"Manchester" Manchester by Ramonq

Manchester city is one of England's most important urban centre. It was one of the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in the mid to late 1800's where massed produced goods, especially cotton textiles were manufactured and exported to a world that was still very much agriculturally based. During that era, mills and factories mushroomed and the first train line to the port of Liverpool was built to ship goods to the vast market of the Bristish empire. With steam and coal, the factories were churning out goods albeit with severe consequences to the environment. Pollution was so bad then, that many of its population fell ill. At that time the city was the manufacturing centre of the world and it could be compared to present-day Shenzen, China. This new economic system of free trade made a huge impact on Manchester. The city boomed economically and with the new-found wealth, Manchester saw a construction boom of massive Victorian-era buildings made of red bricks and sandstones to house banks, civic buildings, churches and railway stations. These buildings are still intact and you'll notice how important this city was during its heyday. A fine example of the golden era is the Manchester city hall, the pride of the Mancunians. You can see how wealthy a city is by the expense it spends on its town hall. Around the city centre, there are a lot of massive Victorian-era hotels and office buildings with fine architectural details. The structures may be dark and brooding, but the buildings have a certain majestic appeal that demands awe and appreciation.

Town Hall

But Manchester has moved on. It's not stuck in the past, in fact the new has blended well with the old. The British have always been great retail therapists. They have built some very pleasant shopping districts around the city centre thus making the place so lively with hectic urban activities focused around modern malls and other diversions. Pubs are everywhere to be found and they are the social centres for Mancunians. So if the weather is not good, which is more likely in the non-summer months, there are a lot of indoor places where you can pass your time. There are also cultural activities around town, such a museums and festivals, but sports, especially football is the main religious passion. A trip to Manchester is not complete without visiting the football club of Manchester United or having a drink of English ale at the local pub to watch a football match of their favourite team. For a moment, the grey wet weather outside is not as depressing as it seems. Pubs do serve as a social valve and helps lubricate the social tensions in this stressed out city. Yes there are areas in the city that spell danger especially those grim narrow lanes with decaying old brick buildings, but if you stick to main tourist areas, Manchester is generally an easy place to visit.

The people of Manchester are proud of their northern English heritage. The English spoken here can be a bit difficult to understand which can be fast and musical. There is some distrust of Londoners which I find a curiosity as it is only a few hours away from here. I'll just put it down to English eccentricities. Manchester does have a large immigrant population from the subcontinent and China and they have contributed to the enrichment of the Mancunian diet. There are a lot of curry restaurants in the city and even a Chinatown district that offer fantastic oriental dishes. So in Manchester, you are not stuck with shepherds pie or fish and chips but in fact you can enjoy Polish or Spanish delicatessen goodies and Thai or Japanese exotic meals.

Central Library

You do not come to Manchester for the sun and sea, in fact both of them are unavailable here outside summer, but you visit for the lively urban diversions that a modern city can offer. Manchester is a good place to base yourself for a few days and enjoy the sports, pubs, restaurants, shopping and cultural activities. It's not famous for its tourist landmarks, but its famous for being itself.

• Pros:Great pubs
• Cons:Rainy and bleak sometimes