Greater Manchester

Welcome to Greater Manchester  

An intriguing mix of picture postcard scenery, bustling market towns and thriving cosmopolitan cities, Greater Manchester encompasses places as diverse as the attractive city of Stockport and the trendy, cosmopolitan mix that is the city of Manchester, home of Manchester United Football Club. With such diversity the possibilities are endless for what to see and do on your short break in Greater Manchester; we hope our information packed guide will inspire you to visit this fantastic area of England.

Things to do in and around Greater Manchester 

It’s fair to say that many people visiting Greater Manchester flock to its biggest city, Manchester and with so much to do and so many interests covered it’s not hard to see why! Manchester is a dramatic mix of old and new with a tremendous energy and lots of contrasts. The futuristic design and innovative shapes of its contemporary architecture sit side by side with the towering spires and menacing gargoyles of its proud past.

Located at the heart of Manchester, Urbis, the museum of the modern city, is housed in a super sleek building likened to a huge glass ski slope! This is in contrast to the Victorian splendour of the neighbouring Printworks, a prime entertainment venue that is home to the likes of Tiger Tiger, Hard Rock Café and an IMAX cinema. For a bird’s eye view of the city the Manchester Wheel is not to be missed, standing next to Selfridges in the heart of the city it offers unrivalled views. Shopping in this part of the city is popular too with several high profile stores including Harvey Nichols and countless designer boutiques.

To explore the history of Manchester you can visit The Museum of Science and Industry, situated in the oldest passenger railway buildings in the world, and see what made Manchester a trail blazer of the Industrial Revolution. Over at Manchester Art Gallery you can gaze upon many fine pieces by Gainsborough and Constable plus even a glimpse of Kylie Minogue’s famous gold hotpants!

A short Metrolink journey from Manchester city centre is Salford Quays. The Quays is home to The Lowry which houses the biggest public collection of works by the local artist L.S. Lowry, in addition to two theatres. Just over the Manchester Ship Canal from The Lowry you will find the Imperial War Museum North as well as Old Trafford, home to the famous Manchester United football club. If you are unable to catch a match, then you can always visit their museum and take a tour of Old Trafford! Or if you prefer you’ll find the City of Manchester stadium on the other side of the city!

Beyond the city, the landscape opens out into some of the most beautiful countryside in England. Just south of Manchester you’ll find the glorious Peak District, characterised by wild, rugged scenery and picture postcard villages, it is a great place to go hill walking, cycling or to just explore. The wild beauty and magical scenery of the Lake District National Park, Greater Manchester’s playground, is a perfect place to escape the crowds and is within easy reach. Around an hour from Manchester is one of the UK’s seaside favourites, Blackpool. Here you’ll find a thrilling mix of sea and sand for a great day out with the family, along with one of the UK’s biggest theme parks, the Blackpool Pleasure Beach and the famous Blackpool Illuminations (Sept-Nov). Another hugely popular theme park, Alton Towers is within easy reach of Manchester too. Greater Manchester has so much to offer for your next short break in England that we simply couldn’t cover it all!

Evenings out in Greater Manchester 

When you take account of the rich and varied villages, towns and cities that make up Greater Manchester, it really does add up to one fantastic night out. From the more relaxed pace of a night out in Stockport or Salford to the buzz of Manchester’s city centre, there is something to suit everyone. Manchester offers a wide choice of eateries from Michelin starred restaurants and a superb choice of Chinese and Indian venues to home cooking cafés and family friendly restaurants. In terms of bars it excels, with everything from cutting edge designer hangouts to traditional pubs and just about everything in between. The city’s distinct areas include the celebrity hotspot Deansgate Locks, the trendy Northern Quarter and Castlefield all of which are individual in their own right but combine to offer a whole plethora of entertainment options including 3 orchestras, numerous theatres, concert venues, eateries, bars and a plethora of cinemas.   

Shopping in Greater Manchester 

Manchester’s city centre has to be one of the best places to shop in the North of England, whether you are a slave to designer fashions, bargain-hunter or devotee of the chic and cheerful, Manchester has it all. Packed into a square mile are places where you can splash out on designer pieces, including the likes of Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, or browse round one of the city’s shopping malls with all the high street names in abundance plus plenty of designer stores for the fashion conscious. The various towns and cities that make up Greater Manchester add a whole different experience to shopping; from upmarket boutiques in the likes of Stockport to late night shopping in Trafford at the huge Trafford Centre, home to over 200 stores plus countless entertainment and dining options.  

Fascinating fact
Outside of London, cosmopolitan Manchester has more award-winning, cutting edge buildings than anywhere in the UK!

For hotels in Greater Manchester click here