hey,

i'll be visiting here tomorrow. i'll be there about 24 hours. my only concrete goals are to take lots of pictures and go through the imperial war museum.

any good recommendations? i'm risking a stay at the britannia, despite the horrid reviews, so if that helps location wise.

thanks :cheers:

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go to urbis, (good exhibition on punk at the mo), don't go in the shopping quarter,go to castlefield, visit the obvious landmarks (town hall etc), hmm, i'll post more later.

go to urbis, (good exhibition on punk at the mo), don't go in the shopping quarter,go to castlefield, visit the obvious landmarks (town hall etc), hmm, i'll post more later.

imo, If you want to do museums the war museum, city art gallery and the science and industy museum are all class.

avoid the permanent exhibition in urbis like the plague, it is utterly awful and banal in every way. The punk exhibition there is ok but you'd be much, much better off doing one or two of the above three places. Do pop into the foyer at Urbis to have a look at the building though.

Northern Quarter
Salford Quays (you're going there anyway)
Heaton Park
Printworks
Urbis
Museum of Science and Industry (an absolute MUST SEE! I mean it you HAVE to do it!)
Castlefield

The britannia is facing picadilly gardens (have a look at the city tower getting a reclad). Then take a trip down Market st turn right and you will come to Exchange square. There you will found Urbis you can't miss it, have a stroll round (it's free). Then you will find the Printworks which is facing it. It has bars, restaurants and a cinema. Once you've been in the printworks. Walk pass Urbis through Cathedral Gardens and have a look at Manchester Cathedral. Then take it easy and have a drink in the Olde Wellington (which is the oldest pub in Manchester). Then walk down New Cathedral St pass Harvey Nichols, and up to St Anns Square, and check out St Anns church. Turn right on to Deansgate and you will see Beetham in the distance. Walk up a bit then turn right again and have a stroll round the Science and Industry Museum (also free). Then after that head for Albert Square and you will find Manchester Town hall. There you can snap or click to your hearts content outside and inside.Then make your way to St Peters Square. Pop into the tourist information centre jump on a tram Salford Quay here you come.

Nearly forgot. Get on the Manchester tourist bus which takes you every above and much more. Like Victoria baths, Manchester United football ground, the Quays. You get the bus from St Peters Square. I hope you have a great day in Manchester like i do everytime i go.

After the Museum of Science and Industry walk back up Liverpool Street to Deansgate, cross straight over walking past the Beetham site and under the tunnel. You will come out facing the Bridgewater Hall (fine building), turn left and pass the GMEX, Midland Hotel and take a look at the rising Great Northern Tower.

Pop into St Peter's square taking a glance at the central library, town hall and town hall extension. The art gallery is also nearby if you fancy that.

Catch the tram from St Peters Square to Salford Quays for the Lowry, Imperial War Museum and the two Old Traffords if you are that way inclined.

or,
stay in your room and watch the cricket.

The Brittania gets bad reviews? Meh, the fact that it's a fantastic building more than compensates.

I've always thought the Imperial War Museum exhibits are a bit over hyped. It's alright, but doesn't blow me away. The building does though.

Go for a drink on Canal Street, especially if the weather's ok. And have a curry in Rusholme.


I guess the people who live in a place are amongst the worst at suggesting touristy stuff there... it's like all the people who tell you how great London is because of all the museums and galleries and historic buildings, yet they never actually go to them themselves.

Go into the back room of the City Arms on Kennedy Street have a drink, then go and have a drink in Mr Thomas's Chop House on Cross St. See the Pre Raphelite paintings in the Art Gallery on Moseley Street, go into Afflecks and sample all the tat they sell in there, have a coffee in the cafe facing the town hall in Albert Square or in the Royal Exchange if it's open. Walk down Oxford Rd through the University and have a look at the Whitworth Gallery, have a curry from one of those cheap cafes behind Shudehill. Have a drink in the Circus Tavern on Portland Street or if you can't get in go in the Grey Horse and drink some Hydes. Look at some Lowry's at the Lowry when you come out of the War Museum. Walk along Cheetham Hill Road and find the Synagogue where the first President of Israel worshipped.

thanks for the suggestions y'all. i got through urbis - permanent and sex pistols exhibitions, and enjoyed both, and the imperial war museum which was great. i didn't get enough time in the city so i'll have to come back someday. the britannia was pretty good despite all of the bad reviews online.

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