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Manchester crowned one of the most popular city break destinations in the UK

It also ranks in the top spots for city break destinations across Europe too.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 27th July 2020

Manchester has been ranked as one of the most popular city break destinations in the UK, according to a recently-conducted survey.

Of course it has – Manchester is one of the greatest cities in the world, if you ask us.

Is it the city’s renowned sporting history? Booming nightclub scene? Or simply just its welcoming and easy-going locals that make it so attractive to visitors? Whichever way, Manchester is often confidently mentioned in lists of the country’s ‘must-visit’ cities among tourists.

In fact, it’s been crowned as the top city break destination in the North of England for 2020.

A recently-conducted survey by Manchester-based luxury aparthotel company CitySuites has seen our city beat out the likes of Liverpool and York for top spot in the North, but how popular is Manchester when compared with other attractive city break destinations in the UK, and even with the rest of Europe?

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Whilst London and Edinburgh have taken the top two spots in the UK, Manchester comes in at number three.

The most popular city break destinations in the UK
(Based on searches made in the UK) 

Using Google search data obtained from Keyword Finder tool, the top 10 list has been devised using a number of analyses based on the phrase ‘hotels in X’, with X being the most searched for cities across the UK, and the term ‘hotels in Manchester’ was reportedly searched for an average of 74,000 times each month.

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Other popular UK cities such as Dublin, Glasgow and Cardiff also featured in the top 10 list.

When it comes to the rest of Europe though, how will Manchester fair? Well, it’s not budging – it’s sitting firmly at that number three spot, having been searched on average of 74,900 times across the UK.

The most popular city break destinations in Europe
(Based on searches made in the UK) 

Surprisingly, or maybe not that surprisingly at all to us Mancs, the search term ‘Hotels in Manchester’ actually receives more searches in the UK each month than terms such as ‘Hotels in Amsterdam’ and ‘Hotels in Paris’, which could suggest that city breaks in Manchester are much more desirable amongst us Brits than those overseas at the moment.

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These search figures certainly align with the rise in staycations reported across the UK amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

For more information on top city breaks in 2020, you can visit the CitySuites website here.

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A brand-new immersive ‘walking theatre’ and XR experience has landed in Greater Manchester

Danny Jones Danny Jones Walking theatre XR experience Trafford Palazzo

We hear the word immersive thrown around a lot these days, but if the notion of walking through some of your favourite fantasy and sci-fi worlds in a state-of-the-art XR tour doesn’t fit the definition, we don’t know what does.

Get ready to pull on a headset and be dropped into a different universe, Mancs.

This is Immersia XR: an industry-leading immersive entertainment and XR (extended reality) experience has just been unveiled right here in Greater Manchester.

Anyone for a ride on a magic carpet?

Credit: The Manc Group
Credit: Immersia XR (supplied)

Immersia XR specialises in what they call ‘Walking XR Theatre – a new term for a new kind of experience’, and boasts big plaudits across the board, with an average Google rating of 4.8 from dozens of reviews already.

Having just made its Manchester debut to the public at Trafford Palazzo (located right next to 0161’s famous Trafford Centre) this summer, the new addition brings cutting-edge technology blended with iconic family-favourite tales in an “unforgettable walk-through format.”

A lucky few have been treated to our first time, including us here at The Manc, and you’ll have to take our word for it when we tell you it’s a truly incredible experience.

It’s the first of its kind in the UK and Europe, and although there are other similar VR and AR offerings around the region, you won’t find anything quite like ‘walking theatre’ and this free-roam experience.

Credit: Supplied

As you can see above, there are a number of experiences to be enjoyed right from the off, including two modes inspired by childhood classics, Alice in Wonderland and Tales of Aladdin.

Ever fancied trying your hand as an astronaut and walking on the surface of the moon as you look back at the Earth below? Course you have! No training involved in this one, either.

Take that, Katy Perry, you can keep your short-lived Blue Origin nonsense to yourself.

Immersia XR’s ambition doesn’t stop there, though, as they are also preparing to introduce the exciting new ‘Terracotta Army’ experience in the near future.

Here’s a glimpse at how it looks inside the goggles:

Already open to the public and running up until Sunday, 6 July 2025, Immersia XR is fun for all ages, with kid-friendly zones and accessible narratives built into the experience.

Best of all, there are actually very few bells and whistles; no screens, no controllers – it’s just you walking through the story of your choice.

Immersia XR’s founder, Ian Xiang, said: “We’re not just launching a new attraction—we’re pioneering the future of storytelling. Walking XR Theatre is where cinema, theatre, and technology converge to create magic. You don’t just watch the story—you walk through it.”

Tickets are on sale now, with adult prices starting from only £17, children (ages 3–15) from just £12, and family tickets (2 adults, 2 kids) from £54. Great value for money.

Concession tickets are also available for students and over-65s, priced from £16, and group bookings of 10 or more receive 10% off. You can even get 20% off all ticket types with the early bird code: PRESS20. You can grab yours HERE.

Credit: Supplied/The Manc Group

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)

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5 Easter foods that are toxic to dogs and what to do if they eat them

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

With Easter upon us, and households nationwide tucking into a feast of chocolate treats and festive leftovers, we need to make sure we keep an eye on those food vacuums.

And by food vacuums, we of course mean our four-legged friends.

We all know that a lot of themed foods and sugary goodness tends to get consumed over the Easter period, and with so much to make your way through, it can be tempting to treat your dogs to some of the leftovers.

But did you know that some common Easter foods can actually make them seriously ill? This is why it’s so important to know which ones should be avoided.

Whilst it’s perfectly fine to offer your pooch small snacks in moderation, there’s lots of foods around at this time of year that your dog may help themselves to if they aren’t stored away, and many of them are extremely toxic – so pet expert and founder of Yappy.com, John Smith, has highlighted which are dangerous for our dogs, what to do if they do consume them, and some of the safer choices to dogs as a well-deserved treat.

Here’s five Easter foods that are toxic to dogs.

Did you know that some common Easter foods can actually make dogs seriously ill? / Credit: Pxfuel

1. Chocolate

Chocolate is obviously one of the most popular treats to find in homes during Easter, but it contains a chemical called theobromine, which is seriously harmful to dogs, and this means that eating even a small amount of chocolate can have serious consequences and result in symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and death in some serious cases.

2. Hot Cross Buns

Hot Cross Buns are another delicious Easter food that should be kept far away as most contain dried fruit such as raisins, sultanas, and currants, which are toxic to dogs.

The reasons behind why these fruits are toxic is a bit of a mystery, as some dogs have eaten large amounts of dried fruit without feeling unwell, whereas others have become unwell after eating just a small amount – but John says it’s “definitely best to err on the side of caution” and make your own buns using a vet-approved dog-friendly recipe that you can enjoy together as a family without fear.

3. Cooked Bones

Cooked bones come with serious health risks for dogs.

Although they aren’t poisonous, they’re prone to splitting when gnawed and chewed, and this can lead to bone fragments getting stuck in their throats – which can result in choking.

4. Bulb Vegetables

Bulb vegetables are a roast dinner essential, but those such as onions and garlic can cause nasty stomach upsets for dogs, and in some cases, can even cause red blood cell damage, so it’s better to keep them on your plate and out of your pets’ mouths.

5. Meat Skin

It may be tempting to give your dog skin from the leftover chicken, or a fatty piece of meat – but this is far too rich for their tummies, and in some of the worst cases, it can cause inflammation of their pancreas.

Properly-cooked boneless pieces of chicken added to their dog food bowl is a better way to involve them in the Easter fun without risking their health. 

Chocolate and hot cross buns are just some of the Easter foods toxic to dogs / Credit: Pexels & FreeImages

What should I do if my pet has eaten something it shouldn’t have?

Even if your pet has only eaten a small amount of these foods, it’s important to do the following:  

  1. Call the vet straight away – Don’t wait for your pet to start showing symptoms. A vet will be able to offer advice, and the quicker you act, the better chance your pet will have of recovery.
  2. Note the time and quantity of food ingested – Provide the vet with as much information as you can. This includes the time your pet ate the unsafe food, brand names, the ingredient list and how much you think they consumed.
  3. Don’t try to make your pet sick – Attempting this can cause further health complications. Leave this to your vet, as they are trained to do this in a safe manner.

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John adds that dog owners should “keep any dangerous Easter foods well out of paws reach in a high cupboard”, and check that floors are “clear of toxic food scraps” that children may have dropped during Easter egg hunts and parties.

Featured Image – Wallpaper Flare | Liliana Fuchs (via Flickr)

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