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City and metropolitan borough in England
Photo: Daniel Nisbet from Manchester, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Manchester is a vibrant, post-industrial gem at the heart of North West England. The city that used to be nicknamed 'Cottonopolis' (a reference to its most famous export) has hung up its clogs and, thanks to successive regeneration projects, is now a major centre for culture and commerce; seen by many as the capital of the north of England, and sometimes regarded as England's second city.
The area of the city centre bounded by the A57 (M), Oxford Road, and the A62, includes the locales of Piccadilly, Chinatown, the Gay Village, and Piccadilly Gardens.
The area in central Manchester north of Piccadilly Gardens and east of Bridge St and Princess St includes the locales of the Millennium Quarter, the Northern Quarter, Ancoats, St. Ann's Square, and the Arndale shopping centre.
The area in central Manchester north of Castlefield and east of Quay St and Peter St includes the locales of Deansgate, Albert Square, and the business district of Spinningfields.
The area in central Manchester west of Quay St, Peter St and Oxford St includes the locales of Castlefield and Petersfield (also known as St Peter's Fields).
The area north of the centre as far as the M60 includes Sportcity, Prestwich, Crumpsall, Moston, Newton, Blackley and Beswick.
The area south of the centre as far as the M60 includes the neighbourhoods of Hulme, Moss Side, Stretford, Whalley Range, Withington, Didsbury and Chorlton-Cum-Hardy.
The Oxford Rd/Wilmslow Rd corridor from the A57(M) to the bottom of Fallowfield includes both universities, Rusholme, and Fallowfield.
Salford Quays, Trafford Wharf and Old Trafford are home to award-winning architecture, museums and the northern home of the BBC.
The City of Salford and its outlying districts, from urban heartland to open countryside.
Behind the stage door entrance of the Bridgewater Hall. It is here where many a poor mug "took The King's Shilling" and found himself press-ganged into the army. Largest selection of whisky in the city.
Real ale brewed by their own brewery Marble and cask ale from micro-breweries nationwide.
By train
Manchester city centre is served by two major railway stations, Piccadilly in the south and Victoria in the north.
By car
The outer ring road of the Manchester conurbation is the M60. It is accessible from Leeds or Liverpool by the M62 and from Scotland and the south by the M6.
By motorbike
There are several free parking bays for motorbikes around Manchester city centre.
By bus
Coaches (long distance buses) run from all over the country and are generally the most reasonably-priced way to get into Manchester.
By boat
The nearest cruise terminal is Liverpool Cruise Terminal. The independent Bridgewater Canal enters Manchester from the west.
Maps
Dotted around the city centre on main streets including Deansgate, Oxford Road, and Market Street, are the pedestrian-level street maps.
On foot in the city centre
Manchester city centre's many attractions are easily reached on foot, and walking provides the perfect opportunity to take in the architecture of the city.
By bicycle
Manchester contains a wide network of segregated cycle lanes which make crossing the city easy and quick by bike.
By car
Unless a car is absolutely essential, you should avoid bringing a car into Manchester as there are severe traffic queues across the city centre.
By bus
, with Bee Network buses branded in yellow, although some old operator-liveried buses remain with Bee Network vinyls.
By tram
Manchester Metrolink trams all run through central Manchester via St Peters Square, Deansgate / Castlefield and Cornbrook, except for the yellow line. The lines then fan out:
By taxi
Taxis are considerably cheaper than in London. As a general rule, you should be able to get anywhere you need to go within the core of the city for £5-10.
By train
Local rail services run regularly and to most places in the surrounding area and beyond.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Manchester, Greater Manchester · International · MAN
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