Whether you've got a short break in your meeting or you're coming to the end of your conference and planning to explore Manchester further, free attractions and its proximity to other great locations will ensure that you're able to enjoy your time.
Many of Manchester city centre galleries and museums are free, whilst the location of Manchester places you within perfect distance of the Northwest, Pennines and the Pennine Moors; Lancashire - including the action packed, fun filled town of Blackpool; Merseyside, which includes Liverpool and its Beatles heritage; Cumbria and the stunning natural beauty of the Lake District; or Cheshire, which includes the famous Roman city of Chester.
If your delegates have two hours to spare, it is just enough time to squeeze in a walking tour of Manchester's city centre. There's no better way to get to grips with your surroundings. Manchester has over twenty-five professional tour guides who all know the city inside out.
Each of the guides specialise in a variety of fascinating subject areas. They can bring you up to date with Manchester's music scene, give you the low-down on its architectural history, or share recommendations about what events are on in Manchester and which attractions are right for you. Regular tours take place from the Manchester Visitor Information Centre or you can also book guides individually for tailored tours.
For more information: www.visitmanchester.com
Around 200 years ago, Manchester's rise to prominence as the world's first industrial city drew a lot of international attention. Its legacy as a hub of the Industrial Revolution is still omnipresent within every nook of the city. If you have half a day to explore Manchester, it's a great chance to scratch beneath the surface and find out more about the story of a place that truly changed the world.
The area of Castlefield is perhaps Manchester's most historic location. It is where the Romans built a fort named 'mamucium' (meaning 'breast-shaped hill') in 79AD. A recreation of this fort now stands within the Castlefield heritage park. This is also where the 1761 Bridgewater Canal - the world's first true canal system - ends its journey of ground-breaking engineering. It was originally designed to bring coal from the Duke of Bridgewater's mines in Worsley to the heart of Manchester. Via Castlefield, it now links to the later 1806 Rochdale Canal and is popular with Canal boat owners and holiday-makers.
Sitting on the doorstep of Castlefield is the original Liverpool Road railway station, which marks out the 1830 Manchester to Liverpool railway line - the world's first passenger railway and now a part of the vast museum Museum of Science and Industry or MoSI as the locals call it (Free entry). Castlefield also offers some great bars and restaurants which include waterside favourites Dukes 92, Albert's Shed and Barca. Towering proudly above the site is the Hilton Manchester Deansgate, which is home to the sky bar Cloud 23, located on the 23rd floor and offering fantastic, open views across Greater Manchester and beyond.
Take a metrolink tram from one of the stations in the city centre and head to the Quay's, Manchester's waterfront destination. The Eccles line will run you directly into MediaCityUK which is soon to be the new home of the BBC in the North. Make sure you purchase a ticket before boarding.
For more information: www.metrolink.co.uk
From MediaCityUK you can walk across to the Lowry by foot. This iconic building is home to the Lowry Galleries (free entry) which showcase changing exhibitions by one of Britain's best loved artists, LS Lowry, as well as work by local, national and international renowned artist. You may wish to return to the Lowry in the evening to enjoy one of many weekly performances in one of its two theatres. Opposite the Lowry, is the Imperial War Museum North (free entry). The Imperial War Museum North is designed by architect Daniel Libenskind and its iconic figure reflects a world shattered by war. Within this unique museum, visitors can find changing exhibitions and events that show how people's lives are affected by war. The cafe in the museum is a good place to stop for refreshments, with its picturesque views across to MediaCityUK. Just ten minutes away from the Imperial War Museum by foot is Manchester United Football Club. On non-matchdays, visitors can experience the thrill of the world's most famous premier league football team through its extensive football museum and stadium tour. Pre-booking this tour is advised to avoid disappointment.
For more information: www.manutd.com
Tours last approximately one-hour with unlimited time to explore the museum.
From Manchester United, you then have a choice of heading back to the Quay's for further exploring or taking a short walk (ten minutes) to Old Trafford metrolink station. The latter takes you past Lancashire County Cricket Club, a key Manchester destination for sport and concert events, as well as a part of Manchester's conference offer with the Point, a purpose built £12 million conference and events centre.
Arrive back into Manchester city centre on the metrolink tram and alight at St. Peters Square. Adjacent to the tram line on Mosley Street, you will find Manchester Art Gallery. The Art Gallery (free entry) is well known for its outstanding pre-Raphaelite collection. It also boasts a great rolling programme of temporary exhibitions and a wide range of free weekly and monthly art events. After browsing the collections, you may want to grab a bite to eat. A great place for lunch is Mr Thomas's Chop House located on Cross Street in Manchester city centre. The Victorian pub offers a welcoming atmosphere with good British food and a great selection of fine wine and ales.
Following lunch, a visit to the John Rylands Library will keep you suitably enthralled and entertained with its iconic gothic architecture and engaging exhibitions about the library's extensive collections. The library sits on the edge of Spinningfields, which is Manchester's new business district. You might want to check out The Avenue at Spinningfields; a cluster of upmarket shopping outlets which are the latest addition to this area. Shopping fans will be interested in knowing the Manchester stores included at the Avenue are, Emporio Armani, DKNY, Flannels, Nicky Clarke and All Saints.
If there's still time for more shopping, you could head to King Street, Manchester's original upmarket shopping destination where it's not unusual to spot the occasional footballer or celebrity amidst the crowd. Close to King Street is New Cathedral Street which boasts Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and Marks and Spencer's.
For dinner, with over 30 types of international cuisine on offer in Manchester, there is plenty to choose. However, if you prefer to narrow this down, Manchester's Chinatown is a good starting point. Manchester is home to the UK's second largest Chinese community and the Yang Sing on Princess Street is one of the city's flagship Chinese restaurants. They serve a balanced mixture of authentic traditional, and westernised Chinese dishes. The restaurant can cater for large groups with its excellent banquet service.
Following dinner, theatre lovers might wish to see what's on at the Palace Theatre, Manchester's Opera house or the Royal Exchange. Nightlife is extremely varied but predominantly centres on the Northern Quarter, Deansgate, Canal Street and the Printworks. Each of these locations cater for various tastes and its worth checking Visit Manchester's nightlife section for more details.
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