| | Overview (Source: Frommers) |
325km (202 miles) NW of London; 138km (86 miles) N of Birmingham; 56km (35 miles) E of Liverpool One of the largest cities in England, Manchester is becoming increasingly important, as major airlines now fly here from North America, making the city a gateway to northern England. In recent years, Manchester has made great strides to shake its image as an industrial wasteland. Though chimneys still spike the skyline, they no longer make the metropolitan sky an ash-filled canopy. Abandoned warehouses are being renovated to provide sleek new loft apartments for yuppies. Rustic factory equipment turns up in museums rather than piling up in salvage yards. Even the old Victorian architecture has been given a face-lift. The overall effect is a gritty kind of charm. Manchester's roots date from A.D. 79, when the Romans settled here. It remained under Roman occupation until A.D. 410 when the empire began its storied fall. The west gate has since been reconstructed upon its original site. Little is known of Manchester's Middle Ages. But then in the mid-17th century, the city began to capitalize on the wealth of opportunity that the burgeoning textile industry offered. Manchester eventually became the Dickensian paradigm of the industrial complex and the plight of cities. The railways were equally responsible for catapulting the city to the forefront of the industrial movement. England found Manchester both a convenient terminus and a refinement center through which raw
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| History (Source: WCities) | Top | The origins of Manchester can be traced back to the establishment of a Roman camp called Mamucium in 79 AD, the remnants of which can still be seen at Castlefield. While the fort was maintained and developed by the Saxons, it was not until 1301 and the grant of the charter that the town, in a modern sense, began to develop. It was undoubtedly wool that transformed Manchester into one of England's leading industrial giants. In the early 18th century, there was an enormous upsurge in both international trade and technological development dependent on the city's textile industry. This growth was facilitated by the invention of Hargreave's Spinning Jenny and Crompton's Spinning Mule during the last half of the century. Manchester was rapidly becoming a hub of the Industrial Revolution. The 19th century was a period of unparalleled growth and cultural endeavors. The Manchester Guardian was first published in 1821, and 1830 saw the opening of the world's first passenger railway. The Co-operative Wholesale Society was formed in 1863 and in 1887 work on the Manchester Ship Canal began. By the end of the 20th century, the textile industry fell into decline, but its legacy has formed the bustling, vibrant city we know today. Many things that are fundamental to the social and economic history of England occurred in Manchester during the 20th century. In 1903 Emmaline Pankurst created the Women's Social and Political Union. 1919 saw Ernest Rutherford first split the at
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| How To Get There (Source: WCities) | Top | Getting there: By Air: The Manchester International Airport ( +44 161 489 3000/ http://www.manchesteraiport.co.uk ) is the UK's third largest airport, serving millions of passengers each year to and from destinations worldwide. Airlines serving Manchester include: Air Atlanta Icelandic ( http://www.atlanta.is ) Air Berlin ( +45 30 4147 7510; http://www.airberlin.com ) Air France ( http://www.airfrance.com ) Air Malta ( +33 1 58 18 6405/ http://www.airmalta.com/ ) Air Scotland ( +1 44 141 222 2363/ http://www.air-scotland.com ) Air Transat ( +877 872 6728/ http://www.airtransat.com ) American Airlines ( http://www.aa.com ) BMI Baby ( +44 890 710 081 ( France )/ http://www.bmibaby.com ) BMI British Midland ( http://www.flybmi.com ) British Airways ( http://www.britishairways.com ) Continental Airlines ( http://www.continental.com ) Delta ( http://www.delta.com ) FlyBe ( +871 700 0535/ http://www.flybe.com ) Hapag-Lloyd Express ( +180 509 3 509/ http://www.hlx.com ) Iberia ( http://www.iberia.com ) Iberworld Airlines ( http://www.iberworld.com ) Jet 2 ( +44 207 1700737/ http://www.jet2.com ) Lufthansa ( http://www.lufthansa.com ) Malaysia Airlines ( http://www.malaysiaairlines.com ) My Travel ( +870 238 7710/ http://www.mytravel.com ) Singapore Airlines ( http://www.singapore
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| What To Do (Source: WCities) | Top | From art to theater to music, Manchester offers a diverse cultural appeal that attracts many visitors from around the world. Art The superb, groundbreaking Lowry at Salford Quays has the biggest collection of original paintings by LS Lowry in the country, and much more. In the City Centre, the Whitworth Art Gallery , houses many great modern pieces, as well as paintings by masters such as Constable and Turner. The Whitworth always hosts incredible and innovative exhibitions, while the Cornerhouse , is well-known for its cutting-edge multi-media displays. Cinema There are quite a few multiplexes in Manchester. The brand new Printworks has one of the few IMAX screens in the UK, while Virgin has an 8-screen complex in Salford. The Showcase in Belle Vue is extremely popular with its 14 gigantic screens, and the Arena 7 is located right in the middle of town. The Odeon Film Centre on Oxford Street is a more traditional, large cinema popular with students and families. If you want to see foreign or independent films, then the Cornerhouse with its popular café and bar is great, or try Ciné City in Withington. Dance The Dancehouse Theatre, blessed by being the home of the Northern Ballet School, is where you can see regular dance performances and musicals. Contemporary dance performances also take place at the Green Room and the Lowry throughout the year. Classical/Opera The Royal Northern College of Music is a place
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