Newly-conducted research has revealed that Manchester is the best city for a summer break in the UK in 2021.
With international travel restrictions likely to remain in place by the time summer comes around, many Brits will be looking to explore the sights on our shores instead, and while a holiday in Blighty is usually spent by the coast or in the countryside, it’s also a brilliant time to visit a new city.
If you’re stuck for a bit of staycation inspiration though, Staybridge Suites has ranked 15 cities across the country based on their summer amenities, including rooftop bars, percentage of green spaces, riverside activities and lidos, outdoor pools, open water swimming areas.
Each city was then given a score out of 10.
And Manchester has come out on top, with a score of 7.5 – was there ever any doubt?
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When it comes to Manchester’s standout summer features and activities for tourists, Staybridge Suites has said that as well as being home to the most rooftop bars outside of the capital, the city also has a vast collection of both bars and restaurants lining the River Irwell and the Bridgewater Canal.
There’s also plenty of water-related activities too, with the Helly Hansen Watersports Centre offering canoeing, sailing and windsurfing.
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You can also take part in open water swimming in and around the city centre as well.
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But where should us Mancs be looking to head to for our city breaks instead then? What other UK cities have earned themselves a spot in the new rankings?
Newcastle and Bristol tied for second place, both with a score of 7.
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It may not boast as many rooftop bars as Manchester, but Newcastle still offers a number of spots along the Tyne for visitors to enjoy a drink, and the North East also has some amazing areas of countryside, including ancient forests in Hareshaw Linn and quaint villages like Haydon Bridge – which is home to Hadrian’s Wall and has a National Park on its doorstep.
Bristol is also described as a hub of summer fun, as it has a large selection of outdoor pools to relax by, including the historic Bristol Lido.
On the other end of the spectrum, London and Leeds were at bottom of the summer city rankings, each with a respective score of 3, as while the capital has lots of outdoor space, lidos and rooftop bars, the size of the city means it isn’t the best place to enjoy the heat, and similarly, Leeds may also have a large percentage of green space in the city (21.7%), but the lack of nearby lidos and outdoor swimming opportunities mean it scored low in the overall ranking.
The Best UK Cities To Visit in 2021
Manchester – 7.52
Newcastle & Bristol
Liverpool – 6.5
Nottingham – 5.5
Belfast & Glasgow – 5
Leicester, Edinburgh & Southampton – 4.5
Birmingham, Sheffield & Dundee – 4
Leeds & London – 3
Geograph | Helly Hansen Watersports Centre
Speaking on the new rankings, Lisa Crocker – Regional General Manager from Staybridge Suites – said: “Once restrictions are lifted, it is likely that holidays will be restricted to the UK this summer [and] whilst the coast and countryside are the usual option in the British summer, our research shows that there are lots of amazing activities to enjoy in the UK”.
“Cities like Newcastle have perfect summer settings and breathtaking countryside a short drive away, offering the best of both.
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“Post lockdown, we are anticipating a big increase in people choosing self-catering accommodation options and the flexibility to feel safe in a home away from home”.
You can take a look at the full rankings and find more information here.
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Beyond The Music moves to MediaCity for the first-time ever
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester arts festival and conference Beyond The Music is back for 2026, but this time it will be heading to MediaCity for a Salford debut.
The long weekender is still a relative newcomer when it comes to the Manc events calendar, but it’s quickly gathered plenty of repute not just in the North West but within the industry as a whole.
Holding just its third edition later this year, Beyond The Music ’26 is set to be the most ambitious yet, spread across the three days and promising an impressive lineup both in terms of live performers, but also speakers, industry experts and wider activities.
With MediaCity and dock10 hosting their inaugural Beyond The Music, it’s another big win for the second city, with Sports Personality of the Year sticking over Salford way for the foreseeable future, along with other events like the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Awards moving to the Quayside.
Much of the BBC’s World Cup coverage is also being hosted at their Salfordian studios and main Northern base this summer, too.
Given that so many big annual dates have now made the switch to central Manchester – the BRITs and the MOBOs, just to name two recent examples – you could say it only makes sense to spread things out across the surrounding boroughs and their equally rich heritage.
Not that you should need reminding, but Salford isn’t just part of the region: it’s a city all of its own right that boasts an immense amount of pride over what is nothing short of a sterling musical history.
As for the 2026 Beyond The Music programme, besides both the local artists and more international creatives than ever, there’ll be keynote conversations, industry showcases, and wider networking opportunities for anyone looking to immerse themselves deeper in this world.
You’ll have to wait a little while longer for a full live music lineup, but watch this space…
Mayor Andy Burnham and friends help launch Beyond the Music at MediaCityUK (Credit: Mark Waugh)
Sarah Pearson, Co-founder of Beyond The Music, said in an official statement: “Beyond The Music’s mission is to seize this moment, to come together and drive meaningful and lasting change in the music and content industry.
“It’s undeniable that the impact and importance of music and content are stronger than ever, but this is not reflected in their perceived value.
“The ethical and economic infrastructure of the music and content industries demands urgent attention and bold reform… It is our responsibility to protect creativity in order to ensure it doesn’t just survive but thrives. Things may feel difficult, but they are still possible.”
Mayor Burnham added: “Greater Manchester has always been at the forefront of cultural innovation, and Beyond The Music is a vital opportunity for the sector to come together and address the challenges and opportunities facing music and content creation…
“With its move to MediaCity and a bigger-than-ever programme, Beyond The Music is helping to cement our city region’s place at the centre of the creative economy.”
Taking place between 7-9 October 2026, you can register for early bird tickets right HERE. Roll on an even more extensive festival season than ever.
No trams to run on three major Greater Manchester lines this Easter bank holiday weekend
Emily Sergeant
People are being urged to ‘plan ahead’ as no trams are set to run on three major Greater Manchester Metrolink lines this weekend.
As part of a continuing £150 million investment in the Metrolink network across the region, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has announced that more than 1km of track will be replaced on the Altrincham line, and work will also take place between Trafford Bar and Deansgate-Castlefield to prepare for full track replacement later in the year.
As a result, there will be no trams on the Altrincham, Eccles, and Trafford Park lines this Easter bank holiday weekend all day from Friday 3 to Monday 6 April.
On top of these line closures, there is also set to be disruption across other parts of the network too, as on the East Didsbury and Manchester Airport lines, trams will run to Firswood only, and services on the Rochdale line will terminate at Exchange Square.
To keep people moving over the four-day weekend, replacement buses will run between all the affected stops, TfGM has confirmed.
Anyone using a replacement bus, however, will still need a valid Metrolink ticket or a one-day Bee bus ticket to travel, and customers will be able to use all existing options to buy these, as they will not be able to buy a ticket or pay for the fare on the replacement buses themselves.
No trams will be running on three major Greater Manchester lines this Easter bank holiday weekend / Credit: TfGM
Replacement buses are said to be calling at ‘all affected stops’ along the lines, so customers are being told not to worry about that.
Speaking ahead of the improvement works being carried out this weekend, Ian Davies, who is the Network Director for Metrolink at TfGM, said: “The first main upgrades of the year get under way over the Easter weekend, as our £150m programme to improve our network continues.
“We’ll be doing everything we can to minimise disruption to passengers while we carry out this essential work to ensure our tram network remains reliable, resilient and safe for years to come.”
TfGM has assured that staff will be out and on-hand across the network this weekend, but is urging anyone travelling to plan for their journeys ahead of time to make sure they go as smoothly as possible.
Looking ahead to the rest of the month, no trams will run between Piccadilly Gardens and Ashton-under-Lyne on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 April while the track is repaired, and a further weekend closure for track repairs on the Ashton line will take place on Saturday 25 April and Sunday 26 April.
Find out more and plan ahead on the Bee Network’s dedicated webpage here.
Emily Sergeant -
14th April 2021 
