"Ben-UK's Manchester page" Top 5 Page for this destination Manchester by Ben-UK
Manchester Travel Guide: 1,858 reviews and 3,206 photos
My home city -- I've lived here all my life and of course seen many changes over the years, some good, some bad.
The construction of the Arndale Shopping Centre, which opened in 1976, was the first relatively recent major change to the appearance of the city centre -- the stark, yellow-tiled edifice drew complaints generally but it's prominence has since softened with change and the latest glass-fronted extension will fit in with surrounding developments.
The demise of nearby Salford docks in the 1970's gave way to the inspired Salford Quays development and the recent Lowry Centre and Imperial War Museum additions there have made it an excellent location.
1992 saw dramatic change on the city streets with the introduction of the Metrolink tram system (the last time Manchester had seen trams was in 1949) -- plans are afoot to further develop the network of this hugely popular transport system.
The IRA bombing of 1996 (thankfully no loss of life) whilst tragic for affected businesses, actually led to a regeneration of the area at the Deansgate end of Market Street and stores such as Harvey Nichols have now made it their Manchester home.
Manchester's roots are in the cotton industry and the warehouses around the city connected to that trade are now being converted into fashionable living accommodation.
The canal network that serviced the Industrial Revolution has been cleaned-up and canal-side locations are now desired for both offices and housing.
The staging of the 2002 Commonwealth Games saw further improvements to Piccadilly train station and Piccadilly itself and further planned developments in this area should see Piccadilly Gardens re-establish itself as the focal point of the city -- I hope so anyway ...
So, lots going on in Manchester -- it's a good place to live, big-city attractions, friendly people and not far from the countryside.
This Intro photo is of the Old Wellington Inn (ahead) and Sinclair's Oyster Bar (to the right) in the city-centre area known as The Shambles.
The Old Wellington Inn dates back to the 16th century and Sinclair's probably to the mid18th century. However, Sinclair's has actually been moved twice -- once in the 1970's to make way for the nearby Arndale shopping centre and both pubs were moved some 150 metres from their original site as part of redevelopment after the aforementioned IRA bomb hit this part of the city in 1996.
Opened in 1877, the Town Hall dominates Albert Square in the city centre.
12 large murals by the Pre-Raphaelite painter Ford Madox Brown grace the interior.
Albert Square is mainly pedestrianised with bars and cafes surrounding the perimeter.
A view of the Quays with the Lowry Centre in the background.
The Salford Quays development has been one of the major successes here in recent years -- the old Salford Docks area has been completely transformed with waterside housing, a shopping mall and the the opening of the Lowry Centre and the Imperial War Museum North.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
** For details of the Manchester Visitor Information Centre,
please see General Tips **
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reviews (57)
Big Wheel
Things to Do
(21)
For a panormaic view of the city the big wheel on Corporation Street has been with us for a few years now and seems very... more travel advice
Manchester Visitor Information Centre
Favorites
(6)
Visit or contact the Manchester Visitor Information Centre for more information about the city or help with... more travel advice
Hollingworth Lake
Off The Beaten Path
(8)
Just over 15 minutes by train from Manchester and you can be walking around beautiful Hollingworth Lake in the... more travel advice
Bus link to/from Liverpool John Lennon...
Transportation
(6)
Terravision offer a bus link to Liverpool John Lennon airport from Manchester's Shudehill Interchange. There is one bus... more travel advice
-
Shopping (8)
See All Next, Withy Grove -
Restaurants (4)
See All Sam's Chop House -
Hotels (2)
See All University accommodation
Ben-UK's Related Pages
-
Peak District National Park
Top 5 Page for this destination
-
Lake District National Park
Top 5 Page for this destination
-
Yorkshire Dales National Park
Top 5 Page for this destination
-
York
-
Bath
-
North Yorkshire
-
Northumberland
-
Edinburgh
-
Scotland
-
Porto
-
Coimbra
-
Tavira
-
Salamanca
-
Helsinki
-
Zagreb
-
Paphos
-
Kyrenia
-
Prague
-
Venice
-
Rakvere
Manchester Travel Guide
Member Travel Pages
- "Manc"
- "Ben-UK's Manchester page"
- "My Manchester"
- "Manchester - Full of Surprises"
- "Manchester"
- "My favourite big British city"
- "Manchester England"
- See All...
Explore the World
Badges & Stats in Manchester
- 57 Reviews
- 87 Photos
- 28 Forum posts
- 62 Comments
- 19,638PageViews
- See All Stats
- See All Badges (15)
Have you been to Manchester?
Share Your TravelsLatest Activity in Manchester
- Wrote a Review Big Wheel in Manchester Things to Do
- Uploaded a Photo to "Big Wheel"
- updated a Manchester Travel Page "Ben-UK's Manchester page"
- Replied to MosKing's Travel Manchester Forum Forum Question "Email address of Nationwide?? or..."
- Commented on Maria250's Manchester Page
Top 10 Pages
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Peak District National Park
Intro, 77 reviews, 97 photos
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Yorkshire Dales National Park
Intro, 48 reviews, 111 photos
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Manchester
Intro, 57 reviews, 88 photos, 1 travelogue
-
Scotland
Intro, 53 reviews, 89 photos
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Lake District National Park
Intro, 34 reviews, 80 photos
-
Krakow
Intro, 31 reviews, 40 photos, 1 travelogue
-
Edinburgh
Intro, 19 reviews, 35 photos
-
Wroclaw
Intro, 14 reviews, 31 photos, 1 travelogue
-
Tallinn County
Intro, 15 reviews, 24 photos
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Zakopane
Intro, 16 reviews, 17 photos
Friends
National/State Park
Hiking and Walking
ArchitectureLatest Manchester hotel reviews
- Place Apartment Hotel Manchester
- 311 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 13, 2012 - Best Western Princess On Portland
- 160 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 5, 2012 - Lowry Hotel Manchester
- 415 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 13, 2012 - Hilton Manchester Deansgate Hotel
- 691 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 13, 2012 - Mitre Hotel
- 146 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 8, 2012 - Jarvis Piccadilly Hotel Manchester
- 76 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 12, 2012 - Etap Hotel Manchester Salford Quays
- 309 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 11, 2012 - Premier Inn Manchester - City Centre (Deansgate Locks)
- 196 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 9, 2012 - YHA Manchester
- 21 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Dec 18, 2011 - Midland Manchester
- 878 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 12, 2012 - Travelodge Manchester Central
- 314 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 13, 2012 - Copperheads Hotel
- 35 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Sep 8, 2011 - Laystall Apartments
- 157 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 13, 2012 - Hilton Manchester Airport
- 453 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 12, 2012 - Radisson SAS Hotel Manchester Airport
- 748 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 11, 2012
Comments (59)
I will visit Manchester for a day in about a month, and I have just started to do some reseach about what there is to do. I got some good ideas from your page!
Hi Paul, a very interesting page with so many great Off The Beaten Path tips! Thank you!
Hello, Paul! Thanks for your useful and interesting page! ><><><
Hi Ben I love your Manchester Page. I live in Leeds but always visit Manchester if I want a change of the city scenery! Popping over next month for a day trip for the theatre and what takes my fancy. Best wishes, Dawn
I enjoyed my tour of Manchester through your eyes. It looks like an interesting city.
Hi Ben. My husband and I (Yanks) are moving to the UK in the fall and we're considering Manchester. We want to rent a 2/3 bedroom house with a small garden near transport. Any neighborhood suggestions? Thanks.
I really like your page on Manchester. My boyfriend and I are moving from Leeds to Manchester in the next few weeks. I can confirm that despite the recent snow that it was in fact sunny in Manchester on Tuesday
hi and Manchester looks very appealing in your photos thanks!
Great page Ben!
Had a day in Manchester last week and YES it rained all day! It's still a great city though (I lived here for a while in the late 70's) and this is a great page. Cheers, John.
1 - 10 of 59
View 49 More