Hostelworld Guide for ManchesterWidely regarded as the North of England's capital, Manchester is one of Britain's most visited cities. Andit's not hard to see why. Not only does Manchester boast an incredibly rich musical history and a thriving

music scene, it's also one of the top UK cities in terms of shopping. You're never far from the nearest mallor shop-lined street. Sports fanatics will be in their element too, as this city is home to the wildly popularManchester United soccer club. It's not all about bands, balls and bags of shopping though. Here you'll

also find a large number of fascinating (and often free) museums and art galleries. It's a great city for juststrolling around too, with many of the main attractions well-signposted and easily accessible on foot. If

you get tired, there's a great public transport system to take advantage of. All in all, a friendly city that'sdefinitely worth a visit.

In this Guide...

Useful InformationAfter Dark

Places to EatTop Attractions

Budget TipsWhere to Shop

The Essentials Climate

Getting There

By plane: Manchester Airport, the UK's secondbusiest passenger airport outside of London, islocated south of the city centre. Direct trains leavethe airport for the city every 15 minutes and thejourney takes around 20 minutes.

By train: Trains from destinations all over the UKterminate in Manchester's main train station,Piccadilly Station.

By bus: National Express operates many busservices into Manchester Piccadilly from locationsacross Britain.

Getting Around

By train: Manchester's Metrolink rail service, knownas 'the tram', runs on two lines across the city andcovers many of the main attractions.

By bus: A free 'Metroshuttle' bus service runs onthree routes covering most of the city centre. Itoperates on Monday to Saturday from 7am-7pmand on Sunday from 10am-6pm.

On foot: Manchester has a compact city centre,with many of the main attractions within walkingdistance of each other.

Manchester factsName: Manchester has also been known as'Cottonopolis', as a result of the numerouscotton mills found in the area in the late 18thand 19th centuries.

Location: Manchester is situated in the northwest of England.

Population: Over 460,000 people live in thiscity.

Area: Manchester covers an approximate areaof 45 square miles.

Manchester has a temperate maritime climate,which tends to mean cool summers and mildwinters. Temperatures hover around 15C duringJuly and August, the warmest months of thesummer. During the winter, January tends to be thecoldest month with temperatures sometimesdropping below zero. The city sees quite a bit ofrain each year, with over 120 millimetres falling inDecember, the city's wettest month. May is themonth in which Manchester sees the most sun, witharound 6 hours of sunshine each day.

Good to know...Language: EnglishCurrency: Pound Sterling (STG)Electricity: 220 Volts AC/50 Hz, 3-pin plugArea code: +44 (England), 0161 (Manchester)Emergency codes: Ambulance 999, Fire 999,Police 999Time Zone: Greenwich Mean TimeCentral post office: 26 Spring GardensMain tourist office: Manchester VisitorInformation Centre, Town Hall Extension, LloydStreet

Embassies*

USA: +44 (0)20 7499 9000Canada: +44 (0)20 7258 6600**Australia: +44 (0)20 7379 4334**South Africa: +44 (0)20 7451 7299Germany: +44 (0)20 7824 1300Spain: +44 (0)20 7235 5555Italy: +44 (0)20 7312 2200New Zealand: +44 (0)20 7930 8422**France: +44 (0)20 7073 1000*All embassies located in London**High Commissions located in London

Hostelworld Guide for Manchester www.hostelworld.com

Cheap Eats After Dark

Caf Gio, 77 Princess Street, Chinatown Morethan just your typical greasy spoon, this comfortablecaf serves up a full English breakfast at a greatp r i ce . As we l l as a f r y -up , you ' l l a l so f indsandwiches, jacket potatoes and soups on themenu. Open Mon-Fri 7.30am-7.30pm, Sat-Sun8.30am-7.30pm.

The Titchy Coffee Co, The Triangle Basement,Exchange Square, City Centre A wonderfulalternative to the big chain coffee shops, this caf is100% independent. It's a great spot for breakfast, alight lunch or simply a cup of coffee and a snack.The view of the surrounding shops might not bestunning but the tasty, good value food and friendlyservice more than make up for it. Open Mon-Sat8am-6pm.

The Curry Mile, Wilmslow Road, Rusholme Asthe name suggests, the 'Curry Mile' is a section ofwinding road on Wilmslow Road that is home to ahuge concentration of neon-lit curry houses, MiddleEastern restaurants and Indian takeaways. Openwell into the early hours of the morning, i t 'sparticularly popular with the post-club crowd.

Dough, 75-77 High Street, Northern QuarterFrom pasta dishes and salads to a huge selectionof pizzas, including gluten and dairy free options,this large Italian restaurant offers sizeable portionsat low prices. Modern and comfortable inside,you're bound to enjoy the fast, friendly service andtasty food. Open daily 12pm-11pm.

Market fresh food

Bury Market, 1 Murray Road, Bury One of themost popular markets in the UK, the 'WorldFamous Bury Market' offers up a smorgasbordof locally-produced foods. From freshly caughtseafood to creamy cheeses, it's the perfect spotto sample a selection of tasty delights. OpenWed and Fri 9am-4.30pm, Sat 9am-5pm.

Keko Moku South Pacific Cocktail Den, 100 HighStreet, Northern Quarter From Alohas to Tikis, thistiny bar really does live up to its cocktail denmoniker. It's a busy spot and the barrel seats arefilled with punters sipping away on a kaleidoscopeof colourful concoctions. There's even a little alcovewith a rug covered booth for couples who want tocanood le ove r a cock ta i l . Open Sun-Wed5pm-12am, Thurs 5pm-1am, Fri-Sat 5pm-2am.

Revolution, 90-94 Oxford Road, Oxford RoadTurning into a two-floor bar at the weekend and onWednesdays for student night, Revolution iscomfortably chic. Start the night downstairs with afew drinks and some indie music, then headupstairs to the dance floor with its cheesy tunes.Funky red seats and hanging chandeliers give thebar a fashionable air. Open daily 11.30am-2am;free WiFi available.

Gay/Lesbian ManchesterManchester's vibrant Gay Village, famouslydepicted in the TV-show Queer as Folk, is hometo a huge selection of gay bars and clubs. Manyof these are located along Canal Street andPrincess Street and include Manto, Queer,New Union, Spirit and Club Alter Ego.

Trof, 6 Thomas Street , Northern QuarterWell-loved and rightly so, Trof is a superb spot tospend any part of your day or night. Taking up threelevels, from the large ground floor bar to the cosyMontana Lounge on the top floor, the entire place iswelcoming from the moment you step in the door,thanks to its friendly staff, laid back regulars andmood lighting. Open Mon-Wed & Sun 10am-12pm,Thurs-Sat 10am-1am.

Bridgewater Ha l l , Lower Mosley St reet ,Petersfield Serving up a wide variety of auraltreats, this venue is the city's international concertvenue. The Hall is home to 3 different orchestras,including the BBC Philharmonic, and hosts ac l a s s i c a l m u s i c s e a s o n . O p e n M o n - F r i11am-3.30pm, Sat-Sun on concert nights from 5pm.

Night & Day Caf, 26 Oldham Street, NorthernQuarter Reminiscent of New York's Bitter End,albeit on a smaller scale, this friendly, comfortablebar has seen many a long night. At one of thetables, you can watch the stage while enjoying abeer, shooter or cocktail. An alternative stalwart,flickering fairy lights and a candle strewn bar givethe rough and ready interior a softer edge. OpenMon-Sat 10am-2am, Sun 10am-11.30pm.

Don't Miss Mark Your Calendar

Imperial War Museum North, Trafford WharfRoad, The Quays An interesting and movingmuseum, here you'll learn about people whose liveshave been touched by war. Found inside a striking,award-winning building, it covers everything fromart to artillery. Open daily Mar-Oct 10am-6pm,Nov-Feb 10am-5pm; admission free.

Up, up and away

The Wheel of Manchester, Exchange Square,City Centre Stretching up 60 metres, this bigwheel is a great way of seeing the city a littledifferently. Especially enjoyable at night, it offersstunning views of the sparkling city below. OpenSun-Thurs 10am-11pm, Fri 10am-12am, Sat9am-12am; admission 6.50.

Manchester United Museum and Tour, Sir MattBusby Way, Old Trafford Old Trafford, the'Theatre of Dreams', is home to the world-famousManchester United soccer club. The tour takes youon a trip inside the stadium, from the manager'sspot on the sideline to the players' dressing room.Open daily 9.30am-5pm; admission 12.50.

Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI),Liverpool Road, Castlefield Housed in 5 listedbuildings, this museum encompasses 15 differentgalleries displaying everything from a replica of aVictorian sewer to the first all-British aeroplane overin the Air and Space Hall. For a bit of fun, be sure tocheck out 'Xperiment' and its interactive exhibits.Open daily, 10am-5pm; admission free.

John Ry land 's L ibrary , 150 Deansgate ,Spinningfields In the hushed, almost reverentrooms of this Gothic-style library you'll see afascinating collection of old books. Wander underthe vaulted ceilings and take a peak at titles from allover the world, including a book of fairy tales datingfrom 1825. Open Tues-Sat 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun12pm-5pm; admission free.

March - Manchester Irish Festival Set around St.Patrick's Day, this festival has been running since1996. It's a celebration of all things Irish includingmusic, theatre, sport, art and comedy.

May - FutureEverything This well-known festivalhas been on the go for over 13 years. Coveringdigital art and music, it includes club nights, liveperformances, and exhibitions. Over 50,000 peopleattend the festival annually.

May - MAPS Festival 'MAPS', or 'Music, Art, Poetryand Stuff ' , is Manchester's Northern QuarterFestival. Over the course of a weekend, localmusical acts, artists and poets showcase their work.

July - Manchester International Festival Arelatively new festival, MIF was launched in 2007 asa way to present innovative works of art, music andperforming arts. International artists and performerstake part in this popular cultural event.

July - Manchester Jazz Festival Local musiciansget the chance to play alongside internationallyrenowned artists during this popular jazz festival.Established in 1995, this event sees concerts andperformances take place throughout the city.

August - Manchester Pride Festival This isManchester's annual LGBT festival. It raises moneyfor the LGBT community and those suffering fromHIV/AIDS. Thousands of people check out themarket stalls and the colourful parade.

October - Manchester Food & Drink FestivalRunning for more than 12 years, the ManchesterFood and Drink Festival sees many well-knownchefs take part in cooking demonstrations, food anddrink exhibits and more.

October - Manchester Literature Festival Writersfrom all over the world take part in everything fromreadings to writing workshops during this festival's10-day run.

October - Manchester Comedy Festival Takingplace in venues across Manchester, a host ofrenowned comics and up-and-coming acts perform.It's very well-attended with over 28,000 tickets soldduring the 2008 festival.

November-December - Manchester ChristmasMarkets Held annually throughout the city centre, alarge number of wooden chalets are erected forthese markets. Here you'll find crafts, gifts and morefrom all over Europe.

Hostelworld Guide for Manchester www.hostelworld.com

Neighbourhood Watch Retail Therapy

Northern Quarter Manchester's musical heart, theNorthern Quarter, is filled with independent recordstores and is the place to go for vinyl. On top ofthat, it's also home to a number of alternative cafsand some the best live music venues in the city.'Trof' and the 'Night & Day Caf' are a couple of thestandout bars in this vibrant, friendly quarter.

Bury Right at the end of the northern-boundMetrolink line, Bury is around 25 minutes fromManchester city centre. Best known as the home ofthe 'World Famous Bury Market', it has a lot more tooffer besides shopping. You can hop on an EastLancashire Railway steam train or visit the localmuseum and art gallery.

Oxford Road South of the city centre, this longstretch of road is one area of the city you shoulddefinitely check out. Not only is it home to theUniversity of Manchester, meaning lots of students,cheap restaurants and lively bars, it's also whereyou'll find some of Manchester's top attractions.These include the Manchester Museum and theWhitworth Art Gallery.

Taste of the Orient

Chinatown Home to the second largestChinese community in the UK, Manchester hasits own colourful and vibrant Chinatown. Withouta doubt, the most striking sight here is the largeMing Dynasty Imperial Chinese Arch erected in1987. With its hanging paper lanterns andcolourful store fronts, this area also boasts alarge number of quality Asian restaurants.

The Quays Down along the Salford Quays, you cansit and look out at the canals, wander across thepatriotically-hued Trafford Road Bridge and headdown to the Imperial War Museum North. If youfancy some shopping, stop by the Lowry Outlet Mallto take advantage of the great deals on offer. Forsports fans, Old Trafford can also be found nearby.

Manchester Arndale, Market Street, City CentreManchester Arndale, or the Arndale Centre as it'salso known, is the UK's biggest city centre shoppingmall. Home to around 240 stores, you could spendhours wandering around checking out everythingfrom clothes to electronic goods. Open Mon-Fri9am-8pm, Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 10am-6pm.

Alternative chic

Affleck's, 52 Church Street, Northern QuarterLike an indoor version of London's famousCamden Market, Affleck's is an alternativehaven where independent traders selleverything from jelly bracelets to army surplusgear across four floors of stalls. And if that's notenough, while you're here you can even learnyour future from a tarot reader. Open Mon-Fri10.30am-6pm, Sat 10am-6pm, closed Sundays.

Trafford Centre, Barton Dock Road, TraffordSpread across two sprawling floors, the TraffordCentre, with its almost palatial design, houses morethan 230 different stores. Whether you're looking fornew music or the latest fashion trends, this is theplace to go. All you need is the time (and the cash)to visit them all. Open Mon-Fri 10am-10pm, Sat10am-8pm, Sun 12pm-6pm.

The Lowry Outlet Mall, Salford Quays, TheQuays If it's a bargain you're searching for, look nofurther than the Lowry Outlet Mall. A bright andspacious mall, there are some 80 stores filled withdiscounted clothes, shoes, toys, accessories andmore. In fact, some of the prices are around 50%less than those on the high street. Open Mon-Wed,Fri 10am-6pm, Thurs 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-7pm,Sun 11am-5pm.

Market Street, City Centre Bustling Market Streetis Manchester's main shopping street. Here's whereto go i f you ' r e l ook ing f o r i n t e rna t i ona l l yrecognisable brands inc lud ing HMV, H&M,Footlocker, Clarks, Schuh, Debenhams and MissSelfridge.

Manchester For Free A Day in Manchester...

Stroll around Heaton Park Heaton Park is thebiggest expanse of green you'll find in Manchesterand it's packed full of things to see and do. You canmeet the furry creatures at the animal centre, checkout the demonstration hive operated by ManchesterBeekeepers or simply relax on the grass with apicnic. Open daily 8am-9.45pm.

Wander through the Manchester Art GalleryHere you'll find a huge collection of over 25,000works of art, including paintings and objects d'art.Lots of people have attached tags to the wall ofluggage in the interactive area, and these make foran interesting read. Open Tues-Sun 10m-5pm,closed Mon.

A moment of worship

Take a look inside Manchester CathedralApart from the magnificent collection of stainedglass windows, this cathedral isn't overly ornateinside, but it does have an open, well-used feelto it. Hymnals left out all around are a nicetouch, and many musical events are held here.Open Mon-Fri 8.30am-7pm, Sat 8.30am-5pm,Sun 8.30am-7.30pm.

Check out the Manchester Museum From a giantT-Rex to ancient Egyptian mummies, this museumhouses a fascinating collection of artefacts. Openedin 1888, it sees hundreds of thousands of visitorseach year. It's also home to a small but interestingselection of live animals, including colourful frogsand scaly snakes. Open Tues-Sat 10am-5pm,Sun-Mon 12noon-4pm.

Marvel at the Whitworth Art Gallery Strange andunusual examples of modern art, fine art andsculpture all find a home in this eclectic gallery,which is part of the University of Manchester. Whilewalking around the displays, you'll see everythingfrom video installations to paintings to items ofc l o t h i n g . O p e n M o n - S a t 1 0 a m - 5 p m , S u n12pm-4pm.

Start your day with breakfast in Caf Gio onPrincess Street and try out a famed full-Englishbreakfast to set you up for a day of exploring.

Around the corner f rom here you' l l f ind theManchester Art Gallery (below), the Town Hall andthe Chinese Arch, part of Manchester's colourfulChinatown area.

Walk back up towards Piccadilly Gardens, wherey o u ' l l c o m e a c r o s s n u m e r o u s c a f s a n drestaurants. Here you'll have no trouble findingsomewhere for lunch.

When you've refuelled, why not check out some ofManchester's shops, including those along MarketStreet, in Arndale and at Affleck's in the NorthernQuarter.

After you've emptied your wallet, you might fancysomething free of charge. Why not try the Ubris,Manchester Cathedral and John Ryland's Library.

Make the short trip downtown and head towardsOxford Road. There are plenty of places around thisstudent s t ronghold to s i t wi th a cof fee or abefore-dinner drink.

In the area around the city centre, notably in thePrintworks entertainment complex, you'll find manyrestaurants serving Italian, Mexican and other typesof food.

Spend some time checking out the bars in theNorthern Quarter, whether you fancy seeing a liveband in the Night & Day Caf or sipping on acocktail in Keko Moku.

Finish the night off in Revolution back down onOxford Road, where you can indulge in a few drinksbefore heading upstairs to dance.

Hostelworld Guide for Manchester www.hostelworld.com

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