United Kingdom

Manchester

Two football giants, a legendary music scene

Manchester is home to Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadium, Europe's largest indoor arena and the music scene that gave the world Oasis and The Smiths. The centre is compact, the trams run straight to the venues and the pubs are as famous as the stages.

See what's in the full guide

Where it is in United Kingdom

Manchester, United KingdomNavigate

At a glance

Population: 570K
Area: 116 km²
Best time to visit: May-September for stadium concerts and long evenings; August-May for Premier League football.
Money: Pound sterling (£). Cards and contactless accepted almost everywhere, including trams and buses.
Getting in: Manchester Airport is about 20 minutes from Piccadilly station by train, with trains every few minutes. The Metrolink tram also connects the airport to the city centre.

Weather in Manchester

Forecast

The unmissables

Don't miss

A stadium tour of Old Trafford or the Etihad, with the club museums.
Insider tip in the PDF
The Gothic reading room of the John Rylands Library.
Insider tip in the PDF
An evening in the Northern Quarter with live music in an intimate club.
Insider tip in the PDF

History

A Roman fort called Mamucium stood here in AD 79, but Manchester boomed in the 18th and 19th centuries as the world's first industrial city, nicknamed 'Cottonopolis'.

Its red-brick mills and canals now house bars, hotels and studios, and the city gave the world the first passenger railway station, the computer and a defining music scene.

Getting around

Metrolink trams serve both stadiums: Old Trafford and Exchange Quay stops for Old Trafford, Etihad Campus for the Etihad Stadium.
Tap in and out with a contactless card on trams; the free Metroshuttle buses loop around the centre.
The AO Arena sits right above Victoria station, so you can be on a train minutes after the show.

More in the full guide

Local tips

On match and concert days trams get packed; walk one stop towards the centre to board more easily.
Ask a local which team they support before praising either club, the city is divided red and blue.
Pack a light rain jacket all year round, showers come and go quickly.

More in the full guide

Venue guide

Stadiums and arenas in Manchester

Going to a show at one of the big venues here? Our venue guides cover the layout, getting there, bag rules and the last train home:

What to eat and drink

Curry Mile
Must try
A strip of South Asian restaurants in Rusholme, open late after the show.
Manchester tart
A shortcrust tart with jam, custard and coconut, a classic local dessert.
Mackie Mayor and Altrincham Market
Food halls with street-food stalls, ideal for groups.

Culture and customs

Mancunians are proud and famously friendly; don't be surprised if strangers call you 'love' or 'mate'.
Music is part of the city's identity, from Factory Records and Joy Division to Oasis.
Football is close to a religion; match days shape the whole city's rhythm.

Where to stay

Northern Quarter

Independent bars, record shops and street art, walkable to the AO Arena.

4-star+ hotels, cheapest first

Deansgate and Castlefield

Canal-side hotels with quick tram links to Old Trafford.

4-star+ hotels, cheapest first

Piccadilly

Next to the main station and airport trains, handy for short trips.

4-star+ hotels, cheapest first

The full Manchester guide

Everything above is the teaser. The downloadable guide goes deep, the stuff locals know and first-timers miss, ready on your phone offline.

Venue-by-venue: getting there and back after the show
Neighbourhood map with where to stay for each budget
Hand-picked restaurants and bars near the venues
A 3-day itinerary around your event
Real costs: transport, food and drinks in numbers
Scams to avoid, emergency numbers and key phrases
Hidden viewpoints and photo spots locals actually use
Day trips worth the train ride, with prices and timings

...and much, much more.

PDF, works offline

Book your trip

Sort out the essentials in a couple of taps, compare hotels, book things to do and grab a car for the trip.

Plan a trip to Manchester

Flights, hotel and transfers to Manchester compared from your nearest airports.

Find hotels

Compare hotel prices across booking sites for your dates.

Things to do

Tours, tickets and local experiences to book ahead.

Rent a car

Compare rental deals for getting around beyond the city.

Upcoming events in Manchester

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