48 Hours in Manchester
Getting Here
Take the super speedy Pendolino trains up the West Coast
mainline and you can get from London to Manchester in just over two
hours. Trains from Glasgow take a bit longer, clocking in at just
under four hours, Newcastle is just under three and Birmingham just
under two. There are frequent scheduled flights into Manchester
Airport from most UK airports, plus a number of lo-cost airline
options to boot. Plan to arrive for 7-ish so you’ve got time to
check in before a leisurely introduction to the Manchester
nightlife.
A place to lay your head
If you fancy a bedroom in the clouds you can head for the
Manchester Hilton in the sleek new Hilton tower, the tallest
residential building in the UK. Alternatively you can try the
Radisson Edwardian, a sensitive transformation of the city’s old
Free Trade Hall that has kept a lot of the building’s original
character. The Jury’s Inn Manchester is a bit easier on the pocket,
as is the Premier Lodge Manchester Central. For a real treat, try
the Great John Street, an old school-house transformed into an
30-room boutique hotel with a fantastic roof terrace and a view of
the Coronation Street set.
Shaken or Stirred
Whether you’re staying there or not, take the lift up to the
23rd floor Cloud Bar at the Hilton for a cocktail with a view – on
a clear evening you can see as far as the Lancashire coast. No
shortage of quality restaurants to choose from nearby – the
Restaurant Bar & Grill on John Dalton Street is a place to be
seen, or for impressive British cooking in a canalside setting try
Albert’s Shed or Choice down at Castlefield. For something lighter,
try Evuna on Deansgate for authentic tapas and a superb selection
of Spanish wines.
Cultural Enlightenment
After breakfast, head off for a bit of culture at one of the
city’s numerous museums and galleries. There’s quite a diverse
selection, ranging from top quality art and sculpture at Manchester
Art Gallery and fascinating exhibits at the Museum of Science and
Industry to the more individual and quirky offerings such as
Urbis , devoted to all things relating to urban culture and the
contemplative Chinese Arts Centre.
A spot of lunch
After your cultural morning you can either lunch in situ (the
galleries and museums have all got noteworthy cafés too) or head
off to the café hot spots of Canal Street or the Northern Quarter.
Alternatively, aim for Exchange Square and start off an afternoon
of retail therapy with a trip to the 2nd floor brasserie at Harvey
Nichols or choose from a great selection of counter eating options
in Selfridge’s funky food hall.
Retail therapy
From Exchange Square you can head down the shop-lined New
Cathedral Street towards St Anne’s Square and King Street, taking
in Armani to Zara and everything inbetween. Manchester Arndale has
undergone a major revamp, with a host of new stores, including the
UK’s largest Top Shop. The city has also rediscovered markets in a
big way – there’s a year-round programme of themed outdoor markets,
ranging from the inevitable continental options to the more unusual
fashion market, where new designers tout their wares.
On Stage
Make Saturday night a bit of a performance. You can catch a
concert at The Bridgewater Hall or experience the UK’s first
theatre in the round at The Royal Exchange, where every notable
British thesp from Tom Courtney to Helen Mirren has trodden the
boards. You can also take the 20-minute tram ride out to The Quays
to catch what’s on at The Lowry which could be anything from comedy
and ballet to musical and theatrical performances.
All that Jazz
Later on you can find out why Manchester’s nightlife is
justifiably famous. Funakademia at One Central Street is a good
Saturday night bet, with fantastic old school funk classics, or if
your prefer your music live, head into the Northern Quarter to Matt
and Phred’s, an intimate jazz club which always has something on
worth listening to.
Out to brunch
After a long lie-in, head into the Northern Quarter where brunch
is undergoing a bit of a Mancunian reinvention at independent bars
and cafés such as Trof, Odd and Oklahoma. If you really want to
push the boat out, try the Sunday special at one of the Northern
Quarter’s authentic curry houses – it normally involves a
slow-cooked lamb dish made to mother’s special recipe and it‘ll set
you up for the week!
Bohemian browsing
The Northern Quarter’s also the place to go if you prefer your
shopping a little more offbeat, with its warren of independent
shops and galleries. It’s where you’ll find vintage clothing
emporia such as Rags to Bitches and a slew of specialist record
shops such as Vox Pop (where you can also pit-stop for coffee and
cake at the small but perfectly formed Love Saves The Day café).
Unique jewellery, clothing and furniture are all on offer at the
Manchester Craft and Design Centre and the Richard Goodall Gallery
does a great line in art, photography and music memorabilia.
Take in the view
Blow away the cobwebs with a tram ride out to The Quays, where
you can add in more cultural brownie points with a saunter round
the Lowry galleries or the thought-provoking exhibitions at
Imperial War Museum North. Alternatively, take the 40 minute train
journey to Liverpool, where you can see the world’s second most
famous waterfront (after Manhattan’s) and grab some extra culture
at Tate Liverpool and the Walker Art Gallery.