Hostelworld Guide for Manchester The Essentials
Getting There Manchester has a temperate maritime climate,
By plane: Manchester Airport, the UK's second
busiest passenger airport outside of London, is
located south of the city centre. Direct trains leave
the airport for the city every 15 minutes and the
journey takes around 20 minutes.
By train: Trains from destinations all over the UK
terminate in Manchester's main train station,
Piccadilly Station.
By bus: National Express operates many bus
services into Manchester Piccadilly from locations
across Britain.
Getting Around
By train: Manchester's Metrolink rail service,
known as 'the tram', runs on two lines across the
Widely regarded as the North of England's capital, Manchester is one of Britain's most visited cities. And city and covers many of the main attractions.
it's not hard to see why. Not only does Manchester boast an incredibly rich musical history and a thriving
music scene, it's also one of the top UK cities in terms of shopping. You're never far from the nearest mall
or shop-lined street. Sports fanatics will be in their element too, as this city is home to the wildly popular By bus: A free 'Metroshuttle' bus service runs on
Manchester United soccer club. It's not all about bands, balls and bags of shopping though. Here you'll three routes covering most of the city centre. It
also find a large number of fascinating (and often free) museums and art galleries. It's a great city for just operates on Monday to Saturday from 7am-7pm
and on Sunday from 10am-6pm.
strolling around too, with many of the main attractions well-signposted and easily accessible on foot. If you
get tired, there's a great public transport system to take advantage of. All in all, a friendly city that's
definitely worth a visit. On foot: Manchester has a compact city centre,
with many of the main attractions within walking
distance of each other.
In this Guide... Manchester facts
Name: Manchester has also been known as
Useful Information 'Cottonopolis', as a result of the numerous
After Dark cotton mills found in the area in the late 18th
Places to Eat and 19th centuries.
Top Attractions
Budget Tips Location: Manchester is situated in the north
Where to Shop
west of England.
Population: Over 460,000 people live in this
city.
Area: Manchester covers an approximate area
of 45 square miles.
Hostelworld Guide for Manchester
Climate
which tends to mean cool summers and mild
winters. Temperatures hover around 15ºC during
July and August, the warmest months of the
summer. During the winter, January tends to be the
coldest month with temperatures sometimes
dropping below zero. The city sees quite a bit of
rain each year, with over 120 millimetres falling in
December, the city's wettest month. May is the
month in which Manchester sees the most sun, with
around 6 hours of sunshine each day.
Good to know...
Language: English
Currency: Pound Sterling (STG)
Electricity: 220 Volts AC/50 Hz, 3-pin plug
Area code: +44 (England), 0161 (Manchester)
Emergency codes: Ambulance 999, Fire 999,
Police 999
Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time
Central post office: 26 Spring Gardens
Main tourist office: Manchester Visitor
Information Centre, Town Hall Extension, Lloyd
Street
Embassies*
USA: +44 (0)20 7499 9000
Canada: +44 (0)20 7258 6600**
Australia: +44 (0)20 7379 4334**
South Africa: +44 (0)20 7451 7299
Germany: +44 (0)20 7824 1300
Spain: +44 (0)20 7235 5555
Italy: +44 (0)20 7312 2200
New Zealand: +44 (0)20 7930 8422**
France: +44 (0)20 7073 1000
*All embassies located in London
**High Commissions located in London
www.hostelworld.com
Cheap Eats
Café Gio, 77 Princess Street, Chinatown More
than just your typical greasy spoon, this comfortable
café serves up a full English breakfast at a great
price. As well as a fry-up, you'll also find
sandwiches, jacket potatoes and soups on the
menu. Open Mon-Fri 7.30am-7.30pm, Sat-Sun
8.30am-7.30pm.
The Titchy Coffee Co, The Triangle Basement,
Exchange Square, City Centre A wonderful
alternative to the big chain coffee shops, this café is
100% independent. It's a great spot for breakfast, a
light lunch or simply a cup of coffee and a snack.
The view of the surrounding shops might not be
stunning but the tasty, good value food and friendly
service more than make up for it. Open Mon-Sat
8am-6pm.
The Curry Mile, Wilmslow Road, Rusholme As the
name suggests, the 'Curry Mile' is a section of
winding road on Wilmslow Road that is home to a
huge concentration of neon-lit curry houses, Middle
Eastern restaurants and Indian takeaways. Open
well into the early hours of the morning, it's
particularly popular with the post-club crowd.
Dough, 75-77 High Street, Northern Quarter From
pasta dishes and salads to a huge selection of
pizzas, including gluten and dairy free options, this
large Italian restaurant offers sizeable portions at low
prices. Modern and comfortable inside, you're bound
to enjoy the fast, friendly service and tasty food.
Open daily 12pm-11pm.
Market fresh food
Bury Market, 1 Murray Road, Bury One of the
most popular markets in the UK, the 'World
Famous Bury Market' offers up a smorgasbord of
locally-produced foods. From freshly caught
seafood to creamy cheeses, it's the perfect spot
to sample a selection of tasty delights. Open
Wed and Fri 9am-4.30pm, Sat 9am-5pm.
After Dark
Keko Moku South Pacific Cocktail Den, 100 High
Street, Northern Quarter From Alohas to Tikis, this
tiny bar really does live up to its cocktail den
moniker. It's a busy spot and the barrel seats are
filled with punters sipping away on a kaleidoscope
of colourful concoctions. There's even a little alcove
with a rug covered booth for couples who want to
canoodle over a cocktail. Open Sun-Wed
5pm-12am, Thurs 5pm-1am, Fri-Sat 5pm-2am.
Revolution, 90-94 Oxford Road, Oxford Road
Turning into a two-floor bar at the weekend and on
Wednesdays for student night, Revolution is
comfortably chic. Start the night downstairs with a
few drinks and some indie music, then head
upstairs to the dance floor with its cheesy tunes.
Funky red seats and hanging chandeliers give the
bar a fashionable air. Open daily 11.30am-2am;
free WiFi available.
Gay/Lesbian Manchester
Manchester's vibrant Gay Village, famously
depicted in the TV-show Queer as Folk, is home
to a huge selection of gay bars and clubs. Many
of these are located along Canal Street and
Princess Street and include Manto, Queer,
New Union, Spirit and Club Alter Ego.
Trof, 6 Thomas Street, Northern Quarter
Well-loved and rightly so, Trof is a superb spot to
spend any part of your day or night. Taking up three
levels, from the large ground floor bar to the cosy
Montana Lounge on the top floor, the entire place is
welcoming from the moment you step in the door,
thanks to its friendly staff, laid back regulars and
mood lighting. Open Mon-Wed & Sun 10am-12pm,
Thurs-Sat 10am-1am.
Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley Street,
Petersfield Serving up a wide variety of aural
treats, this venue is the city's international concert
venue. The Hall is home to 3 different orchestras,
including the BBC Philharmonic, and hosts a
classical music season. Open Mon-Fri
11am-3.30pm, Sat-Sun on concert nights from 5pm.
Night & Day Café, 26 Oldham Street, Northern
Quarter Reminiscent of New York's Bitter End,
albeit on a smaller scale, this friendly, comfortable
bar has seen many a long night. At one of the
tables, you can watch the stage while enjoying a
beer, shooter or cocktail. An alternative stalwart,
flickering fairy lights and a candle strewn bar give
the rough and ready interior a softer edge. Open
Mon-Sat 10am-2am, Sun 10am-11.30pm.
Don't Miss
Imperial War Museum North, Trafford Wharf
Road, The Quays An interesting and moving
museum, here you'll learn about people whose lives
have been touched by war. Found inside a striking,
award-winning building, it covers everything from art
to artillery. Open daily Mar-Oct 10am-6pm, Nov-Feb
10am-5pm; admission free.
Up, up and away
The Wheel of Manchester, Exchange Square,
City Centre Stretching up 60 metres, this big
wheel is a great way of seeing the city a little
differently. Especially enjoyable at night, it offers
stunning views of the sparkling city below. Open
Sun-Thurs 10am-11pm, Fri 10am-12am, Sat
9am-12am; admission £6.50.
Manchester United Museum and Tour, Sir Matt
Busby Way, Old Trafford Old Trafford, the 'Theatre
of Dreams', is home to the world-famous
Manchester United soccer club. The tour takes you
on a trip inside the stadium, from the manager's spot
on the sideline to the players' dressing room. Open
daily 9.30am-5pm; admission £12.50.
Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI),
Liverpool Road, Castlefield Housed in 5 listed
buildings, this museum encompasses 15 different
galleries displaying everything from a replica of a
Victorian sewer to the first all-British aeroplane over
in the Air and Space Hall. For a bit of fun, be sure to
check out 'Xperiment' and its interactive exhibits.
Open daily, 10am-5pm; admission free.
John Ryland's Library, 150 Deansgate,
Spinningfields In the hushed, almost reverent
rooms of this Gothic-style library you'll see a
fascinating collection of old books. Wander under
the vaulted ceilings and take a peak at titles from all
over the world, including a book of fairy tales dating
from 1825. Open Tues-Sat 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun
12pm-5pm; admission free.
Mark Your Calendar
March - Manchester Irish Festival Set around St.
Patrick's Day, this festival has been running since
1996. It's a celebration of all things Irish including
music, theatre, sport, art and comedy.
May - FutureEverything This well-known festival
has been on the go for over 13 years. Covering
digital art and music, it includes club nights, live
performances, and exhibitions. Over 50,000 people
attend the festival annually.
May - MAPS Festival 'MAPS', or 'Music, Art, Poetry
and Stuff', is Manchester's Northern Quarter
Festival. Over the course of a weekend, local
musical acts, artists and poets showcase their work.
July - Manchester International Festival A
relatively new festival, MIF was launched in 2007 as
a way to present innovative works of art, music and
performing arts. International artists and performers
take part in this popular cultural event.
July - Manchester Jazz Festival Local musicians
get the chance to play alongside internationally
renowned artists during this popular jazz festival.
Established in 1995, this event sees concerts and
performances take place throughout the city.
August - Manchester Pride Festival This is
Manchester's annual LGBT festival. It raises money
for the LGBT community and those suffering from
HIV/AIDS. Thousands of people check out the
market stalls and the colourful parade.
October - Manchester Food & Drink Festival
Running for more than 12 years, the Manchester
Food and Drink Festival sees many well-known
chefs take part in cooking demonstrations, food and
drink exhibits and more.
October - Manchester Literature Festival Writers
from all over the world take part in everything from
readings to writing workshops during this festival's
10-day run.
October - Manchester Comedy Festival Taking
place in venues across Manchester, a host of
renowned comics and up-and-coming acts perform.
It's very well-attended with over 28,000 tickets sold
during the 2008 festival.
November-December - Manchester Christmas
Markets Held annually throughout the city centre, a
large number of wooden chalets are erected for
these markets. Here you'll find crafts, gifts and more
from all over Europe.
Neighbourhood Watch
Northern Quarter Manchester's musical heart, the
Northern Quarter, is filled with independent record
stores and is the place to go for vinyl. On top of that,
it's also home to a number of alternative cafés and
some the best live music venues in the city. 'Trof'
and the 'Night & Day Café' are a couple of the
standout bars in this vibrant, friendly quarter.
Bury Right at the end of the northern-bound
Metrolink line, Bury is around 25 minutes from
Manchester city centre. Best known as the home of
the 'World Famous Bury Market', it has a lot more to
offer besides shopping. You can hop on an East
Lancashire Railway steam train or visit the local
museum and art gallery.
Oxford Road South of the city centre, this long
stretch of road is one area of the city you should
definitely check out. Not only is it home to the
University of Manchester, meaning lots of students,
cheap restaurants and lively bars, it's also where
you'll find some of Manchester's top attractions.
These include the Manchester Museum and the
Whitworth Art Gallery.
Taste of the Orient
Chinatown Home to the second largest Chinese
community in the UK, Manchester has its own
colourful and vibrant Chinatown. Without a
doubt, the most striking sight here is the large
Ming Dynasty Imperial Chinese Arch erected in
1987. With its hanging paper lanterns and
colourful store fronts, this area also boasts a
large number of quality Asian restaurants.
The Quays Down along the Salford Quays, you can
sit and look out at the canals, wander across the
patriotically-hued Trafford Road Bridge and head
down to the Imperial War Museum North. If you
fancy some shopping, stop by the Lowry Outlet Mall
to take advantage of the great deals on offer. For
sports fans, Old Trafford can also be found nearby.
Retail Therapy
Manchester Arndale, Market Street, City Centre
Manchester Arndale, or the Arndale Centre as it's
also known, is the UK's biggest city centre shopping
mall. Home to around 240 stores, you could spend
hours wandering around checking out everything
from clothes to electronic goods. Open Mon-Fri
9am-8pm, Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 10am-6pm.
Alternative chic
Affleck's, 52 Church Street, Northern Quarter
Like an indoor version of London's famous
Camden Market, Affleck's is an alternative haven
where independent traders sell everything from
jelly bracelets to army surplus gear across four
floors of stalls. And if that's not enough, while
you're here you can even learn your future from
a tarot reader. Open Mon-Fri 10.30am-6pm, Sat
10am-6pm, closed Sundays.
Trafford Centre, Barton Dock Road, Trafford
Spread across two sprawling floors, the Trafford
Centre, with its almost palatial design, houses more
than 230 different stores. Whether you're looking for
new music or the latest fashion trends, this is the
place to go. All you need is the time (and the cash)
to visit them all. Open Mon-Fri 10am-10pm, Sat
10am-8pm, Sun 12pm-6pm.
The Lowry Outlet Mall, Salford Quays, The Quays
If it's a bargain you're searching for, look no further
than the Lowry Outlet Mall. A bright and spacious
mall, there are some 80 stores filled with discounted
clothes, shoes, toys, accessories and more. In fact,
some of the prices are around 50% less than those
on the high street. Open Mon-Wed, Fri 10am-6pm,
Thurs 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 11am-5pm.
Market Street, City Centre Bustling Market Street is
Manchester's main shopping street. Here's where to
go if you're looking for internationally recognisable
brands including HMV, H&M, Footlocker, Clarks,
Schuh, Debenhams and Miss Selfridge.
Manchester For Free
Stroll around Heaton Park Heaton Park is the
biggest expanse of green you'll find in Manchester
and it's packed full of things to see and do. You can
meet the furry creatures at the animal centre, check
out the demonstration hive operated by Manchester
Beekeepers or simply relax on the grass with a
picnic. Open daily 8am-9.45pm.
Wander through the Manchester Art Gallery Here
you'll find a huge collection of over 25,000 works of
art, including paintings and objects d'art. Lots of
people have attached tags to the wall of luggage in
the interactive area, and these make for an
interesting read. Open Tues-Sun 10m-5pm, closed
Mon.
A moment of worship
Take a look inside Manchester Cathedral
Apart from the magnificent collection of stained
glass windows, this cathedral isn't overly ornate
inside, but it does have an open, well-used feel
to it. Hymnals left out all around are a nice touch,
and many musical events are held here. Open
Mon-Fri 8.30am-7pm, Sat 8.30am-5pm, Sun
8.30am-7.30pm.
Check out the Manchester Museum From a giant
T-Rex to ancient Egyptian mummies, this museum
houses a fascinating collection of artefacts. Opened
in 1888, it sees hundreds of thousands of visitors
each year. It's also home to a small but interesting
selection of live animals, including colourful frogs
and scaly snakes. Open Tues-Sat 10am-5pm,
Sun-Mon 12noon-4pm.
Marvel at the Whitworth Art Gallery Strange and
unusual examples of modern art, fine art and
sculpture all find a home in this eclectic gallery,
which is part of the University of Manchester. While
walking around the displays, you'll see everything
from video installations to paintings to items of
clothing. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12pm-4pm.
A Day in Manchester...
Start your day with breakfast in Café Gio on
Princess Street and try out a famed
full-English breakfast to set you up for a day
of exploring.
Around the corner from here you'll find the
Manchester Art Gallery (below), the Town
Hall and the Chinese Arch, part of
Manchester's colourful Chinatown area.
Walk back up towards Piccadilly Gardens,
where you'll come across numerous cafés
and restaurants. Here you'll have no trouble
finding somewhere for lunch.
When you've refuelled, why not check out
some of Manchester's shops, including those
along Market Street, in Arndale and at
Affleck's in the Northern Quarter.
After you've emptied your wallet, you might
fancy something free of charge. Why not try
the Ubris, Manchester Cathedral and John
Ryland's Library.
Make the short trip downtown and head
towards Oxford Road. There are plenty of
places around this student stronghold to sit
with a coffee or a before-dinner drink.
In the area around the city centre, notably in
the Printworks entertainment complex, you'll
find many restaurants serving Italian,
Mexican and other types of food.
Spend some time checking out the bars in
the Northern Quarter, whether you fancy
seeing a live band in the Night & Day Café or
sipping on a cocktail in Keko Moku.
Finish the night off in Revolution back down
on Oxford Road, where you can indulge in a
few drinks before heading upstairs to dance.