Things to do in Manchester?

pavlovs_dog

my OH and I are off to Manchester during half term. We arrive at 12 on Thursday, and leave at 6 on the Friday.

other than the shops, what are the must see/do things around the centre of Manchester?

Sneezy

The big wheel is quite good (i think particular nice in the evening), if you have children then i would recommend the museum of Science and industry (very hands on - i went when i was 14/15 and loved it :-) )...

Apart from that i'm not sure what else you could squeeze into 6 hrs :-)

pavlovs_dog

Sneezy wrote: »

The big wheel is quite good (i think particular nice in the evening), if you have children then i would recommend the museum of Science and industry (very hands on - i went when i was 14/15 and loved it :-) )...

Apart from that i'm not sure what else you could squeeze into 6 hrs :-)

big wheel sounds good whereabouts is it? No children but we're both big kids

i went to MOSI the last time i was in Manchester, I remember enjoying it but would rather do something new this time.

6 hours?! we get there at noon on Thurs and leave tea time Friday. Is Manchester on a different time zone?

Sneezy

Its really near Next are you getting into Victoria or Piccadilly (If its Piccadilly there's a free bus that would take you to the centre if you get off at the stop near M&S and walk up towards the main shopping area and turn left you should see the Printworks and its just before there).

I meant apart from shopping!!

Not really sure what else you could do around the city centre...(although i work there i hate it and don't really spend much time there for pleasure)

Sneezy

You i mis-read your post!! I thought left 6 the same day!! If you are willing to travel a little there is a place on the Leeds-Manchester line called Hollingworth Lake (get off a Smithy Bridge) that i would say is worth a visit :d - this is the place!
http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=hollingworth%20lake&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

ACG

You guys live in manchester and cant think of anything to do?

OK:
- For a start - the free bus, it will take you around the different parts of manchester city centre. It wont be the best tour youve ever been on but there are lots of area in the city centre you can see.
- Old Trafford - you can do the tour of Mancheser uniteds ground and musem.
- The trafford centre - pretty much shops but it is a very nice shopping centre with extra bits that make it stand out.
- Sale/Trafford water park, nice little walk (takes a good hour or 2).
- Urbis - close to the wheel and is a museum of some type.
- Printworks - bars and restaurants, nothing unique but a bit different. (again close to the wheel)
- St Annes Square - shops but its very nice they have a mini market and its quite relaxed.
- There are some nice walks along canals etc, look for sainsburys on oxford road, near the palace, there are some steps next to it to a canal nice 20 min walk i would say.
Most of these places are free and either in the city centre or not too far. Sale water park might be difficult without a car but the rest should be easy enough.

Forgot to say... Other than that just go for a walk and explore. Ignore the things about manchester being rough etc. I walk around town all the time (day and night), im not a big lad and ive never had any issues.

hayley11

I was going to suggest the big red bus tour because I think that's great but it's finished for the year!

You could go to The Lowry, The Trafford Centre, Imperial War Museum, Manchester Museum.

There are lots of good shops too, lots and lots of shops!

You could do the Manchester United tour, don't know if Man City have one but i'm sure they must have (but don't waste your money going there )

This website has a lot of info on things to do.

Have fun

ETA - agree with ACG about just exploring. Manchester is lovely city, so many beautiful buildings. It's always very busy around Market Street and there's always plenty of street entertainers there.

My OH and I used to go on lots of late night strolls around town when we lived in the city centre and we always felt very safe. I think as long as you're careful, don't walk down dodgy looking alleys etc (think that goes for anywhere though) and you'll be fine.

Ooh and also it's lovely around Castlefield, that's where we used to live, lovely canal and some nice bars down there, it's down passed Deansgate (look for the big Hilton/Beetham Tower)

Oldernotwiser

ACG wrote: »

You guys live in manchester and cant think of anything to do?

OK:
- For a start - the free bus, it will take you around the different parts of manchester city centre. It wont be the best tour youve ever been on but there are lots of area in the city centre you can see.
- Old Trafford - you can do the tour of Mancheser uniteds ground and musem.
- The trafford centre - pretty much shops but it is a very nice shopping centre with extra bits that make it stand out.
- Sale/Trafford water park, nice little walk (takes a good hour or 2).
- Urbis - close to the wheel and is a museum of some type.
- Printworks - bars and restaurants, nothing unique but a bit different. (again close to the wheel)
- St Annes Square - shops but its very nice they have a mini market and its quite relaxed.
- There are some nice walks along canals etc, look for sainsburys on oxford road, near the palace, there are some steps next to it to a canal nice 20 min walk i would say.
Most of these places are free and either in the city centre or not too far. Sale water park might be difficult without a car but the rest should be easy enough.

Forgot to say... Other than that just go for a walk and explore. Ignore the things about manchester being rough etc. I walk around town all the time (day and night), im not a big lad and ive never had any issues.

Not forgetting the Whitworth and Lowry art galleries and the Imperial War Museum North.

iwanttosave_2

Manchester Museum is the best out of the lot, its ever so slightly out of the town center though.

The Lowery is pants. If you want shopping then head to the trafford center.

Oldernotwiser

iwanttosave wrote: »

Manchester Museum is the best out of the lot, its ever so slightly out of the town center though.

The Lowery is pants. If you want shopping then head to the trafford center.

I've not been to the Lowry yet but the Whitworth is fantastic.

InaPickle

If you want to eat a curry head for Wilmslow Road (just off Oxford Road - there are loads of buses from Picadilly Gardens).

The best Chinese in town is at Yang Sing's. It's on the edge of China Town, not far from the Princess Hotel.

Have you thought about going to the theatre or for some music in the evening? Apart from the big concert venues (MEN etc.), try Manchester Academy (just outside the city centre), The Bridgwater Hall, The Opera House, The Palace Theatre, The Library Theatre or The Contact Theatre (also just outside the town centre). Also, for film try the IMAX cinema at the Printworks of the excellent Cornerhouse for arthouse films. There are several venues for live comedy as well: Frog and Bucket and The Comedy Store but to name a few.

Have fun and welcome to a great city! :j