Ulster Gazette - Features - Manchester Highlights

Features

Manchester Highlights

Wednesday, 18 May 2011

Manchester; the city has long battled with Birmingham for the title of Britain's second city. As a result of its size and significance, there are numerous hotels in Manchester falling in different financial categories.

The city of Manchester is historically known for being in the centre of a variety of innovations related to industry and music. Manchester is also a major tourist destination because of the wide range of attractions it has on offer. The following is a travel guide containing the most famous attractions.

The Manchester Wheel

The Manchester Wheel is one of the north-west's leading attractions because of the breathtaking vistas that it offers to tourists. The wheel is located in the Exchange Square of the Millennium Quarter. In addition to the amazing views that a normal ride on the Manchester Wheel proffers, you can opt for a VIP gondola. With a VIP gondola not only will you get incredible views but also Champagne with which to enjoy them.

Manchester's Chinatown

For a fan of eastern cuisine, the city of Manchester has a special treat in the form of its Chinatown which is located near George and Faulkner streets. Chinatown truly offers a taste of East Asia in more ways than just food. When the sun sets, the neon lights of Chinatown light up, giving the whole place the kind of ambience that is typical of East Asian countries.

Curry Mile

No visit to Manchester would be complete without trip to Wilmslow Road, or as it's more commonly known the Curry Mile. Along this one mile stretch of road there are over 70 restaurants specializing in South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine; this is thought to be the largest concentration outside of the Indian subcontinent. In addition, the Mile features many shops specializing in Asian groceries, fashion and music.

Castlefield

Castlefield is where the site of the old Roman settlement of Mamucium stood. Castlefield is the perfect place for history enthusiasts owing to this rich heritage. The walls that still stand as high as two metres in places date back to the 16th century. Castlefield also holds structural and architectural importance because it is the centre of Manchester's canal network.

The Museum of Science and Industry

The Museum of Science and Industry, which holds some really important historical wonders, is also regarded as a part of Castlefield. The museum contains Liverpool Road station; the first passenger railway station not only in England but on the whole planet.

The Manchester Cathedral

Manchester Cathedral is located in the Millennium Quarter. The impressive-looking building is famous because it is the widest cathedral in England. Furthermore, the cathedral is also known for its carved choir stalls and pulpitum.

The Cornerhouse
For the artistically inclined, the best that the city of Manchester has on offer is the Cornerhouse; an art house that boasts three screens for showing films and documentaries, three floors of exhibition space where popular and upcoming artists display their skills, a bar and an incredible café.

The Imperial War Museum North

A true marvel of exquisite architecture is the Imperial War Museum North which is located at the Trafford Borough. The museum that was designed by Daniel Libeskind is believed to be one of the best pieces of architecture in the world owing to its innovative use of curves, slants and rises. As the name suggests, the museum is dedicated to the soldiers, workers and everybody else involved with World War II.

Manchester City and United football clubs

The city of Manchester is very popular in Europe and, indeed, the world because of its football clubs, namely Manchester United and Manchester City. The two clubs have the kind of rivalry that makes their matches extremely charged and tense affairs. However, since the average number of times that these matches occur in a single season is only twice, they may be difficult to catch. Even if the Manchester derby is not currently on, the stadiums themselves are known widely in the football world and, hence, are worth a visit.

Shopper's choices

The city of Manchester is also regarded as one of the shopping hubs in the country because of the wide range of options that it offers to a tourist. Some places of shopping interest in the city include the retail outlets of Manchester United and Manchester City, Afflecks Palace, the Northern Quarter, specific continental-style Christmas markets, the wine department of Harvey Nichols, the flower market of Piccadilly Gardens and many others.