More than just football | Manchester

Why go?

To discover a modern metropolis which, despite having suffered it share of bad luck – including an IRA bombing in 1996 – the city has remained an energetic cultural centre.

Manchester is a university city and is therefore packed with museums, galleries and historic landmarks.

Tie in your visit with the Manchester Food and Drink Festival from 7 – 17 October and you can take part in a variety of gastronomic events, including the chilli lovers’ fair, whisky festival, a village fête and even a mushroom hunt (www.foodanddrinkfestival.com)

What to do?

Often referred to as the capital of the north of England, Manchester definitely won’t disappoint. Start off by taking a walk through Castlefield where old meets new. The city’s regenerated canalside is buzzing with bars and restaurants amid clusters of old, red, brick building, iron bridges and viaducts passing over the canal.

Once you’ve explored, jump on a tram and head north to the city centre. The city’s art gallery has three floors and 21 rooms full of art and design, from fashion exhibitions to paintings.

Nearby you’ll find an imposing red-and-gold Chinese arch, which is the entrance to Manchester’s Chinatown. Go on a Sunday when the area is bustling, pick up ingredients in Chinese supermarkets or stop for dim sum for lunch.

Take a walk through the Northern Quarter – long considered the city’s creative corner, there’s lots of hip fashion boutiques, music stores, cafés and craft shops to explore.

Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday you can pick up potted plants, cut flowers, bulbs and bonsai trees at the flower market in Piccadilly Gardens.

Heading west, The Royal Exchange Theatre is an impressive, seven-sided glass wall structure with gold capped columns, situated in the Great Hall of the historic Victorian Cotton Exchange buildings. Book a backstage tour and walk on stage and into areas of the theatre not normally open to the public (www.royalexhange.org.uk). 

Manchester Cathedral, begun in the 13^th century is the oldest building in the city and the country’s widest cathedral – damaged in World War II it was subsequently repaired.

A short stroll away, John Rylands library is a fine example of Victorian gothic architecture. Inside, treasures including medieval manuscripts and the oldest known piece of the New Testament (www.library.manchester.ac.uk).

Climb the spiral staircase at the Godlee Observatory on the roof of the University of Manchester for memorable views of the city.

Take a senic canal cruise through the locks and bridges of Manchester and the north west (www.merseyferries.co.uk).

While in Manchester take a trip to Old Trafford, fondly nicknamed The Theatre of Dreams and watch the much loved Manchester United play at home in the stadium that seats 76,000 people.

Where to stay?

Great John Street (www.greatjohnstreet.co.uk) has been transformed from a Victorian school into a grand townhouse hotel. Rooms retain many period features, such as exposed steel beams, brickwork and wooden floors.

The 19-bedroom boutique hotel Velvet (www.velvetmanchester.com) is located on colourful Canal Street. Sink into king-sized beds with rococo-style headboards of sip a Velvet Sensation cocktail – a blend of Tia Maria, vodka, Baileys, amaretto, milk, cream and chocolate sauce – in the lounge bar below.

Meanwhile at Ox (www.theox.co.uk) in Castlfield you can eat, drink and sleep all under one roof. Once here book your table and don’t miss out on their Sunday roast.

Where to eat?

Discover the oldest pub in Manchester, the Old Wellington (www.nicholsonspub.co.uk) built in 1552 and the birthplace of poet John Byrom, inventor of shorthand. Today this popular watering hole serves a range of fine cask ale and satisfying pub grub including steak and kidney, beef and vintage ale pies.

Good old-fashioned British food is on the menu at Market Restaurant (www.market-restaurant.com), with ingredients locally sourced where possible, such as a fillet of Lancashire beef.

Try the Japanese food at Walrus (www.walrusmanchester.com) created by ex-Nobu chef Paul Day. Signature dishes include three-times-cooked black pepper ribs and beef Mussaman curry which you can enjoy in a relaxed setting with leather seats and round tables set against funky 60s wallpaper and prints.

If you’re in Chinatown, make a pit stop at Yang Sing (www.yang-sing.com), where you can feast on excellent Cantonese food including a menu featuring 60 varieties of dim sum.

How to get there?

Manchester is 3 hours 30 minutes. Airmalta and Easyjet operate direct flights between Malta and Manchester airport.