Travel & Tourism

Manchester named as one of the best cities in the WORLD to visit in 2024

We'll absolutely take that.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 23rd January 2024

Manchester has once again been named as one of the world’s best cities in Time Out’s annual list, beating the likes of Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and Sydney.

Our humble hometown placed in 15th place in Time Out’s 50 Best Cities In the World survey for 2024, thanks to its vibrant restaurant scene, its comedy circuit, and its cultural powerhouses.

While New York cinched the top spot this year (fair enough), Manchester gave us plenty of reasons to be proud.

Time Out writers praised its music history, its sporting prowess, and its night time economy, and celebrated famous local legends like Tyson Fury, Steve Coogan and Caroline Aherne.

The only other UK cities to also feature on the list were London, Glasgow and our neighbours in Liverpool (who did creep in ahead of us in seventh place, but we’ll gloss over that bit…).

Time Out has surveyed thousands of locals, asking people about the quality and affordability of the food, culture and nightlife scenes in their city and how their city makes them feel.

They were also asked about which other city they would most like to live in.

The survey responses were then combined with more than 100 Time Out writers and editors who were also polled on cities across the globe.

The end result is a list of the best cities in the world right now, with the top 10 named as New York, Cape Town, Berlin, London, Madrid, Mexico City, Liverpool, Tokyo, Rome and Porto.

According to Time Out’s finding, 96% of Mancs say their city makes them happy.

For Manchester, the list said: “Few cities have achieved more than Manchester. Countless incredible bands, two globe-conquering football teams, and one world boxing champ, thanks to local lad Tyson. But Manchester doesn’t stand still.

Manchester happy hours - 10 Tib Lane
Manchester happy hours – 10 Tib Lane
Musu in Manchester serves high-end sushi
Musu in Manchester serves high-end sushi

“Since Ancoats’ Mana bagged a Michelin star in 2019, the food scene has soared, leading to astonishingly inventive meals at the likes of Erst, 10 Tib Lane and MUSU. The underground clubbing scene is unrivalled, thanks to the progressive (and semi-lawless) feel of Hidden, The Loft and The White Hotel. Meanwhile, The Peer Hat, Eagle Inn and Aatma prove that alternative music isn’t dead, just more experimental than ever.

“Most excitingly, the live comedy circuit harks back to the golden age of Caroline Aherne and Steve Coogan, full of uncompromising northern voices, and refreshingly light on nepo babies. Our hot tips: scathing working-class wit Rachel Fairburn, twisted club comic Chris Cantrill and menacing-hearthrob-slash-viral-video-sensation Tom Lawrinson, to name but three.”

It continued: “It’s no coincidence that Chanel held its 2023 fashion show here, mere weeks after the UK’s landmark arts hub Factory International [Aviva Studios] opened its doors. The balance of cultural power has finally shifted up North, making Manchester one of the most vibrant and fast-growing cities in Europe right now. And the rain isn’t that bad. Honest.”

Grace Beard, Travel Editor at Time Out said: “Time Out knows cities like no-one else, and that’s thanks to the opinions and insights of our global network of local expert journalists on the ground in cities around the world.

“Our annual survey lets us keep a finger on the pulse of city-dwellers to create a global snapshot of city living right now.

“Every city that made the list did so because locals rate it highly – so whether a city ranked at one or fifty, it’s still one of the greatest amongst the thousands of cities around the globe.

“This year, the top cities are not only incredible places to visit and go out in, with world-class restaurants, culture and nightlife, but they’re also great places to live, with strong community spirit and an undeniable vibe.”

Time Out’s 50 Best Cities in the World right now

  1. New York
  2. Cape Town
  3. Berlin
  4. London
  5. Madrid
  6. Mexico City
  7. Liverpool
  8. Tokyo
  9. Rome
  10. Porto
  11. Paris
  12. Mumbai
  13. Lisbon
  14. Chicago
  15. Manchester
  16. São Paulo
  17. Los Angeles
  18. Amsterdam
  19. Lagos
  20. Melbourne
  21. Naples
  22. Singapore
  23. Miami
  24. Bangkok
  25. Lima
  26. Budapest
  27. Beijing
  28. Dubai
  29. Montreal
  30. Glasgow
  31. Sydney
  32. Buenos Aires
  33. Kuala Lumpur
  34. Manila
  35. Seoul
  36. Hanoi
  37. San Francisco
  38. Barcelona
  39. Abu Dhabi
  40. New Orleans
  41. Philadelphia
  42. Austin
  43. Boston
  44. Accra
  45. Marseille
  46. Taipei
  47. Istanbul
  48. Osaka
  49. Hong Kong
  50. Vancouver

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Featured image: Unsplash

Travel & Tourism

Shocking new study reveals that almost 100 people a day are caught drink-driving

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Nearly 100 drivers a day in Britain have had ‘drink-drive endorsements’ added to their licences in the past three years, a shocking new study has revealed.

Alarmingly, it’s people between the ages of 25 and 39 that are the most frequently penalised for drink-driving – with around 48,000 drivers in this age bracket being handed endorsements, followed closely by 40,000 drivers aged 40 to 65.

In contrast, only 15,000 drivers aged 17 to 24 were penalised, and a mere 3,000 over-65s received points on their licence between 2022 and 2024.

It’s all according to a study by road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, using data obtained from the DVLA via a Freedom of Information request.

A shocking new study has revealed that almost 100 people a day are caught drink-driving / Credit: Pexels

Drivers caught over the alcohol limit face automatic licence revocation, potential imprisonment, and unlimited fines, while the endorsement remains on a driving licence for 11 years.

Another shocking revelation from the study is that fatalities linked to drink-driving have climbed over the past decade, peaking in 2022 at the highest level in 13 years – with the RAC saying this trend ‘raises alarms’ about the effectiveness of current road safety measures.

RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis called it ‘completely unacceptable’.

“These disturbing figures show the twin evils of driving under the influence of drink and drugs are behind a frightening number of lives lost on the UK’s roads every year,” he commented.

A third of Brits want police to immediately ban drink drivers at the roadside / Credit – Vladimir Proskurovskiy (via Unsplash)

“A new approach to tackling these repugnant crimes is desperately needed. We hope this will be a key part of the Government’s forthcoming road safety strategy, [as] we’ve consistently been calling for a change in approach when it comes to reducing alcohol-related road deaths, as it’s clear the status quo isn’t working.”

The RAC has been campaigning for courts being given the powers to mandate the fitting of alcohol interlocks (‘alcolocks’) to offenders’ vehicles to prevent them driving drunk again.

It is also ‘supportive’ of the police being given the powers to immediately disqualify any driver who fails a drink or drugs test at the roadside.

Read more:

“This has the potential to reduce drink-drive casualties, especially among habitual offenders,” Rod concluded. 

Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons

Travel & Tourism

The incredible plans to build floating walkways over Manchester’s waterways

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The Cyanlines plans could see new floating walkways built over Manchester's walkways

A major project that will deliver a 100-mile-plus network connecting Manchester’s parks, squares and waterways has been unveiled – and it includes impressive floating walkways.

The first steps for the CyanLines mega project have been unveiled today, including the first four routes which will link the likes of Mayfield Park, New Islington Marina, Castlefield Viaduct and Kampus.

The ambitious plans will also link lesser-known pocket parks, canal tow paths, and pedestrianised walkways, and will incorporate new planned outdoor spaces such as the Science Museum courtyard and the former Central Retail Park.

One particularly eye-catching proposal will be a new floating walkway across the middle of the River Irwell, complete with a canoe dock and storage area.

The plans will adapt to Manchester’s ever-expanding cityscape and will link up new and existing developments, providing green walking and cycling routes around town.

Manchester and Salford City Councils have already worked together and secured funding from the National Trust, Natural England, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Nature Towns and Cities programme.

There are four CyanLines pilot routes – the first being a 5km ‘Irk Valley Explorer’ that will link Chethams Library and the Glade of Light memorial, Angel Meadows, the under-development City River Park, and the Barney’s Steps made famous by LS Lowry, ending with a view of the city skyline.

Then there’s the Mayfield, New Islington and Ancoats Loop, which will connect together Mayfield Park, the Ashton Canal, the Central Retail Park which is being transformed into a campus for the UK Government, New Islington Marina, Ancoats Green, and all the way down to leafy Kampus.

How the River Irwell could look with the CyanLines routes in place
How the River Irwell could look with the CyanLines routes in place
How the River Irwell looks currently
How the River Irwell looks currently

CL3, otherwise known as the ‘Walking the knowledge corridor’, incorporates significant landmarks like the Emmeline Pankhurst statue, our historic canal network, the Palace Theatre, Symphony Gardens, the universities, Manchester Museum, and Whitworth Art Gallery.

And the final of the four pilot routes is the CL4, focused around the almighty Castlefield Viaduct but also joining the Bridgewater Canal into Salford and the Irwell River Park, as well as the gardens around Chapel Street, Greengate Park, and the River Irwell itself.

Councillor Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester is on a mission to make our city greener, investing in new parks and green spaces including the likes of Mayfield, Ancoats Green and the Castlefield Viaduct, in addition to our work to celebrate and open up our rivers and canals. We are a city with exciting, and transformational plans for the future. .

“But there’s more that we can do together. CyanLines is a bold new initiative over the next decade to imagine and create over 100 miles of connected parks, green spaces and waterfronts.

“This is just the start of CyanLines and I urge residents, business owners, community groups and leaders to join us on this very exciting journey to truly transform our city.”

Tom Bloxham MBE CBE, CyanLines project co-founder and chair, Urban Splash and founding Chair Manchester International Festival (MIF) and Factory International said that the same ambition that grew MIF will be applied to CyanLines.

How the River Irwell could look with the CyanLines routes in place
More before-and-after images of the CyanLines pilot plans

He said: “We want to bring the whole city along with us, to help us plan, fund and deliver CyanLines. No idea is too big, too ambitious, too audacious or too small or too straightforward.

“Everyone wants more green space. Everyone wants to be able to walk to the end of Castlefield Viaduct. Everyone wants to be healthier and happier.

“Imagine more species and drifts of plants and wildflowers and allotments in the city centre and being able to walk one or 100 miles of continuous paths linking all our amazing spaces. Together we can make it happen!”

Pete Swift, CyanLines project co-founder and CEO of Planit said: “The first four CyanLines provide so much more than walkable and wheelable connections linking the existing and planned excellent green and blue spaces across the city, to bring us all closer to nature and nature closer to us.

“The routes will be the starting point, or spring board, for a whole plethora of CyanLines projects which will bring new opportunities for nature to thrive and to be enjoyed.

“The ambition for CyanLines does not stop at Manchester and Salford city centres. It will ultimately link up all Greater Manchester’s boroughs to bring our citizens and communities closer to nature and help drive a greener, healthier, and inclusive future. From Dunham Massey in the south, to Northern Roots in Oldham; from Leigh via RHS Bridgewater, Media City on to the foot of the Pennines.”

Mike Innerdale, regional director North of England, National Trust said: “National Trust are firm supporters of CyanLines, not least because its core aim mirrors our own of ensuring more people have access to nature particularly in our towns and cities, and to bring nature to people’s doorsteps wherever they live.

“We recently announced we have secured the majority of the £3 million of funding for the Castlefield Viaduct which will allow us to bring Phase 2 of this iconic sky park project to life, enabling us to create a through route at the heart of the city. We look forward to working with the CyanLines team and other partners as both our projects advance, connecting Castlefield viaduct with the other wonderful spaces in Manchester and Salford city centres.”

To find out more about CyanLines, head HERE.

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Featured image: VirtualPlanit

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