Take a break in Manchester
Brenda Watkinson visits Manchester and discovers a vibrant city with plenty to see and do for groups looking for a good short break destination.
If you are planning a trip to Manchester in 2009, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to planning your itinerary. The city offers such a wide range of attractions and activities that you will definitely want to return. Exploring Manchester could not be easier as the city is quite compact with most attractions within walking distance of each other plus the added bonus of a free city centre bus service (Metroshuttle), which operates three hop-on and hop-off circular routes throughout the day. Additionally, Blue Badge guides can be arranged to give a more in-depth view of the city.
A medley of museums and galleries
With the city playing a major role in the Industrial Revolution, Manchester has made a huge contribution to the modern world and visitors can explore its intriguing industrial heritage at many venues across the city. There is the added bonus that more than 90 museums and galleries offer free admission although for guided tours there is usually a charge.
A good place to start your journey of exploration is The Museum of Science and Industry (often referred to as MOSI), located in Castlefield to the south west of the city centre. Not to be missed are the Textiles Gallery where machinery spins and weaves raw cotton into thread, the Power Hall with its massive working steam engines and the Electricity Gallery which shows how electrical appliances have changed since the 1930s and 1950s. General admission to the permanent galleries is free and to make your visit come alive, costumed historical characters are at the museum on certain days or can be arranged especially for your group. Guided tours can also be arranged with discounts for 10 or more people.
Until the end of 2009, the 1830 Warehouse at MOSI is the temporary home of the People’s History Museum, which is currently undergoing redevelopment. The new museum is planned to re-open in late 2009 at its original venue, the Pump House. Meanwhile, its most popular displays can still be seen at MOSI. These include recreated scenes such as a suffragette’s kitchen. Entrance to PHM @ MOSI is free of charge.
Nearby, on Deansgate, the John Rylands Library re-opened in 2007 following a £16 million restoration. The library houses one of the world’s finest collections of rare books and manuscripts and is part of the University of Manchester. This gothic masterpiece is home to many ancient manuscripts including the St John Fragment, the oldest surviving piece of the New Testament. Groups of 12 or more can book their own guided tour or close-up session.
In the heart of the city, Urbis is located in a building, built for the millennium in Cathedral Gardens. It is an exhibition centre focusing on city life with five floors of changing exhibitions, each offering an insight into the culture of the modern city including innovative explorations of design, architecture, graffiti, music and the urban environment. Urbis offers groups a variety of guided tours focusing on the exhibition floors and architecture of the building.
Just south of Urbis on Exchange Square, Hard Rock Café has recently undergone a memorabilia ‘redeck’, so even if you have visited quite recently, you will be able to explore some new memorabilia. You can arrange a complimentary Memorabilia Tour for your group or let your members test their knowledge with the memorabilia quiz handout. Serving authentic American food, Hard Rock Café offers groups a number of options including group menus and drinks packages.
Featuring collections and galleries of birds and mammals, dinosaurs and live amphibians, the free Manchester Museum is located within the University of Manchester. It is also well known for its expertise in Egyptology and boasts one of the largest and most important collections of ancient Eyptian artefacts in the UK.
North of the city centre, the Museum of Transport is one of Britain’s biggest collections of restored trams, buses and coaches ranging from an elaborately painted Victorian open-top horse drawn tram to the streamlined prototype of Manchester’s Metrolink tram. Group visits can be arranged outside normal opening times.
Nearby, located in the premises of the former Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue on Cheetham Hill Road, the Manchester Jewish Museum collects documents relating to the social, cultural and religious history of Jewish people in the Greater Manchester region, with particular reference to the Cheetham Hill area. The period covered is from the late 18th century to the present day. Guided tours can be arranged but pre-booking is essential to avoid disappointment.
For art lovers, the Manchester Art Gallery houses nearly 13,000 works of fine art including paintings, sculpture and decorative art although the highlight is undoubtedly the Pre-Raphaelite paintings. The collection includes British and European art from the 17th century right up to the present day. General admission is free and guided tours can be arranged for groups at an additional charge.
More art is on display at the free Whitworth Art Gallery, part of the University of Manchester. It is located in Whitworth Park, south of the city centre. The gallery is home to art and design including modern and historic fine art, prints, textiles and a rare collection of wallpapers.
The Quays
The Quays makes an excellent day out during a short break to Manchester. Just a 10-minute drive from the city centre, this waterfront destination is located on the Manchester Ship Canal. It offers a variety of attractions including shops, sport, theatre, museums and architecture. The Imperial War Museum North here uses innovative display techniques to show how lives are affected by war, including the Big Picture Show where continuously changing images are projected onto the walls and floor accompanied by reminiscences from sound archives in a 360°audio-visual experience. As well as free coach parking and a meet and greet service, guided tours can be pre-booked. Groups of 25 or more can also benefit from a 15% discount at the onsite WaterShard Café.The museum also stages a variety of exhibitions and events throughout the year. In 2009, major exhibitions will include Women’s War Art (February to April) focusing on the experiences of women war artists from the First World War to the First Gulf War.
A guided tour of the nearby Lowry will introduce you to the history of the Manchester Ship Canal and explain how this once dockside area has been developed into a leisure destination. The attraction houses teo main theatres and studio space for performing arts as well as a gallery displaying the works of artist L.S. Lowry alongside contemporary exhibitions. Tours must be pre-booked.
You might like to finish off your day with a spot of shopping or a ‘Special Group Day’ at the Lowry Outlet Mall. Each month, the attraction gives groups the opportunity to enjoy a classic film, a buffet lunch with tea and coffee and an afternoon tea dance. The day finishes with time to so some shopping at the mall. The centre gives a Discount Voucher Booklet to all group members offering 10% off in many of the site’s shops.
Another option at the Quays is a leisurely cruise along the Manchester Ship Canal operated by Mersey Ferries from April until October. The cruise includes a commentary so your group will get an insight into the history of one of Britain’s major waterways. Discounts apply to 20 or more people.
Football fever
Your group members do not have to be ardent football fans to enjoy a stadium tour or visit to one of Manchester’s football museums.
The Manchester City F.C Museum and Stadium Tour offers groups bespoke tours at discounted prices but they typically include a 60-minute tour of the City of Manchester stadium and a visit to the Club’s museum. A more in-depth option, the ‘Sportcity Experience’, comprises a 120-minute tour of the stadium and the rest of the ‘Sportcity’ site, which encorporates a Velodrome, Tennis Centre, Regional Athletics Arena and the National Squash Centre. Discounts on meal deals in the City Social Café at the stadium also apply.
The Manchester United Museum & Tour, meanwhile, takes a look behind the scenes at Old Trafford, the club’s home ground. The museum takes an in-depth look at the history of the Club whilst on the tour, visitors can sit in the heights of the North Stand for a bird’s eye view of the pitch, stand in the dug out, sit in the Home changing room at your favourite players peg and emerge from the players’ tunnel to the roarof a crowd being played. Discounts apply to groups of 10 or more
Shopping stops
It is hardly surprising that the city regarded as leading the way in the development of the textile industry lays claim to the first department store in the UK (House of Fraser, formerly Kendals, dating back to 1796) should be such an excellent shopping destination. Boasting 700 stores within one square mile of the city centre, Manchester gives groups plenty of opportunity for some retail therapy.
In the heart of the city centre, Manchester Arndale features 240 stores, mainly high street names including Next and BHS. Nearby, the department stores, Debenhams, Marks and Spencer, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols give visitors lots of choice whatever their budget.
For out of town shopping, the Trafford Centre to the south of the city is easily accessible just minutes from the M60. The centre houses over 230 stores, including the anchor stores of John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, Selfridges, Debenhams and Boots. For coach groups, it is well worth booking your visit via the customer services department to benefit from a meet and greet service plus discount vouchers for your group. The centre also features a cinema, bowling alley and indoor golf course.
Back in the heart of the city’s creative Northern Quarter, and situated in the former Victorian Fish and Poultry Market, Manchester Craft and Design Centre is home to 18 studios, where artists produce and sell their work six days a week (daily in December). Work ranges from jewellery and clothing to furniture, textiles, photography and painting.
Markets are also very popular in Manchester. The Manchester Arndale Market forms part of the Manchester Arndale development. As well as selling items such as clothing, jewellery and textiles, the market also includes a food hall selling regional and international food such as specialist meats, ales and cheeses. The market eateries are also popular and you can choose from Brazilian, Chinese, English, Greek, Indian and Italian foods.
You will also find several specialist markets in Manchester each year. From mid November through to Christmas Eve, the Christmas Markets are staged in several locations within the city centre. Other regular specialist markets include a Farmers’ & Producers’ Market, Flower Market and Spring Market in Piccadilly Gardens, Fashion Market on Tib Street, Fine Food Market in St Ann’s Square and Garden Market in Albert Square.
Evening entertainment and events
Manchester is probably one of the north of England’s major destinations for stage entertainment. Whenever you visit, you will find musicals, plays, ballets, opera and comedy on offer. Group discounts are available at most performances but do vary.
From March until June 2009, the Palace Theatre in Oxford Street will be staging the muscial ‘We Will Rock You’, which features the songs of the legendary band Queen. Set in the future, the story follows hero Galileo as he helps free the population from a world where everyone watches the same movies, wears the same clothes, and thinks the same thoughts.
Meanwhile, at the Opera House in Quay Street, 2009 shows include ‘Fame The Musical’, ‘For The Love of Mrs Brown’, ‘Riverdance’, ‘Never Forget’, ‘Cinderella on Ice’ and ‘Aida’.
Centrally located between the Town Hall and Victoria Station, the Royal Exchange Theatre is known for its circular stage set in a seven sided glass-walled capsule within the former centre of the world’s cotton exchange trade. Performances during 2009 will include ‘Everybody Loves a Winner’, which is part of the Manchester International Festival during the summer.
For music, the Manchester Evening News Arena is one of the largest venues in Europe. In 2009, Il Divo, Lionel Richie, the Kaiser Chiefs and Tina Turner are among the stars to perform. Other shows include Cirque Du Soleil’s ‘Quidam’.
Manchester also stages a wide variety of other events and festivals throughout the year.
To celebrate the Chinese New Year, Manchester Chinese New Year 2009 in January will include many festivities such as Kung Fu demonstrations, folk dance performances and stalls and workshops. A highlight is the Golden Dragon Parade, which moves around Albert Square before it winds its way towards Chinatown. The official celebrations end with a firework display just after dark.
If your group enjoys comedy, the best time to visit the city is during the Manchester Comedy Festival in October, staged in many venues.
Other major festivals next year include the 2009 National Winter Ales Festival in January, the Manchester Irish Festival in March and the Manchester Literature Festival and Manchester Food and Drink Festival, both in October.
Another highlight on the events calendar next year will be the previously mentioned Manchester International Festival 2009 in July, an artist-led commissioning festival presenting new works from across the spectrum of performing arts, music, visual arts and popular culture. event is held biennially in the city and the full programme will be available in March.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Visit Manchester
Carvers Warehouse
77 Dale Street
Manchester
M1 2HG
Telephone: 0871 226 0425
Fax: +44 (0)161 228 2960
Email: rosanna.murphy@visitmanchester.com
Web: www.visitmanchester.com/groups