London has historically been the place to go to in the United Kingdom for a short city break – whilst this will probably remain true in the future, some of our other cities are beginning to shine a bit more too. One such example is Manchester, which was recently highlighted on BBC programme “Mind the Gap: London v the Rest” as being the nation’s second city, as voted for by the public.
So perhaps it is the right time to get out and enjoy Manchester; there are plenty of family friendly activities on offer, and the best part is that you won’t need to break the bank in the process. If you are interested in heading to Manchester for a short break, here are a few things that you might want to consider in order to have the most memorable experience…
Picking accommodation
Manchester is not as vast as London, meaning that many of the hotels will be located in a more confined area – great for getting out and about.Of the city centre hotels Manchester has to offer, you will probably want to choose one that is based near the Northern Quarter, Piccadilly or on Deansgate. This will allow you to really make the most of the nearby restaurants, shops and attractions. You could also consider Salford Quays if you are interested in seeing the latest developments in the area.
Book ahead of time
Whilst Manchester isn’t as busy as the capital city, you should still expect some element of competition when it comes to getting tickets and reservations. In that respect it always makes sense to book things ahead of time – it is better to be safe rather than sorry. By booking online you may also be able to pick up discounts, as well as seeing the full price list such as those designed for families who want a package. You will certainly need to buy tickets to football games ahead of time if you are interested in watching Manchester United at Old Trafford or Manchester City play at the Etihad.
Find free events and activities
Saving money is always something to aspire to, and it is certainly possible to achieve this in Manchester. Each year there is a Manchester City Games event that takes on Deansgate – it features world class athletes who perform on a street based track. This coincides with the weekend of the Great Manchester Run, a 10km event that is great fun to watch, whether you are interested in supporting the elite men, women, or all the other fun runners. You should also look out for events happening at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) which is a brilliant venue to keep your kids entertained.
Come prepared
It may be true that it rains in Manchester on a fairly regular basis, but this is true of much of the rest of the UK too. As long as you pack your walking boots, raincoat and umbrella, you will be perfectly prepared to take to the streets to explore. However you may be pleasantly surprised by a spell of good weather, and Manchester is absolutely gorgeous when it is sunny, especially down by the water in Castlefield.
