Manchester Travel Forum

I'm planning to spend about five or six days in Manchester in early May. Never been there before. Recommendations welcome as to places to stay (hotels or B&B), places to visit, things to do, places to eat, also places to visit outside of Manchester reachable by public transport.

There are some really good VT pages on Manchester and they will give you plenty of ideas. If you want to get out of town travel out of Picadilly station in to Cheshire - again look at VT pages on Cheshire. In Manchester I like Jurys Hotel to stay at but it depends on your budget.
I must be honest and say its a bit scruffy in places but its still a good place to go.

What sort of things interest you?

The Imperial War Museum North is worth a look at least as an interesting piece of modern architecture. I'm not sure about it at as museum, though.

Yes I think if you have seen the London Imperial War Museum the Manchester one is a bit of a disappointment.I also think the city centre shops are not that great for a major city - good but not great. For great shopping you have to go to the Trafford Centre.

Many thanks for your replies. I've found them most useful. I'm new to VT so finding my way around at the moment.

It's difficult to recommed places when we might have completely different tastes but for me Manchester is a fantastic city and it doesn't always rain!! I think its got the largest student population in Europe which keeps it on it's toes. Loads of visitor attractions including the Lowry and Imperial War Museum which are actually in Salford a city in itself right next door to Manchester. The whole rebuilding programme after the IRA bomb and again for the Commonweath games 4 years ago have made this a vibrant city nothing like the grim industrialised city it once was. Loads of shops from small independents to chains including the expensive Harvey Nichols and Selfridges. The Trafford Centre mentioned by Brittania2 is not in Manchester and is actually my idea of hell. It's an enormous indoor shopping mall with all the usual high street shops.

Manchester has a good public transport system including trains, buses and the Metrolink (tram); a thriving pub and club scene, cafes and restaurants where you can get virtually any type of food from fish and chips to to ostrich steak with a few veggie restaurants thrown in. Hotels for all budgets. Various theatres showing a wide range of plays, musicals etc, music venues with big name bands, singers, comedy gigs etc etc.

There's the 'gay village' with it's many pubs, clubs restaurants. Then the 'Northern Quarter' is an up and coming area with independent bars and shops and the best really cheap curry houses. On the edge of the Northern Quarter is Afflecks Palace, a large building on 3 floors with independent/alternative shops, tattoist, barbers etc etc - more for the young but well worth a walk round whatever your age. A mile or so outside the centre is Rusholme with it's curry mile with probably about 40 restaurants.

The Castlefield basin where the canals meet has been regenerated and a very pleasant area to sit and watch the world go by and also take a trip on a canal boat.

Bury market outside Manchester but easy on the Metrolink is thought to be one of the best in the country and where you can buy the famous Bury black puddings.

There are lots of areas outside the city centre which have their own identities such as Disbury and Chorlton with their trendy shops and cafe bars and restaurants.

When you've had enough of the bright lights it's a short and easily accessible distance from some of the most stunning scenery and countryside.

I could go on and on but really there are too many attractions to mention. I'm sure you'll love it. If you've any more questions either general or specific I'll try to answer them. Try the website prideofmanchester for some idea of what's on.