Manchester

🛎️ Best Hotels

Manchester has a staggering range of hotels from budget to boutique. Whether you are visiting for work or pleasure, you’ll be taken care of.

• Stock Exchange Hotel – Our favourite Manchester hotel inside the grand Grade II listed old stock exchange. Expect style, class and impeccable service.
• The Cow Hollow – Boutique hotel in the middle of the hip NQ with gorgeous rooms and a great cocktail bar.
• King Street Townhouse – You’ll have access to a restaurant, cinema, gym and rooftop infinity pool with stunning views at this superb hotel in the centre of town.

🍽️ Best Restaurants

Manchester has one of the most diverse and exciting culinary scenes in Europe with restaurants to suit every taste and budget.

• Erst – A Michelin Guide natural wine bar serving Mediterranean-inspired small plates in an industrial-chic setting.
• Street Urchin – A market bistro serving imaginative dishes with ingredients freshly sourced from British suppliers.
• Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana – Rudy’s has three city centre restaurants serving the best Neapolitan pizza you’ll get outside of Naples.
• This & That – A no-thrills canteen tucked down an alleyway serving a rotating menu of incredibly tasty and cheap Indian curries.
• Pho Cue – Steaming bowls of traditional Vietnamese pho and experimental fusion dishes served in an unpretentious and relaxed setting.

🚗 Best Day Trips

• The Peak District – This national park to the east of Manchester is great for hiking, cycling, and marvelling at the beauty of nature. Check out the towns of Edale, Bakewell and Buxton.
• Chester – The old Roman town of Chester is famous for its Roman city walls, Tudor-style old town and zoo. An hour from Manchester by train.
• Lake District – Two hours’ drive north is another stunning national park, famed for its lakes, rugged mountains and market towns.
• Hebden Bridge – An old market town nestled in the moors that became a haven for artists and creatives during the 1970s. Enjoy pleasant walks, characterful pubs and interesting galleries.

🏘️ Best Neighbourhoods

• Northern Quarter – Manchester’s bohemian quarter is packed with coffee shops, independent stores, bars, pubs and restaurants.
• Ancoats – A former abandoned industrial zone is now teeming with superb restaurants, cool bars, and artisan bakeries.
• Castlefield – The oldest part of Manchester has a relaxed atmosphere thanks to its 18th-century canals and a New York City High Line-style garden.
• Chorlton – A leafy suburb in the south of the city with quaint shops, pubs and a wide range of dining options.
• Prestwich – An up-and-coming neighbourhood a few miles north of the centre close to Heaton Park and tranquil woodlands.

🍺 Best Pubs

• Pevril of the Peak – A Manchester institution with old-school charm and classic ales. Snap a photo of the iconic tiled exterior.
• The Briton’s Protection – One of Manchester’s oldest pubs famous for its selection of over 300 whiskeys.
• The Marble Arch – Enjoy beer brewed in-house and admire the stunning tiled interior. Quality food and a secret beer garden.
• Castle Hotel – Loved by locals for its characterful rooms and live music. Great retro jukebox. Busy at weekends.
• Edinburgh Castle – Candlelit tables, delicious bar snacks and expertly poured Guinness in a lovingly restored classic pub.

🍸 Best Bars

• The Jane Eyre – Two neighbourhood bars (Ancoats and Chorlton) well known for their cocktails, wine and seasonal small plates.
• The Refuge – Enjoy cocktails and craft ales in this elegant hotel bar with a winter garden and resident DJs playing jazz and soul.
• Oscars Bar – Glamorous yet intimate theatre-style bar in the heart of the Gay Village with singers and pianists playing the big show tunes.
• YES – A live music venue serving cheap beers and fancy cocktails from one of the best rooftop terrace bars in the city.
• Schofield’s Bar – A classy, old-world-style bar serving expertly mixed classic cocktails and charcuterie. You won’t find better.

🖼️ Best Museums

• Manchester Art Gallery – Free gallery in a grand 200-year-old building known for its contemporary art and oil paintings. 
• Science and Industry Museum – Interactive museum tracing the development of science, industry and technology and Manchester’s role in it.
• National Football Museum – Explore the history of the beautiful game in the striking Urbis building. Interactive exhibitions are great for kids.
• The Whitworth – Grade II listed gallery located in pleasant gardens with works by Gainsborough, van Gogh and Picasso.
• Imperial War Museum North – Museum in Salford Quays exploring the impact of modern conflict on people and society, a topic more relevant now than ever before.

🪩 Best Nightclubs

• Hidden – Music and arts space in a five-story industrial mill with DJs playing in four separate club areas.
• The Warehouse Project – Some of the best DJs and electronic artists host a series of club nights at the vast Mayfield Depot between September and December.
• Satans Hollow – Manchester’s only club and live venue dedicated entirely to rock music, playing everything from emo to punk, heavy metal to rock.
• White Hotel – A disused warehouse turned underground club hosting all-night raves with acid house and other alternative music.
• Venue – A student favourite thanks to cheap drinks and an endless playlist of indie bangers and Mancunian anthems.

☕ Best Coffee Shops

• Idle Hands – Idle Hands has a loyal following not just for its superb coffee but for its selection of cream pies too.
• Federal – Widely regarded as the best brunch spot in the city, Antipodean cafe Federal serves a mean brew too. Expect to queue at weekends.
• Foundation Coffee House – A Northern Quarter stalwart popular with locals, students, visitors, and remote workers alike. 
• Mancoco – One for the coffee aficionados, this roastery and coffee bar tucked away under a viaduct is worth seeking out.

🎸 Best Live Music Venues

• Albert Hall – Watching a gig at this Wesleyan chapel turned live music venue is a truly unique experience.
• Band on the Wall – This iconic venue has recently been renovated with intimacy and audio quality in mind. Schedule favours world and experimental music.
• Matt & Phreds – This intimate spot in the hip NQ is a must-visit for Jazz lovers on any night of the week.
• The O2 Ritz – With a sprung dance floor and 1,500 capacity, over the past 60 years the Ritz has hosted some of the biggest artists on the planet.
• The Stoller Hall – A recent addition to Manchester’s classical music scene prides itself on its fantastic acoustics.

👉 Tips & Things to Know

• 🌧️ – Expect rain – There’s a reason Manchester has a reputation for being one of the UK’s wettest cities. Showers can happen at any time, but there are plenty of indoor activities to enjoy when the weather turns.
• 💲- Hotels get expensive at Christmas – Hotel prices increase around Christmas and New Year, so avoid those times if you are on a budget.
• 🚆- Train from the airport – If arriving at Manchester Airport, catch a train to Manchester Piccadilly Station rather than the Metrolink. It’ll take you 20 minutes instead of 50.
• 🚋 – Contactless on the tram – Avoid queues at Metrolink ticket machines by ‘tapping in’ using your credit card. Just don’t forget to tap out at the end of your journey!
• 🪙 – Tipping – Tip servers 10% as a general rule. Some restaurants include a service charge on the check.

🧳 What to Pack

• ☂️ – Umbrella and rain jacket – The weather is unpredictable in Manchester and it can rain at any time, so pack rain gear whatever time of year you visit.
• 🧥 – Layers – Temperatures also vary, especially in summer, so bring clothes to layer.
• 👟 – Comfortable shoes – Manchester is best explored on foot, so pack shoes that are comfortable to walk in.
• 👂 – Earplugs – If you are planning to attend a few gigs while in Manchester then protect your hearing with some earplugs.
• ☀️ – Sunscreen – The last few summers in Manchester have seen heatwaves with intense sun. Don’t let sunburn ruin your trip.

🤓 Facts & Info

• Census Population (2024) – 581,302 (city), 3,009,664 (Greater Manchester area)
• Time Zone – Greenwich Mean Time (UTC -0 / UTC +1 during daylight savings)
• Area Codes – 0161
• Airports – Manchester Airport (MAN)
• Nickname – MCR, Manny, Town
• Demonynm – Mancunians, Mancs
• State – Greater Manchester / Lancashire
• Country – United Kingdom

💵 Costs & Budgeting

• 3 Star Hotel Room – $95/night
• 1 Bedroom Apartment Rental – $105/night
• Rental Car – $28/day
• Public Transit Ticket – $6 day pass for all Metrolink zones ($5 train to airport from Piccadilly station)
• Ride Share from Downtown to Airport – $24 – $36
• Take Out Meal for Two – $30
• Sit Down Dinner for Two – $50
• Draft Beer – $6