Manchester - A Closer Look at the Culture, Local Art & History

2.5 million

+44 (national), (0) 161 (city)

Manchester Visitor Centre, The Town Hall Extension, Lloyd Street, Manchester M60 2LA, tel: +44 (0) 161 234 3157,

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Manchester - the city David Beckham put on the style map - is a vibrant metropolis with a wealth of attractions, nightlife, arts and sports scene which are second only to the capital, London.

Best known for giving the world Manchester United, Ben Kingsley, The Bee Gees and Oasis, Manchester boasts handsome Victorian architecture (cue the Town Hall) and a revitalized waterfront on The Quays. The Quays was the heart of the region's 19th-century textile industry and is now home to the glitzy Lowry Arts Centre, fashionable shops, businesses and restaurants.

Equally snazzy these days is Manchester's historic district, the Millennium Quarter, now home to the Triangle, a premier shopping centre situated in the old Corn Exchange. Past and present rub shoulders here, for the shimmering glass 'skin' of new visitor attraction, Urbis, reflects the greenery of the Cathedral Gardens. Be sure to pay it a visit for the views from the 6th floor. Don't miss the new B in the Bang spiky steel sculpture outside the City of Manchester stadium, unveiled in January 2005. It's the tallest sculpture in the UK and mighty impressive!

Neighbouring attractions include Lyme Park in Stockport, site of Mr Darcy's infamous swimming scene in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, and Old Trafford, home to Manchester United Football Stadium, Museum and Tour Centre.

Summers are warm (20°C) and winters are cool and wet (2°C).

This landmark building is home to art galleries, two theatres, an interactive exhibition and a restaurant - plus scores of paintings by none other than J.S. Lowry.

The Quays (Salford), Manchester, tel: +44 (0) 161 876 2000. Open daily. Admission free.

Situated in Castlefield, the UK's first urban heritage park is a seven-acre site and a treasure trove of machinery and technology offering insights into Manchester's industrial past.

Liverpool Road (Castlefield), Manchester, tel: +44 (0) 161 832 2244. Open daily. Admission free.

A dramatic new addition to the cityscape of the Millennium Quarter, Urbis is a new museum devoted to life in global cities. Wrapped in glass, it has interactive exhibits across four floors and great views from the 6th floor.

Cathedral Gardens (city centre), Manchester, tel: +44 (0) 161 907 9099. Open daily. Admission free.

N4's network of lanes is home to a swathe of independent galleries and studios plus the famous Manchester institution, Affleck's Palace, with its multitude of quirky boutiques selling clothes by local designers. There are plenty of smart bars too.

Oldham St, High St and environs (Northern Quarter, Shude Hill metrolink station), Manchester.

Manchester's indoor track biking arena offers daily taster sessions for bike enthusiasts.

Stuart Street (East Manchester, Piccadilly metrolink station), Manchester, tel: +44 (0) 161 223 2244. Open daily.

The best place in the city for contemporary art, sculpture and photography. There is also a three-screen arthouse cinema, a cool bar and a laid-back café.

70 Oxford Street (city centre, St Peter's Square metrolink station), Manchester, tel: +44 (0) 161 200 1500. Open daily. Admission to exhibitions is free.