famous Hallé Orchestra. The Urbis on the other hand is a new kind of museum set in a dramatic glass building rising high above the centre of Manchester. Interactive exhibits explore life in different cities around the world, and the one-minute sky glide in the Glass Elevator at the start of your journey allows you to see right across Manchester. If exhibitions are your scene then get along to one of Europe’s most exciting events centres, Manchester’s famous G-Mex [map]. Created out of the former Central Railway Station, the exhibition centre plays host to a whole programme of shows, sporting events and sell-out concerts. To capture more of Manchester’s history, pay a visit to the Old Wellington Inn [map] – the city’s oldest pub dating back to 1552. It now boasts a ground floor bar and all-day restaurant. And if you like a decent pint then take a tour of the Boddington’s Brewery, home of the ‘Cream of Manchester’ – Boddington’s bitter. The brewery, located just off Deansgate, has been making the famous bitter since 1778 when Henry Boddington created the recipe and techniques which are still used today. Guided tours are by appointment on weekdays and you can also visit the Brewery Tap, to buy the latest Boddington’s merchandise, or nip into the show pub for a great pint. During your visit to the city why not take a trip out of the centre to see what the rest of Greater Manchester has to offer. Take a half hour drive north of Manchester and you’ll arrive at Saddleworth – more than 18,000 acres of open land and gardens with breathtaking views overlooking scenic valleys. It is made up lots of tiny villages including Dobcross, Delph, Greenfield and the main village, Uppermill, where you’ll find the Saddleworth Museum [map], a variety of craft shops, traditional English tea-rooms and several pubs. From here you can also enjoy a boat trip on the Huddersfield narrow canal, which was reopened by H.R.H Prince Charles in 2001 after extensive renovations. Also about half an hour from the city centre in the borough of Rochdale is the delightful Hollingworth Lake and Country Park [map]. Windsurfing, sailing and rowing are just a few of activities you can enjoy on the lake, while for those who prefer to stay dry there is a two-mile walk around the lake where you can marvel at the breathtaking views of the Pennines. Also well worth a visit is the Chorlton Nature Reserve, a beautiful area of mixed woodland, wildflower meadows, pasture and ponds. Just 15 minutes on the Metrolink from the city centre and you’ll discover the newly renovated Salford Quays – where the Industrial Revolution arrived in Manchester. Here you’ll find the gleaming spaced age building that is home to The Lowry – an art gallery, restaurant, shopping centre and theatre all rolled into one. Then, after visiting The Lowry, you could take a walk along the promenade by the Manchester Ship Canal [map], which first opened in 1894. From here you’ll also catch a glimpse of Manchester United's Old Trafford [map] stadium, which is built across the canal and near on impossible to miss. For another taste of Manchester’s industrial heritage take a trip to Castlefield, which is just a five-minute walk from the city centre. Here you’ll find the Bridgewater Canal and the oldest railway station in the country, which is now home to the Science and Industry Museum [map]. If you’re a bit of a star spotter, keep your eyes peeled as the longest-running British soap opera, Coronation Street, is filmed at Granada Studios in the heart of Castlefield. Manchester is also renowned for its Asian cuisine and no trip to the city is complete without a visit to Rusholme – home of the world famous Curry Mile. If you enjoy a good curry get along to the Wilmslow Road [map] to see what the city has to offer. And don’t worry about getting lost, you’ll know you’re in the right place by the stretch of neon lights that could easily rival Blackpool at Christmas! If you want to comment on our choices or recommend somewhere interesting in Manchester, why not use our What You Recommend form to let us know. |
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