Hi everyone,
Being inspired by Lily’s recent post recommending places to visit in Greenwich, I thought I’d share my recommendations of things to do in my hometown of Manchester, England. Like Lily, I’ll avoid the obvious stuff, so I won’t be mentioning The Hacienda or Old Trafford.
Manchester has a rich cultural history and created the modern world by becoming the first industrial city, it’s home to some of the biggest bands in the world and has some of the biggest football (soccer) teams in the world too.
As a local, here are some places that I recommend;
Chetham’s Library
The oldest public library in the English speaking world, Chetham’s Library has been in continuous use since the 1650’s. In the 19th century, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels researched and studied together in the library - their desk remains there to this day. I also want to give an honorable mention to John Rylands library which is also stunning (and only a 10 min walk away).
The Science and Industry Museum
Mancunians broke the Enigma code (Alan Turing), split the atom (Enerst Rutherford) and are redefining particle physics. The Science and Industry Museum is particularly great fun for kids who can get hands on with lots of experiments and learn at the same time.
Walking Tour
Manchester city centre is a very walkable city, so I recommend joining a walking tour. These can cover a range of subjects from the birth of the Sufragette movement, to the music born from the city and so much more.
Why is the City obsessed with Bee’s?
As you walk around the city, no doubt you’ll notice that there are images of Bee’s everywhere. During the industrial revolution, (I think) Karl Marx described workers going into the factories as reminiscent of worker bees tending to a hive.
Since then, the city has adopted the bee as a symbol of unity and a nod back to its industrial roots.
Restaurants
There are too many to mention and it depends on what you’re looking for, but I’m a fan of San Carlo - great Italian food and a great atmosphere. Wing’s offers some of my favourite Chinese food and for small plates you can’t go wrong with El Gato Negro.
Bars
One of my favourite bars is Albert’s Schloss, it’s got a German Bierkeller vibe going on. Sterling offers great cocktails - if you can go when the piano player is there, it’s lots of fun. I also recommend visiting the oldest building in the city, The Old Wellington. Originally built in 1552, the pub was originally located 100m down the street, but was relocated to preserve an important part of the city’s history.
After over 25 years living in Greater Manchester, I moved to Scotland a few years ago. I try to get home as much as I can, but I may have missed a local gem or two.
Have you visited Manchester? Please keep adding your suggestions to this list. And, if you’re visiting Manchester soon, feel free to reach out and ask anything.
