en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en de en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr en en en en en en ru en uk en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en
Now for some of you that believe the bad press about Manchester, there may be a touch of scoffing and a muttered ‘IF’ but I can assure you that it is very often beautifully sunny in this northern urban city, as those expatriated BBC staff will no doubt tell you 😉
Manchester Town Hall and Memorial
However, there is the occasional day when the balmy zephyrs bring a slight drizzle and then – oh, what to do?  Manchester really does have loads to look at, taste, quaff, admire and glory in, whatever the weather;  there’s definitely more here than football and Coronation Street.
My top 10 tips to keep you dry and entertained in Manchester and Salford
1.  Go shopping in the very quirky mecca for indie culture ‘Affleck’s Palace’ – where tattoo parlours cosy up to heavy metal  T-shirts, next to Tarot Cards alongside retro clothes stalls.
2.  Sample the most delicate Dim Sum at the very popular Yang Sing restaurant in China Town – a treat any time of the day.
4.  Check out Manchester Town Hall (photo above).  Another awesome example of Gothic revival, there’s very often a festival going on in Albert Square (the Christmas Market is brilliant) and you can grab a cuppa or a meal in the leather-sofa luxury of the Sculpture Hall Tea Ro0m.
5.  In the centenary of his birth (2012) discover the computer genius of Alan Turing. From 1948 until his death in 1954, Turing worked on the early computers at The University of Manchester, working in the building next door to The Manchester Museum. You can find him sitting in Sackville Gardens – lovely sculpture.
Flowers on Alan Turing’s Memorial – image by Joseph Reddington
6.  Music of all genres runs through this city along with the canals and motorways – the MEN Arena hosts all the big names in pop & contemporary music.   For the best in classical and  opera the Bridgewater Hall has an eclectic and outstanding repertoire.
7.  Football fans are well-served with 3 stadiums and loads of shops selling footballing memorabilia. Experience the Old  Trafford Museum & Tour to get a sense of how this game has shaped the history of this city.
8.  There’s more to the Manchester Art Gallery than their famous Pre-Raphaelite collection.  There are over 25,000 objects of artworks, including an extensive costume collection from historic dress to contemporary fashion.
9.  In the flamboyant Northern Quarter there is always plenty going on, especially along Canal St, the gay centre of the city.  For a real taste of this fun scene, have a drink in the so very OTT Lammars , named in memory of the late drag queen, Foo Foo Lammar.
10.  Take the excellent MetroLink a short ride to Salford Quays. You could spend a whole day here visiting the renowned Lowry Art & Entertainment Centre, Imperial War Museum North. and, of course, BBC’s Media City – watch out for TV celebrities coming and going!
To be honest, I love the rain and with the right clothes and a natty brolly you’ll enjoy Manchester and Salford -whatever the weather …
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Baroque Konopiste Castle in the Czech Republic
Zoë Dawes February 7, 2012 at 12:26 pm
Of course there are lots more things to do here – each time I visit I discover new places, restaurants, museums, pubs etc Another article I wrote for Argus Car Hire adds to the list 🙂
Feel free to add your own tips & suggestions …
John McKeown February 10, 2012 at 10:36 am
Great blog for half term. We took the kids to the museum at the University to see the Egyptian display among other things which was excellent. Don’t miss the big wheel before it goes in April to make way for Olympic events. The history of Manchester is incredible too. It’s a great city that’s on the rise. Can’t wait for my next fix.
Zoë Dawes February 10, 2012 at 10:55 am
Cheers John. As you say, it’s a great place for kids too – we love the Museum too. Didn’t know the Wheel was going – be interested in seeing if they replace it with anything that is as impressive and fun!
Zoë Dawes May 15, 2013 at 12:43 pm
The big wheel in the photo has gone but the Arndale Centre hasn’t!
John Macbeath May 2, 2016 at 10:42 am
Certainly plenty to do, especially this winter and spring with all this rain …
Zoe Dawes May 2, 2016 at 10:50 am
Very true John. Just to add a proviso to check opening times and other data as places change all the time.
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Hi, I’m Zoë; welcome to my quirky world…
QUIRKY TRAVEL is about seeing the world from a different angle, looking at things from all sides, finding the unusual, the interesting, the fascinating. It’s about quality combined with classiness, it’s about being curious about everything and wanting to know more…
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