Manchester

Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and a city of football: make the pilgrimage to Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadium, and explore the John Rylands Library, the red-brick warehouses of the Northern Quarter and the Salford Quays cultural district.

Manchester, in North West England, was one of the birthplaces of the Industrial Revolution – the world's first inter-city passenger railway and the first modern textile-mill city were both born here. Today it is the UK's second-largest metropolitan area and home to two Premier League giants, Manchester United and Manchester City. The compact city centre is easy to explore on foot: the Cathedral, Chetham's Library and the National Football Museum cluster at the northern end; the Town Hall, Central Library, John Rylands Library and Manchester Art Gallery sit in the middle; the Northern Quarter is packed with red-brick warehouses, graffiti, independent shops and cafés; to the southwest, Castlefield has the remains of a Roman fort and the earliest industrial canals, next to the Science and Industry Museum; and the Canal Street Gay Village and Chinatown lie near Piccadilly station. About 3 km west, Salford Quays is home to The Lowry arts centre, Imperial War Museum North and MediaCityUK, where the BBC is based, with Old Trafford just south of the quays; the Etihad Stadium is on the east side of the city. In the southern suburbs, the university district has the Manchester Museum, the Whitworth art gallery and the Curry Mile, and further out you can visit Dunham Massey and Quarry Bank Mill. The climate is mild and rainy year-round; May–Sep is the most pleasant time, and always carry an umbrella. The Premier League season runs from August to May – match tickets must be bought in advance through club membership channels, while stadium tours can be booked all year. Getting there: Manchester Airport has direct flights to Beijing, Shanghai and other cities (seasonal), and the train from the airport to Piccadilly takes about 20 minutes; trains from London Euston take about 2 hr 10 min. Around town, Metrolink trams and the free Bee Network buses are all you need. Allow 2–3 days, with an easy day trip to Liverpool or the Peak District.

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