Manchester boasts a proud history that saw it lead the world in science, transport, arts, sport, politics, and so much more. This is the city that saw Rutherford first split the atom and where the Suffragette Movement and industrial revolution was born. It’s where the famous Madchester music scene began and is home to City and United, teams that have conquered the football world.
The city’s rich heritage is reflected in its iconic landmarks, museums, and architecture, while vibrant restaurants, bars, shops, hotels, and music scene, continue to make the Manchester a must visit destination. With so much discover and explore, here’s our guide to best places to visit.
Football Club Stadium Tour
Visit the home of the Premier League Champions and take a sneak peek behind the stadium scenes in the blue half of Manchester. Experience what happens on matchdays in the first team dressing room thanks to an immersive audio-visual show, then walk down the tunnel and take in the view from the pitch side dug out.
A visit to the media room will give you an insight into post-match press conferences questions, while a virtual Pep Guardiola is on hand to answer questions and pose for photographs. Don’t forget to visit the trophy room too, with a Club World Cup, Super Cup, Champions League Trophy, and Premier League Trophy to admire. If red is more your colour, then head over to Old Trafford for a tour of the home of the Red Devils, and walk in the footsteps of some iconic football legends.
Co-op Live
The recently constructed and eagerly anticipated, Co-op Live, is the UK’s only music-first arena. With the largest floor space of any indoor venue in the country, a lower ceiling, and tiered seating, the venue was specifically designed to create a more immersive concert experience for fans.
Boasting a capacity of 23,500, cutting edge visual technology and world class acoustics, Co-op Live has already played host to some of the biggest artists in the world, including Liam Gallagher, Pearl Jam, Sabrina Carpenter, Teddy Swims, Olivia Rodrigo, and Bruce Springsteen.
Manchester235
Located in the Great Northern Warehouse, this vibrant Vegas-style casino offers visitors an enjoyable evening’s entertainment. With multiple gaming floors, a dedicated poker lounge, and numerous gaming tables, it caters to both casual players and seasoned enthusiasts. In addition to the on-site experience, many players are also turning to online casinos for the convenience of accessing their favourite games from home. Popular titles like the Eye of Horus slot, which you’ll find both on the floor here and across top online platforms, bridge the gap between in-person and digital gaming, offering the same engaging features and ancient Egyptian theme wherever you choose to play.
Science and Industry Museum
Located in the heart of Manchester, the museum explores 250 years of innovations and ideas that that originated in the city and went on to change the world. There are daily demonstrations to help bring exhibits to life, while the world’s oldest surviving passenger railway station and first railway warehouse are all perfectly preserved and well worth a visit. With lots of interactive exhibits, and constantly changing exhibitions, the Science and Industry Museum is the perfect place for inquisitive minds of all ages.
The Trafford Centre
Located just outside Manchester city centre, the Trafford Centre attracts an estimated 35 million visitors every year. Recognised as one of biggest shopping and leisure destinations in Europe, it is home to over 200 shops, including Selfridges, John Lewis, Sephora, Apple Store, Zara, and Calvin Klein. The venue also offers a choice of over 60 restaurants, cafes, and bars, plus a 20 screen Odeon cinema, Sea Life, and Legoland Discovery Centre.
The Whitworth
Founded in 1889 as The Whitworth Institute and Park in memory of the industrialist Sir Joseph Whitworth, the venue remains part of the University of Manchester and aims to use art for social change. Following a comprehensive £17 million redevelopment by MUMA architects in 2015, the impressive building and its new state-of-the-art facilities saw the gallery nominated for the prestigious Stirling Prize.
Now the gallery is home to an internationally important collection of over 60,000 works of wallpapers, art, and textiles. The exhibits include works by Degas, Van Gogh, Pissarro, Picasso, and Gauguin, while British artists such as Sickert, Epstein, Bacon, Freud, and Tracey Emin
The John Rylands Research Institute and Library
The library was commissioned in 1890 following the death of John Rylands, one of Manchester’s most prominent industrialists. The result is a breathtaking example of Victorian Gothic architecture that looks more like a cathedral than a library.
Recognised as one of the finest neo-Gothic buildings in the world, it houses a world class collection that includes the St John Fragment, the oldest known piece of the New Testament. Other must see treasures include medieval manuscripts and a priceless 1476 William Caxton edition of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
