If you’re planning a road trip of the United Kingdom and keen to twist and turn through scenic villages make a point to steer your way to Northern England.
On my first visit to England’s northwest I landed in the energetic and dynamic city of Manchester.
Rich in industrial heritage since it’s dubbed the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, Manchester allows visitors to travel back in time to explore an 18th-century canal system that harks back to the days when the city was a global textile powerhouse.
Where To Stay: Hyatt Regency Manchester
If you’re planning a weekend getaway to Northern England we recommend booking a luxurious stay at the Hyatt Regency Manchester.
The contemporary 4 star hotel is ideally located on Manchester’s Oxford Road. The property boasts 212 spacious rooms and suites that feature comfy king beds, floor-to-ceiling windows, and smart TVs.
If you’re feeling peckish head to The Laureate, Hyatt Regency Manchester’s globally inspired restaurant allows you to travel with your tastebuds. Highlights from the menu include Turkish Ezme, French Cote de Boeuf, Indian Lamb Kofte, Thai Chicken Green Curry, Indian Chicken Tikka Masala, Italian thin-crust pizzas, and a very British Stick Toffee Pudding.
The Graduate Bar offers a proper pub experience, with bartenders slinging local craft beers and cocktails that pair well with light bites like Halloumi Fingers, Gambas al Ajillo, and classic Fish & Chips.
Best Things to do in Manchester
Today, Manchester boasts many modern marvels, from local pride after being dubbed “the gay capital of the UK,” to its world famous football club, inspiring museums and marvellous menus.
There’s plenty to do on a weekend getaway to Manchester, but a friendly warning…you’ll likely find yourself smitten and planning a return moments after your train zooms out of Manchester Piccadilly.
- Manchester Museum: owned by the University of Manchester, the city’s must-see museum displays over 4.5 million fascinating works of archaeology, anthropology and natural history from every continent!
- The Whitworth: located in scenic Whitworth Park, this inspiring gallery contains over 60,000 works with notable collections including works by Gainsborough, Degas, Gauguin, Pissarro and van Gough.
- Manchester Art Gallery: the city’s publicly owned art museum sits perched over Mosley Street. The galleries play home to 25,000 objects, including paintings, ceramics, glass and sculpture. The collection’s strength is its Victorian art, especially that of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, and Victorian decorative arts.
- Victoria Baths: is widely recognized as Britain’s finest historic municipal swimming pool, which first opened in 1906. The space today is used as an event space after undergoing a multi-million pound renovation in 2007.
- Manchester Cathedral: was originally a parish church in 1215, elevated to cathedral status in 1847. The cathedral is known for having some of the finest misericords (seated with curved panels) in Europe as well as gorgeous Minstrel Angel sculptures by Margaret Beaufort.
- The John Rylands Library: the University of Manchester’s famous library is located in a late-Victorian neo-Gothic building. First opened to the public in 1900, the vast collection features rare books and manuscripts, including the St. John Fragment, one of the oldest known pieces of the New Testament.
- Mackie Mayor: foodies should make a bee-line to this bustling brick-walled food hall where vendors serve up sizzling steaks, pizza, and more at communal dining tables.
- The Spirit of Manchester Distillery: local cocktail fans adore this indie spirits producer crafting gin, vodka, rum and English whisky in a state-of-the-art distillery.
- Canal Street Gay Village: is centred on buzzing Canal Street, a pedestrianized road beside the Rochdale Canal, lined with cute cafes, and lively Drag Queen spinning bars. Revellers pack the area during the annual Manchester Pride Festival in August. Popular spots to enjoy a drag show include Via and New York New York.
