Things to Do
For a full selection of things to do in Manchester go to
www.visitmanchester.com. Here
is a selection of some of the best.
Northern Quarter
Colloquially known as Manchester’s creative quarter due to it
concentration of designers, artist and musicians, it may not be the
ritziest part of the city centre but it’s certainly one of the most
interesting. A stroll around the quirky streets will reward you
with eclectic record shops, vintage and specialist clothes stores,
bohemian bars and eateries. N4 is also home to the Manchester Craft
and Design Centre, the Manchester Buddhist Centre and the
Manchester institution that is Afflecks. Definitely not
mainstream.
Exchange Square
A shoppers’ haven with Harvey Nichols, Heals and Selfridges all
within a stiletto’s totter of each other. There’s a number of handy
eateries, such as Zinc Brasserie and Manchester’s favourite noodle
bar, Tampopo, plus the quirky Future Systems’ design of Selfridges’
food hall houses a variety of differently-themed food counters to
perch at for a chilled glass of wine and a mid-retail therapy
bite-to-eat.
Chill Factore
Trafford Way, Trafford Quays, M41 7JA
The UK’s first complete Alpine ski village looks like it landed
from outer space on the edge of the M60. You can ski, board, tube
or just have a snowball fight at the country’s longest real snow
indoor ski slope, followed by the full-on après-ski experience in a
myriad of bars and restaurants.
www.chillfactore.com
Guided walks
T: 0871 222 8223
Discover the city’s secret corners with a range of guided walks
that take you everywhere from up the Town Hall bell tower to down
below the city streets tracing the history of the Rochdale canal.
There’s topic-driven options too, including a tour devoted to
Mancunian inventions and one to the history of the city’s radical
politics.
THINGS TO BUY
Old and obscure vinyl, vintage clothing, Manchester United
memorabilia, designer labels.
GIVE IT A WHIRL..
Afflecks
52 Church Street, M4 1PW
Marked by the fabulous Tom Judd illustrations outside, this
otherwise unprepossessing building houses a rabbit warren of
alternative shops and stalls, selling everything from skateboards
and fetish gear to vintage clothing and records.