Manchester is one of the UK’s fastest growing cities and has established itself as a leading European city. The city’s airport serves over 28 million passengers each year and hosts some of the country’s top events.

Like many cities Manchester is synonymous with one thing, football. Manchester United arguably put Manchester on the map but these days the city is known for much more than this. Its rich history means the city is home to many leading museums and the culture and cosmopolitan lifestyle make the place a truly magical place to visit.

Manchester also has a rich heritage in music and houses some of Europe’s best concert venues. The Manchester Evening News Arena is the largest in the city but other venues include the Bridge Water Hall and the Apollo theatre. These facilities help Manchester attract the world’s biggest acts.

Accommodation

Like many other leading cities Manchester is home to a whole range of accommodation types. People with slightly larger wallets tend to stay in hotels such as the Hilton whereas the more budget conscious traveller would stay in hotels like Trafford Hall.

Unlike many other cities Manchester hotels have very close relationships and work together to deal with the mass influx of visitors each year. On dates for popular events Manchester hotel rooms tend to sell out extremely quickly and this is why the hotels work closely together. They are committed to housing all visitors to the city. Manchester as a city has also worked hard on this and tried to make the city as welcoming as possible.

Shopping

The Manchester shopping experience is like no other and is one of the reasons why so many come for short breaks here. The city houses hundreds of funky, fashionable and unique stores which make it unlike any other city. Manchester also caters for many types of shoppers. For those who are interested in high street shopping then the Arndale Centre maybe for you but if you’re after those luxury boutique stores than you might want to head further in to town. The city is home to top designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Armani.

If you want to venture a little further out of town then you might want to check out the Trafford Centre. This is one of the largest indoor shopping complexes in the country and has just about everything anyone could ever want. It makes a great day out and there are plenty of interesting places that surround the centre.

Nightlife

No trip would be complete without taking in the Manchester night life. The city is home to three universities which gives the city a young and energetic feel in the evening. Unlike other cities in the region Manchester has specific areas which cater to different types of punter. Young professionals would be at home in the Northern Quarter. Here you will find a collection of unusual but highly atmospheric bars. People are friendly and you will not want to miss the cocktails on offer here.

Other popular areas include the Print Works and Deansgate Locks. The Print works is an indoor night centre which houses several large clubs and bars. It tends to be very popular with students and would be appreciated by the hardcore party lover. If a more relaxed evening is your thing then a few drinks at Deansgate Locks would go down well.

Weekend breaks in Manchester have become extremely popular over the last few years as transport to the area is excellent. Visitors can also have a fairly cheap weekend break here and there is plenty of choice. If you are considering a weekend break away then you would be hard pressed to find many better places than Manchester.

Richard Hall – Writer for Monton House Hotel in Manchester