Manchester is a vibrant city brimming with personality; whether it’s the Industrial Revolution or a musical revolution, Manchester is at the epicentre of both. There is something for everyone, from shopping at the Trafford Centre to watching football at Old Trafford. Manchester is brimming with things to see and do. However, it’s also the birthplace of some game-changing technological advances and the site of many historic firsts. There is no doubt about it; Manchester has something for everyone.
What makes it so great?
Here are a few reasons why many people love Manchester so much.
The city invented the first programmable computer. Baby, a machine made from surplus war parts that ran the world’s first stored programme, was created in 1948 by developers Fred Williams, Tom Kilburn, and Geoff Tootill. Kilburn wrote the file (the only one he ever wrote), and it ran for the first time on June 21, 1948. While today’s computers are sleek, light, and stylish, Williams and Kilburn’s creation weighed more than a tonne and had less computing power than a calculator, with tasks taking approximately 52 minutes to complete.
Manchester is the birthplace of the industrial revolution
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It is the site of the birth of the Industrial Revolution. Manchester’s then-unknown city experienced massive growth in the late 18th century. Between 1760 and 1840, the region experienced a creative boom that resulted in new manufacturing processes and cultural developments. Manchester, which eventually became the world’s first industrialised city, was responsible for the first-ever inner-city railway, the country’s first working canal, the world’s first steam-driven mill, and it became the world’s largest primary producer of cotton. Today, you can see this incredible work ethic reflected in the city’s symbol: the yellow and black worker bee, which can be found all over the city.
The city has produced a whopping 25 Nobel Prize winners. Manchester has a heady dose of beauty, with a winding canal, Castlefield Locks, and flower-adorned bars – but it is also a city with brains. Did you know that the University of Manchester is home to 25 Nobel Prize laureates? This incredible achievement distinguishes the city as a global leader in innovation and research excellence. Of the 25, 11 were for physics breakthroughs, and nine were for chemistry breakthroughs; the most recent award, given in 2010 to Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, was for their advances in the study of the nanomaterial graphene and its exceptional properties.
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At Manchester University, the atom was split for the first time. As if having more than a dozen Nobel Prizes wasn’t enough, the University of Manchester can also lay claim to being the first place where the atom was split. This historic event occurred in 1917 while British physicist Ernest Rutherford, who was born in New Zealand, was working at his laboratory off Oxford Road. It was a game-changing discovery that would lead to advancements in both nuclear power and health care, giving rise to radiotherapy techniques used to treat cancer patients.
Nightlife
When it comes to Manchester’s nightlife, you’ll be utterly spoiled for choice. It has one of the most vibrant nightlife scenes in the country, with significant club establishments and both large and small live music hotspots. Manchester has an impressive live music heritage, and the talent that flocks to the city on a regular basis cements it as one of the most suitable locations in the worlds of rock, indie, and alternative. It’s also a major stop on most bands’ tour schedules.
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If you prefer a quieter night out, Manchester’s bars range from cosy and one-of-a-kind to downright bizarre. From a more cultural perspective, there is a wide range of theatres and picture houses to keep everyone entertained. One thing is sure: you will not be bored when the sun goes down in this town.
With the way the world is evolving, everything is going online. You can watch a film, listen to music or play at a casino online. In Manchester there are many clubs, bars, restaurants, theatres, cinemas and casinos to choose from and therefore you don’t have to stay in. There are, of course, benefits and disadvantages of going out or staying in to partake in these activities. Let’s take the casino industry, for example. Real land-based casinos may provide an “experience,” but they are pretty pricey. When you go to a Manchester casino, for example, you can’t spend all of your money on gambling. You must purchase tickets, pay for hotel accommodations, and set aside additional funds for travel. Online casinos, on the other hand, provide a pure gambling experience. There will be no “unexpected” costs. Online operators provide access to a huge selection of casino games via any smart phone or desktop computer from virtually anywhere. No need to dress up, brash your shoes or shave. Nowadays most of them are regulated, meaning they must conform to stringent responsible gaming rules, practices and tools, ensuring safe gambling and peace of mind for the players. With the introduction of live casinos and human dealers the gap between land-based casinos and virtual ones has become smaller than ever. One of the most established and much fun UK casino online is 888, a veteran operator offering exclusive games you will not find anywhere else and most probably will exceed your expectations.
Conclusion
Perhaps it’s the city’s heritage of musical talent and club innovation or the combination of party-loving students and young city slickers. However, there’s no doubt about it: Manchester is a stomping place to go out at night. Choosing where to drink and dance, from grungy clubs to stylish bars, can be a daunting task. But an enjoyable one nonetheless as you are simply spoilt for choice. There is literally something for everyone in Manchester, which is why it is one of the best tourist attractions in the UK.
Manchester
Florence and the Machine at Co-op Live Manchester – tickets, setlist, and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
Florence and the Machine have visited Manchester before… but this UK tour marks their Co-op Live debut.
The ‘Dog Days Are Over’ because London-based band Florence and the Machine are returning to the music capital of the North – Manchester.
The band has played in our city many times over the years, including staple venues like Manchester Academy and AO Arena, but now they’re taking to the stage of the 23,500 capacity Co-op Live for the first time in their career this month.
With this current run of shows titled Everybody Scream Tour, you can expect this arena gig to be a spectacle or… ‘Spectrum’ (there’s more puns coming).
So, grab the ‘Girl With One Eye’, ‘Jenny of Oldstones’, and the ‘Queen of Peace’, and get ready to ‘Howl’ out all of Florence and the Machine’s bangers.
Florence and the Machine are coming to Co-op Live, Manchester on 20 February / Credit: Autumn de Wilde (Supplied)
Florence and the Machine UK tour dates
Fri 13 Feb – Liverpool, UK – M&S Bank Arena
Sat 14 Feb – Sheffield, UK – Utilita Arena
Mon 16 Feb – London, UK – The O2
Tue 17 Feb – London, UK – The O2
Fri 20 Feb – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Mon 24 Aug – Edinburgh, UK – Royal Highland Showgrounds
Fri 28 Aug – Leeds, UK – Bramham Park
Sun 30 Aug – Reading, UK – Richfield Avenue
Tickets
Anyone wanting to see this stellar act in all their glory when they play their latest arena show in Manchester can find some seats left HERE.
There’s even a handful of premium seating options on offer, where you can ‘Shake It Out’ in style feeling like a ‘King’ HERE.
Setlist
Everybody Scream
Witch Dance
Shake It Out
Seven Devils
Big God
Daffodil
Which Witch
Cosmic Love
Spectrum
Never Let Me Go
Music By Men
buckle
King
The Old Religion
Howl
Heaven Is Here
Sympathy Magic
One of the Greats
Dog Days Are Over
Free
And Love
What are the stage times for Florence and the Machine in Manchester?
UK act Florence and the Machine are playing various arena and festival shows this year / Credit: Autumn de Wilde (Supplied)
Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning as much as we want to sing until there’s ‘No Light, No Light’, at least we’ll be tucked up in bed before the early hours.
Anyone attending can expect the doors to open at 6:30pm, with a kick-off time expected to be 7:30pm, and support from self-proclaimed alternative-indie ‘Good Girl’ Paris Paloma.
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
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Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
Featured Images – Press shots (supplied via Autumn de Wilde)
Manchester
Jack Whitehall announces massive Manc gig as part of brand-new live stand-up tour
Danny Jones
British comedy legend Jack Whitehall is making a triumphant return to Manchester yet again with a trip to Co-op Live.
That’s right, in addition to hosting the 2026 BRIT Awards at the massive indoor entertainment arena this month, the seasoned stand-up will be headlining the venue himself too.
Heading back on the road award-winning comic is heading back on the road for a huge national arena tour that promises bigger laughs than ever before, so get ready to laugh your socks off.
Fresh from starring in crime thriller Malice on Amazon Prime Video and stepping into the spotlight as presenter once again to host the BRITs, Jack Whitehall is returning to what he does best: live comedy.
Audiences can expect classic Whitehall awkward storytelling and quick-witted observations that have made him one of the UK’s most loved stand-up comedians.
Entitled Bad Influence, his new hour will showcase brand-new material that has been specifically written for 2027.
The newly confirmed show will almost a year on from his debut visit to the Co-op on Saturday, 28 February for the BRITs.
Jack Whitehall Bad Influence tour dates:
January 2027
Thursday 7 January – Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Saturday 9 January – Co-op Live, Manchester
Sunday 10 January – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
Tuesday 12 January – Playhouse, Edinburgh
Wednesday 13 January – Playhouse, Edinburgh
Thursday 14 January – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Saturday 16 January – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Sunday 17 January – Swansea Building Society Arena
He’ll also be doing a handful of live shows the following month, including a trio over in Yorkshire at the likes of Leeds’ First Direct Arena and more; you can see those dates down below:
February 2027
Tuesday 2 February – BIC, Bournemouth
Wednesday 3 February – Utilita Arena, Sheffield
Thursday 4 February – Connexin Live, Hull
Saturday 6 February – First Direct Arena, Leeds
Sunday 7 Feburary – Vaillant Live, Derby
Presale to see Jack Whitehall in Manchester goes live from 10am on Wednesday 18 February, and Co-op members can also enjoy early access via the venue.
As for general admission tickets, they will be available from 10am this Friday (20 Feb).