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Famed for its trend-setting and truculent culture scene and indomitable Northern wit, the city of Manchester is shot through with grit, spirit and joie de vivre. Blessed with the some of the best shops, clubs and arts venues outside of London, Manchester is all about looking good and having a laugh.
Manchester grew from a modest township to a significant urban centre around the 1800s as a result of the explosion of textile manufacturing in the area. The world’s first industrialised city, it became a hotbed of innovation, ideas and technology, laying claim to the invention of the railway station, splitting the atom and the world’s first computer.
As big on the arts as it is on science, Manchester has been synonymous with ground-breaking alternative music since the 1960s. It also has a thriving media and theatre scene with a new Media City opening up at Salford Quays and theatre venues such as The Lowry and the Royal Exchange pushing the boundaries in terms of new writing.
Manchester International Airport is located eight and a half miles south east of the city centre and was ranked as the fourth busiest airport in the UK in terms of passenger numbers in 2010.
Formerly known as Ringway Airport, the site was officially opened in June 1938 when the first scheduled flights to Amsterdam began via KLM. During the war the airport was given over to the RAF and all civil operations ceased until peace returned in 1945.
Nowadays, the airport serves hundreds of destinations around the world via the 60 airlines which use the airport. It’s also one of only 17 airports around the world permitted to handle the world’s biggest passenger plane - the Airbus A380.
Destinations and airlines
With three passenger terminals, Manchester Airport offers flights to over 190 global destinations via the 65 airlines and tour operators that use the airport. As well as a huge number of domestic destinations, Manchester also serves the Europe, US, Canada, , the Far East and the Caribbean.
Scheduled airlines which have bases at Manchester include, Bmibaby, EasyJet, Flybe, Jet2, Monarch Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.
Airport facilities
As one of the world’s leading airports, Manchester prides itself on offering a huge range of outstanding facilities to passengers. For those with young families and reduced mobility, there are a range of specialist services available such as mobility devices, assistance dogs, special arrangements for buggies and baby change facilities.
For business travellers meanwhile, there is fast Wi-Fi available throughout the terminals, executive lounges, conference facilities and Manchester Meet and Greet parking. For everyone else, there are excellent retail and dining facilities, offering everything from quick snacks and paperbacks to gourmet three course meals and designer handbags.
Whether you’re looking for a Manchester Meet and Greet package or a self-service Manchester Airport parking deal, there’s an excellent choice of providers at the North West’s busiest airport.
For on-site airport parking you’ll have the choice of a number of established airport parking brands, whereas the cheaper off-site parking tends to be run by smaller names.
If you’re planning to fly from Manchester Airport this year, why not search and compare the best Manchester Airport car parking deals on Looking4Parking.com today?
As a large vibrant centre for commerce, tourism and the arts, Manchester has the accommodation to match a city of its size and importance. As with everything in Manchester, style plays a vital role in its hotel scene, which incorporates everything from stunning mill conversions to arty boutique hotels.
If you’re looking for a treat, why not go for a room at the Great John Street hotel on - you’ve guessed it - Great John Street. A quirky townhouse hotel set within a converted Victorian school, the hotel offers a gorgeous oyster bar, roof top lounge and thirty imaginatively-dressed, uber-comfortable bedrooms.
For luxury on a slightly more modest budget, head to Malmaison just off Piccadilly, the Didsbury House hotel in South Manchester or the Palace Hotel in all its Victorian splendour.
More run-of-the-mill but more affordable are the city centre Novotel on Dickinson Street, the Ibis on Portland Street or the Holiday Inn Express at Salford Quays. You can also pick up good quality hostel accommodation at either the YHA on Potato Wharf in Castlefield, or backpackers favourite, Hatters on Newton Street.
Indulge in a spice-fest down curry mile, perfect your dexterity with chopsticks in China Town or choose from a variety of quirky eateries in the Northern Quarter - whatever you’re after, you’ll be spoiled for choice in Manchester.
Some of the city’s munching highlights include the winner of the Best Restaurant Award at the Manchester Food and Drink festival 2010 Aumbry in Prestwich, the famous Greens vegetarian restaurant in West Didsbury and Akbar’s in Castlefield.
Aside from these, there’s plenty of choice of other great restaurants depending on what type of cuisine you fancy. Croma does fantastic pizza and is great if you have children, Gaucho does steaks par excellence and Kosmos in Fallowfield does great-priced Greek food in a friendly, neighbourhood setting.
With the city of Manchester attracting some of the UK’s highest tourist numbers outside of London, there’s clearly a lot to see and do in the North West’s biggest, brightest city.
When you arrive, start by taking a quick walking tour of the city to orientate yourself and suss out where all the good stuff lies. Once you’ve got your bearings you can then decide if you’d like to see some sights, check out some culture or sport, or try out one of the city’s many pubs and bars.
Culture-wise Manchester has a lot to offer with museums and galleries a plenty. Try The Whitworth, The Cornerhouse, The Cube or The Lowry, stop for lunch then head to the Museum of Science and Industry, The Manchester Museum and The People’s History Museum.
For many people, one of the big draws of Manchester is the chance to get up close and personal with the mighty Manchester United brand. If football’s your thing, why not take a tour of Old Trafford - often dubbed ‘the theatre of dreams’?
Other sights worth seeing in Manchester include Albert Square with the imposing Neo-Gothic Town Hall and the decorative Albert monument, the re-developed Salford Quays area and the famous gay village.
When it comes to shopping, Manchester is a veritable haven for those in need of a retail fix. Boasting everything from boutique brand-name stores to vintage and antique villages, there are more shops than you could possibly visit in a fortnight.
For the best that the high street has to offer, head to Market Street in the city centre - or the Trafford Centre for an out of town experience. Market Street offers all the big name shops in a fairly compact area, step just a little off the beaten track and you’ve also got the alternative delights of the Northern Quarter and the designer paradise that is Exchange Square right on your doorstep.
For a bargain antique or vintage outfit, try Levenshulme Antique Village - a rabbit warren of quirky furniture and furnishings based in a lovely old Victorian building, or the wonderful Affleck’s Palace.
Many claim that Manchester has the best after-dark scene outside of London, and although it comes down to a matter of taste ultimately, there are certainly masses of pubs, bars and clubs to choose from.
Some of the city’s most interesting drinking haunts include Mr Thomas’ Chop House on Cross Street, The Knott on Deansgate, Night & Day Café on Oldham Street and Britons Protection on Great Bridgewater Street.
Club-wise there are nights serving up every kind of music imaginable. Some recommended nightspots include Trof in the Northern Quarter, The Deaf Institute on Grosvenor Street, The Ritz on Whitworth Street West, Ruby Lounge on High Street and the legendary Sankeys on Jersey Street.