Despite having lived in England and visiting half a dozen times since then, I’d never been to Manchester. I recently had the opportunity for a quick stop. Here are my impressions, plus what I did, didn’t do, and recommend.
Overall, I was surprised. I really liked Manchester and think you could easily spend 1-2 days here. Manchester is definitely a living city but there are tons of things for a tourist to do and explore. And one of the facts that continues to define the city and makes Manchester a fascinating destination – Manchester was the world’s first “industrialized city.”
To learn more about Manchester’s history of industrialization, I visited the People’s Museum. This is a well-done museum that follows Manchester’s history from the English Civil War (1640s) until today. This is the type of museum that you think about and talk about for several days after you visit.
John Rylands Library is definitely worth a stop. It is part of the university, opened in 1900 and built in the Gothic style. It is a free stop that looks more like a church than a library. Speaking of churches, the Manchester Cathedral is also worth a stop!
One of the most see sights in Manchester is Chetham’s Library which was built as a priest’s college in 1421 and converted to a library in the 1650s. It is considered to be the oldest public library in the English-speaking world. They offer tours several times a day but reservations are required. Karl Ingels formed some of his earlier theories on Capitalism at this library and in Manchester.
Author, Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is about a mile from the city center. Here you will learn about one of the most influential authors of time, but also learn about Manchester and its industrialization. The guides are experts in their topic and their passion and knowledge alone make it worth the trip. The house is open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 1100-4:30.
There were also sights that I didn’t have time to visit. These include the Science and Industry Museum, National Football Museum, and the Imperial War Museum. I love the Imperial War Museum in London and wanted to visit the Manchester branch but it is slightly outside the center of town and I just didn’t have time. I am not a football fan (aka Soccer) but it is such a big deal in the UK and specifically Manchester that I think it would have been fun to check out.
If looking for somewhere to eat, I can’t recommend Dishoom enough. They also have locations in London and Edinburgh. I couldn’t stop eating and felt like I needed to be rolled out the door. Their garlic naan was the best I’ve ever had.
There is a train from the airport to the city center. It is less than 5 pounds, can be paid for with credit card and takes about 25 minutes. However, I will note that while in the airport terminal, it is a bit of a walk from the customs area. You can also of course grab a taxi or an Uber into town.
Recommended Reading: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell is a fictionalized account of the early industrialization of Manchester.
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