Manchester is a popular cultural destination for tourists, with a great musical culture. The city also hosts famous festivals, such as Manchester Pride and the Manchester Food and Drink Festival.
Manchester is first known as England’s second largest city. A former industrial lung, the city is now famous for its many nightclubs, libraries, and glorious sporting history. Some areas of this city like the Northern Quarter have many independent shops, bars and cultural spaces and offer a beautiful playground for lovers of street art.
Large buildings such as Town Hall and Manchester Central Library can be found around St Peter’s Square. Here are some must-see things to do in Manchester throughout the year if you have the chance to visit this magnificent city!
Must-see Activity: The Manchester Museum
The Manchester Museum is as famous as the British Museum in London. The permanent exhibitions showcase more than 4 million objects. Dinosaur skeletons and mummies from ancient Egypt can be found there. The site also has a vivarium, in which researchers breed extremely endangered frog species. The local café will allow you to take a break between the different galleries. As admission is free, you can spread your visit over several days.
ADVERTISEMENT
St Mary’s RC Church “The Hidden Gem”: In the Heart of Manchester
The “Hidden Gem” is a little-known little church in the heart of Manchester. A modest brick building set in a quiet street lined with similar buildings, St. Mary’s is Manchester’s oldest Catholic church. Behind its walls lies a treasure trove of marble sculptures, works of art and stained glass. Don’t miss the 7-astonishing works of modern art by Norman Adams displayed on the left wall as you enter.
ADVERTISEMENT
Manchester’s Famous Nightclubs
Music has been an important part of Manchester culture since the 1960s. Since the 1980s, the “Madchester” movement has flourished in the nightclub and rock scene. Even today, Manchester is renowned as one of the best cities in the UK to party. The Warehouse Project, which takes place every 12 weeks from September to December, attracts over 3 000 visitors per night. You should also go to the Gorilla, the Soup Kitchen, and the Hula, which offer a wide variety of festive atmospheres.
Old Trafford, Home to One of The World’s Biggest Football Clubs
ADVERTISEMENT
Manchester United have supporters all over the world. Its stadium is therefore a must-see for football fans, which is why it is one of the largest in the UK. It is renowned for the fantastic atmosphere that reigns there on match days. You can take a tour of the museum and the stadium, which will allow you to admire the club’s rich collection of trophies!
A Thoroughbred Horse Breeding Farm Near Manchester
Some thoroughbred horse breeding farms are located near Manchester. These farms select the best thoroughbred horses from the best lines. Some horses are also chosen to compete in the most famous horse races in the country. A racehorse can follow several paths to become successful. It can be bred in national or private stud farms on a larger or smaller scale. There are also racing stables which are there to bring together horses from all backgrounds to perfect their training and make them suitable for racing performance. The Cheltenham Festival is the perfect opportunity to experience the best horses in the country. If you are passionate about horse racing, don’t hesitate to visit these farms and follow the cheltenham festival tips for the week. to fully enjoy this event.
Heaton Park, Far from The Hustle and Bustle of The City
Heaton Park covers an area of over 240 hectares and is one of the UK’s largest city parks. You will have access to sumptuous gardens, a famous golf course, several ponds, and many well-preserved historic buildings. This is a popular spot with families thanks to the Animal Centre, playgrounds, navigable lake, and various cafes. Kilometres of paved paths allow you to walk or run in the park. If you don’t feel like walking, a tram can help you go around the park.
ADVERTISEMENT
Famous Chinatown
Chinatown is one of the UK’s largest Chinatowns. There are dozens of Chinese businesses: restaurants, shops, supermarkets and even banks. Year after year, the Chinese New Year festivities in this district are growing in scope and intensity.
Manchester
New Manchester restaurant ‘couldn’t be happier’ after ALREADY receiving glowing national review
Daisy Jackson
Stow in Manchester is already making waves beyond the city, just weeks after it opened, receiving a glowing review in The Sunday Times.
The new restaurant on Bridge Street is a cosy space with a ‘supercool bar’ in front and a white-bricked dining room out back.
And what sets it apart from the others is that everything – desserts, breads, meat and more – is cooked over fire. No ovens, no hobs.
It’s this theatrical element that’s earned it its first (and surely not last) glowing review in a national title, impressing restaurant critic Charlotte Ivers in a dazzling review in The Sunday Times.
She raved about Stow’s potatoes, particularly, but also about the cosy restaurant’s service, theatre, decor, atmosphere, and basically everything they touched.
In the column, she said: “Particularly good restaurants make you feel as if you are at the centre of the world when you walk in… Stow is one of these restaurants.”
The Sunday Times piece continued to say that Matt Nellany and Jamie Pickles are creating food that is ‘far more exciting’ than their roots, down the road at much-loved Northern Quarter bar Trof.
She heaped praise on their milk bread, served with salty onion butter, the ricotta and beetroots which are roasted overnight on the embers of that huge grill, and the pork and fennel sausage with creme fraiche and tomato sauce.
The review then added that she will think of the ratte potatoes, topped with fat slices of garlic and shavings of Corra Linn cheese, ‘on my deathbed’.
Since the review went to print, Stow has said: “This day goes down as a big one for the Stow team – we couldn’t be any happier.”
Congratulations to the whole team. If you haven’t checked Stow out yet, make sure you do HERE.
The UK’s top 50 gastropubs have been named, and the North West has shone again
Daisy Jackson
Another year, another stunning victory for pubs around the North West, as our region holds its own yet again on the prestigious Top 50 Gastropubs list.
The Estrella Damm pub guide awards, now in their 12th year, celebrate the best food-driven pubs around the country.
The 50 front-runners were announced last year but the pubs’ rankings were only revealed at a ceremony in London this week.
And for another year, Greater Manchester and the surrounding North West region has nabbed plenty of room on the Top 50 Gastropubs list.
The Edinburgh Castle in Ancoats, which stormed onto the list for the first time last year, has climbed even higher into 16th place.
The pub’s kitchen is currently closed for a refurb as it readies to welcome a new head chef, following the departure of award-winning Shaun Moffatt last year.
The Edinburgh Castle said of the accolade: “We are all extremely proud of this, and although the kitchen is closed this month for a refurbishment, we have a new kitchen team all raring to go with some fantastic new menus that we can’t wait to share!
The Edinburgh Castle has been named in the Top 50 Gastropubs again in the North WestFood at the Edinburgh Castle pub in Ancoats
“Thank you to all our wonderful guests, our dedicated team past and present who have helped us get here – and of course Top 50 Gastropubs for including us.
“Congratulations to the other 49 too, we can’t believe what esteemed company we are in and you all completely deserve it. 2025 is going to be a big year!
“Now, who’s popping in for a celebratory pint?”
Also on the Top 50 Gastropubs list elsewhere in the North West was, once again, the Michelin-recommended The Pack Horse in Hayfield.
Just on the very outskirts of the region where Greater Manchester nudges the Peak District, this beautiful country pub quietly serves a fantastic pre-hike breakfast as well as a seasonal evening menu of modern British food.
The Pack Horse in Hayfield. Credit: The Manc GroupDinner at the Pack Horse in Hayfield. Credit: The Manc Group
Chef and owner Luke Payne said: “Four years in the top 50, three years in the top 20.
“It means so much to us to have the love and respect of our peers, fantastic business operators and beautiful people who continue to puts us among such esteemed company, it is an honour and a privilege, and we love you all.
“This consistency is a testament to our incredibly hard working team who continue to weather the storm of the hospitality industry with vigour and laughter every single day; our tireless, incredible suppliers, and of course our guests, who ultimately give us purpose.
“It is a personal aim of mine to visit as many of these incredible gastropubs over the coming year, your support means the world.”
The Parkers Arms up in Newton-in-Bowland in Lancashire, previously a pub that took the top spot on the list, made it in again in fourth place.
It’s particularly well-known for its pies but at this lovely countryside spot you really can’t go far wrong.
Also making it into the top 50 in Lancashire were The White Swan at Fence, and the Three Fishes in Whalley.
Now that’s an achievement worth raising a pint to.
The Manc -
2nd January 2021 
