The capital of northern England is best known to football fans, yet Manchester has many other treasures to offer. The traces of its rich industrial past give it a unique atmosphere that wanders through the different districts. Its colourful architecture, its monuments and numerous museums, its traditional pubs and its lively nightlife attract many visitors who enjoy discovering this city on a human scale, aerated by various parks and flower gardens.
The John Rylands Library
Opened in 1900, this university library has all the makings of a cathedral, from its Victorian Gothic architecture to its almost monastic atmosphere. Its reading room is certainly the most impressive room because of the size of its high vaulted ceilings and its immense stained glass windows. It preserves nearly 250,000 printed documents and more than a million manuscripts, including a Gutenberg Bible, which is one of the oldest copies still in existence. Located in the heart of Manchester on Deansgate, it offers temporary exhibitions, lectures and various workshops.
Manchester Art Gallery
The Manchester Art Gallery is a renowned cultural institution with over 25,000 works including a fine collection of 19th century British artists. The oldest wing, a listed building, contains some remarkable works as well as the largest collection of Pre-Raphaelite art in the country. Its craft and design gallery houses over 1,000 decorative objects and its costume gallery displays 21,000 garments and accessories, the earliest dating from the 17th century.
National Football Museum
The National Football Museum is an exciting interactive museum that traces the evolution of British soccer from its beginnings to the present day. In this futuristic building in the heart of the city, you can take penalties, record your commentary for the local Telefoot and take a selfie with the Premier League trophy. Nostalgic fans will shed a tear of emotion in front of the ball from the 1966 World Cup final or in front of the shirt Maradona wore in 1986, during his famous "hand of God"!
Museum of Science and Industry
If you want to know Manchester, you must understand its important industrial past and visit the Museum of Science & Industry, in place of the Liverpool Road railway station. The industrial revolution played a key role in the city's history and there is a fascinating exhibition that recounts the chapters of this history as well as a large collection of steam engines and textile mills. A very nice visit which has the merit of being free.
People's History Museum
The People's History Museum is housed in a former Edwardian pumping station and you'll have to punch your entrance card into an authentic factory clock to enter. There is an important collection of people's history, particularly related to the evolution of workers' rights in the UK. You'll gain a better understanding of the British struggle for democratic rights, labor reform and fair wages, a struggle that lasted nearly 200 years...
Manchester Cathedral
The first stones of Manchester Cathedral were laid in the 16th century; it has undergone multiple refurbishments over the years, the last of which was in 1996 after the IRA bombing. Modest in size, it is nevertheless distinguished by the size of its nave, the largest in the country, which brings to the fore its Gothic architecture influenced by the Victorian era. It contains beautiful medieval woodwork, ancient mericords and splendid modern stained glass windows. One of its curiosities is the Angel Stone, a carved stone found in its walls that dates back to the Saxon era, around the year 700!
The Lowry
Opened 17 years ago by Queen Elizabeth II, The Lowry is the modern face of Manchester, looking out over the Manchester Canal from the Salford Docks. The Lowry is a huge cultural complex with two theaters, a concert café and a huge contemporary art gallery. This ultramodern building, imagined by the architect Michael Wilford, is named after the painter Laurence Stephen Lowry, known for his paintings of industrial districts partly exhibited in this futuristic complex.
Whitworth Art Gallery
Over 150 years old, the Whitworth Art Gallery is one of the most visited sites in Manchester. It was recently renovated to double its exhibition space and create a beautiful garden while preserving the brick facades of this former manor house. It presents 55,000 works of modern and contemporary art, including works by renowned artists such as Francis Bacon, Pablo Picasso, William Blake and Vincent Van Gogh. Discover also its beautiful collection of old textiles, witnesses of the industrial past of the city.
Old Trafford
Great Britain is the cradle of soccer and Manchester is the home of the two Premier League clubs: Old Trafford is therefore a pilgrimage! Visits are organized in this soccer den so that aficionados can walk in the footsteps of the mythical team of Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham. Visitors will discover its museum, the players' locker rooms and even spend a few moments on the pitch of this stadium nicknamed the "theater of dreams".
Briton's Protection
The Pub is to Manchester what the Bistro is to Paris: a true institution... so you owe it to yourself to gather around a beer and a famous fish and chips! The Briton's Protection is a historic pub, founded in 1811 opposite Bridgewater Hall. Behind its Victorian facade, you will find several rooms with a cosy atmosphere, warmed by fireplaces. The decor is authentic and the selection of drinks traditional: dozens of beers are served, including 5 local beers, and nearly 300 different whiskies, in other words, The Briton's Protection has the largest collection of whiskies in the city.
