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. Around Petersfield there’s also a number of good
self-catering options to choose from including Staying Cool and the
Blue Rainbow Aparthotel. At the Piccadilly end of town, there’s a
good range of places to lay your head, with the Velvet Hotel on
Canal Street being the newest kid on the block.
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 Grill
on the Alley is a good 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 (including a
new Anthony Gormley piece) 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 Ann’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 second 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.
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 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 area’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
For some quirky retail therapy, take a wander round the Northern
Quarter’s warren of independent shops and galleries, including
vintage clothing emporia such as Rags to Bitches and the area’s
famous selection of specialist record shops. Find unique jewellery
and clothing pieces at the Manchester Craft and Design Centre and
the Richard Goodall Gallery does a great line in art, photography
and music memorabilia. If you get peckish try the Bread and Butter
Café where they serve sensational home-made cakes, or Cup part of
the empire of local music legend Mr Scruff, where the offerings
include fantastic pies and an array of funky teapots.
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.