Manchester has made Time Out’s list of the best places to visit in the UK in 2023, as the media and hospitality brand tries to shine the spotlight on day trip destinations and overnight breaks.
Our home city placed fourth in a list of 15 places around the country, praised for its ‘fun’ and its ‘green credentials’ (the latter might be a bit of a stretch…).
Manchester was beaten by seaside town Eastbourne, which placed first due to its ‘rising status as a creative and cultural hub’.
Our neighbours over in Cheshire also made the list, placing 15th.
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Cheshire joined Manchester on the list of the best places to visit. Credit: Marketing Cheshire
The upcoming cultural events in 2023 all helped boost Manchester up into fourth place, like the reopening of Manchester Museum and the opening of Factory International.
Cities and towns were judged on their food, drink and arts scene, as well as new projects and openings for visitors to look forward to next year – and we’ve got that in spades.
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Time Out wrote: “Manchester in a word? Definitely ‘fun’. And 2023 promises to be one of the funnest years to visit, ever.
“In February, the Manchester Museum will finally reopen following a huge £15 million transformation, while in June the brand-new Factory International will host ‘You, Me and the Balloons’, the largest-ever immersive exhibition from cult artist Yayoi Kusama.
“Later in the year, it will also be putting on a stage-show adaptation of The Matrix directed by Danny Boyle.
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“Two brand-new green spaces – Mayfield Park and the Castlefield Viaduct – are proof that Manchester takes its green credentials as seriously as its culture.”
It went on to recommend coffee at Ezra and Gil, a browse of Manchester Craft and Design Centre, and a film and pizza at HOME were all must-dos on your visit.
Huw Oliver, Time Out’s UK Editor explains why the places on the 2023 list have made the cut: “Rather than the usual hotspots, we want to highlight places, many of which are ludicrously underrated, which people don’t automatically think to go to.
“In all of the places on the list, you will find interesting things to see and do, eat and drink during the day and night, a friendly welcome and a community spirit which enables you to connect with locals and really get to know a place. We recommend that you definitely put one or more of these destinations on your travel list for next year.”
The full list of Time Out’s Best Places to Visit in the UK in 2023 and where Manchester ranks:
Eastbourne
Birmingham
Cardigan
Manchester
Scarborough
Glasgow
Dorset
London
Edinburgh
Liverpool
Padstow
Orkney
Margate
Sheffield
Cheshire
Featured image: Time Out
Travel & Tourism
Huge shuttle bus effort laid on to get Manchester United fans to Old Trafford amid tram disruption
Daisy Jackson
Transport for Greater Manchester has announced a shuttle bus scheme to help Manchester United fans get to Old Trafford this week, amid major tram disruption.
Fans won’t be able to use trams to get to the ground as usual, due to huge improvement works which are in place until Monday 2 November.
There’ll be no trams at all on the Altrincham, Trafford Park, and Eccles lines, with Airport and East Didsbury trams only going as far as Firswood.
That means that fans heading to Manchester United’s home game against Bournemouth would have been a little stuck without this newly-announced shuttle bus service.
Frequent dedicated shuttle buses will run running Piccadilly Gardens, Altrincham Interchange and the Trafford Centre, taking fans directly to Old Trafford before the game.
Frequencies range from five to 20 minutes depending on the route and time, with details available online. Return services will be in place after the final whistle.
TfGM staff will be at key stops and interchanges throughout the day to help fans get to the match and provide travel advice.
Huge shuttle bus effort laid on to get Manchester United fans to Old Trafford amid tram disruption. Credit: TfGM
Ian Davies, TfGM’s Network Director for Metrolink, said: “There is no good time to disrupt passengers to carry out these works, and this is the first time in over a decade that trams won’t serve Old Trafford on a match day, but these works are essential and will enable us to provide a better service in future. I am very sorry to fans who face disruption.
“We’ve put a range of alternative travel options in place, including dedicated shuttle buses, bolstered Bee Network bus services, rail options and ticket acceptance arrangements will help fans get to and from the game.
“Journey options will be different from usual, so we would encourage supporters to plan ahead, check their route and our website before they travel and leave plenty of time to get to and from the stadium.”
TfGM is advising supporters to leave around an hour earlier to help make sure they arrive in time for kick-off.
UK Government announces £100 fines for ‘antisocial behaviour’ on public transport
Emily Sergeant
The Government has today announced plans to tackle antisocial behaviour on public transport.
In a bid to crackdown on loud music, littering, vaping, and other threatening behaviour on buses and trains, guidance was issued by the Government today for local authorities to prosecute and even issue fines of up to £100.
For many, playing audio out loud on public transport – also known as ‘loudcasting’ – has become one of modern life’s most irritating parts of the daily commute, but now, a new national campaign is aiming to encourage rail passengers, in particular, to ‘share the carriage, not the noise’ to improve the journey experience for all.
This will include reminders of the rules in place on the rail network and, if a passenger refuses to stop when asked by authorised rail staff, they can be removed from the train at the next station or face fines up to £1,000.
On buses, however, the powers for authorities were already made possible by the Bus Services Act 2025, meaning all local transport authorities in England are able to set and enforce their own rules.
Authorised officers – including transport safety officers and the police – will be responsible for enforcement, rather than bus drivers themselves, and they will be tasked with a three-step approach to deal with incidents. They will need to:
Engage with the person
Explain the rules and their impact on other passengers
Take enforcement action if they refuse to comply
“We’ve all been on the train when someone starts blasting music or videos from their phone,” commented Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
“It gets on your nerves and can quickly spoil the journey, so we’re launching a nationwide campaign reminding passengers to use headphones on trains. On top of that, we’re giving local leaders new powers to tackle loud music, vaping and littering on buses.
“It’s a simple thing, but one that will make journeys that little bit better for all of us.”
Ben Plowden, Chief Executive at the Campaign for Better Transport, added: “Antisocial behaviour is not just irritating, it can be a real deterrent to people using public transport – especially people with different accessibility requirements.
“If these new powers are properly and visibly enforced, they should help everyone feel safe and comfortable on public transport and enjoy the ride.”
Daisy Jackson -
30th November 2022 
